176/25 How the International Vocational Education and Training Association (IVETA) Is Equipping the World's Youth for the 21st Century

Young people are rewriting the script for the future in every corner of the globe, from bustling megacities to the most remote villages. Their energy fuels innovation, ideas challenge convention, and resilience redefines what is possible. According to the President of the International Vocational Education and Training Association (IVETA), Mr. Serumu Igberadja, I see daily how the spark of youth can illuminate entire communities if we give it room to shine. Their potential is our hope for a brighter future.

Even if young people have a lot of potential, it won't grow independently. It needs support, guidance, and tools for today's world. The 21st Century brings fast-changing technology, shifting job markets, and significant global challenges. That's why we need a generation with not just big dreams, but also strong skills and the ability to adapt. This is precisely what IVETA works for. We are laying the foundation for a new global workforce, where vocational education plays a pivotal role, with three main goals.

1.  First, Global Partnerships: We are developing an international TVET curriculum that allows talent to move as seamlessly across borders as ideas do.

2. Second, Bridging Skill Gaps: By strengthening technical and vocational education systems worldwide, we ensure that no capable mind is idle due to a lack of training.

3. Third, Promoting Equality: Opportunity should never be determined by geography, gender, or economic background. Equal access to vocational programs is not an aspiration but a necessity.

However, these plans are more than institutional objectives; they are a call to collective action. A future worth inheriting can only be forged through shared responsibility. We must support youth development, and you, as policymakers, educators, civil society leaders, and organizations involved in youth and vocational education, play a crucial role in this. We must create platforms where young people can hone their craft and showcase their talent. We must advocate for youth rights, ensuring that today's policies safeguard the promise of tomorrow. And we must foster global cooperation, bridging the divide between governments, civil society, and individuals whose futures are at stake.

On this International Youth Day, let us go beyond mere celebration. Let us acknowledge not just the potential of young people but the urgency of our duty to them. The future is not a distant horizon; it is already here, embodied in the voices, skills, and dreams of our youth. Our task is straightforward: to build an inclusive environment where young people can thrive, lead, and change the world, says the Editor in Chief of HunarNama, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Mukhtar.