Youth for development
Youth for development stands for projects and initiatives designed by and for youth in the field of development cooperation.Youth for development advocates for development there, where youth are not only the recipients of help, but are also independent actors and partners.
Young people under 25 make up more than half of the world’s population today. And yet, particularly in countries of the South, youth are often born into conflict-filled surroundings. They constitute a particularly vulnerable group and are especially keenly affected by poverty, discrimination of various kinds, the chaos of war and scarce access to education and work.
Regarding youth as special partners is a must in development policy because of this demographic starting point and the lack of future prospects. After all, six of the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) directly concern youth. Young people are the future of tomorrow and possess an enormous ability to transform when they are involved and able to participate in shaping the future.
This is where Youth for development comes in. Each and every individual can change something and shape a better and more sustainable future for all. Even small initiatives can trigger big changes. As the umbrella association of Swiss youth organizations, SNYC has become familiar with the needs and concerns of young people through many years of experience. With the support of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), SNYC carries out various projects and supporting activities that contribute to the development of the potential of young people in Switzerland and in target countries, to the betterment of their living conditions and to their ability to participate: