Protecting and Empowering Youth Population

for a Stronger Post-COVID World

12 November 2020 (Webinar with interactive discussion)

Background

COVID-19 has affected almost everyone allover the world. According to some medical data, youth population initally appears to be at lower risk of severe illness and complications from the disease.[1]The adversity they face, however, seems more detrimental and lasting.[2]Despite the fact that the young people should play the main role in building the post-COVID world, educational and professional opportunities compromisedby the pandemic severely hamper the youth from developing due capacities and preparing for their future. For that reason, a complete recovery from the pandemic crisis calls upon policymakers and society leaders to reflect the needs of the youth population in overcoming this crisis.

A survey conducted by International Labor Organization (ILO) indicates that one in six young people of age 18 to 24 became unemployed or furloughed upon the outbreak of the pandemic, and about 42 percent of these young people reported reduction in their income.[3]

Young people in lower income countries tend to be affected more gravely by the crisis.[4]Unemployment and income loss are especially critical to the youth population as their limited access to resourcesmakes them more prone to fall under the poverty line in three months after income reduction or loss.[5]In the long run, once the young people fail to secure stable sources of income, they are more likely to continue to receive low wage, engage in precarious labor contract, have fewer opportunities for career development in the future and thus receive lower pension in the end.[6]

The global pandemic has also affected negatively on the educational attainment of the youth. Nearly 13 percent of the ILO’s survey respondents experienced complete pause on their education and training, and 65 percent of those respondents reported to have learned less since their classes were interrupted.[7]Furthermore, 44 percent of the students from lower income countries struggled with transitioning to online learning while only 4 percent of those from high income countries did so. This clealy illustrates the Covid-19’s effect on exacerbating the existing gap.[8]

Disruption of educational or professional experience has reduced the mental well-being of the youth population. 23 percent of the young people who have reported job losses or have suffered from revenue decreases since the onset of the pandemic experienced greater level of anxiety or depression while only 14 percent of the employed youth experienced such.[9]The trend is similar for those in school. 22 percent of the youth who faced disruptions in their education reporteddeterioration in their mental health while 12 percent of those who were able to continue their education reported so.[10]The difference in the percentage is almost double between these two groups.

To foster educated, well-trained young people who will build back stronger from the pandemic crisis, the policy makers and current leaders of the society must discuss strategies and action plans to provide opportunities and protections to the young people.[11]Achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) also depends on such youth population.[12]Therefore, it is imperative to effectively address the woes of the young people so that they can rise from this crisis as more prepared and healthier building blocks of the society. However, young people’s voices are not effectively reflected in policymaking processes as one in three young people reported that their opportunities to participate in public affairs have decreased since the outbreak.[13]33 percent of the young population that participated in ILO’s survey noted that their opportunities to partake in political descision-making process and public affairs have been significantly reduced since the outbreak.[14]

Such reality callsfor an urgent discussion on strategies to develop policies and programs catering to the needs of the youth in the COVID-19 crisis and identify opportunities to incorporate youth’s participation in worldwide recovery efforts. CIFAL Jeju organizes a webinar to discuss strategies to devise measures to better protect and support the youth population from the prolonged pandemic crisis.

Objectives

ž  To provide a platform for good practices and lessons learned to be shared

ž  To discuss different strategies to develop policies and program catering to the needs of the youth in the context of the pandemic crisis.

ž  To share experiences on designing and managing interventions intended to better protect and mobilize the youth population in the COVID-19 context.

Target Audience

This webinar is open to government officials and practitioners from CSOs who have been working in the area related to Sustainable Development Goals pertaining to the protection of the youth in the pandemic context, such as SDG #3 Good Health and Well-being, SDG #4 Quality Education and SDG #8 Decent Work and Economic Growth.

Program Details 

Ÿ   The Zoom meeting will begin at 16:00 Seoul Time (GMT+9) on 12 November.

*The above program is subject to change.