#YouthOnCOVID19: Young people's resilience is the boost we need right now

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Coronavirus has brought so much uncertainty – to the economy, to jobs and to our lives as a whole. Even before COVID-19 we were facing a massive challenge to provide work for young people entering the labor market. And without effective policies in place when students return to schools, this generation of learners could lose an estimated $10 trillion in earnings over their lifetime.

With an understanding that COVID-19 will leave lasting scars on multiple fronts, especially on the younger generations, where can we find hope?  That’s what we’re asking young people around the world.

During this pandemic, the remarkable creativity and innovation of youth-led initiatives in sectors like health, jobs, and food security are stories worth telling. These efforts prove that young people are critical in driving forward ideas and actions on global issues - and their voices deserve our attention. 

To provide a platform for youth, we launched the online campaign #YouthOnCOVID19. In a short video, young people aged 18-35 share what their lives look like in these challenging times. Within a month, we received over 100 videos from around the world. Many expressed their concerns about interruptions to education, increased barriers to employment, and the rising cases of domestic violence and mental health problems in their communities.

In all the submissions, a powerful theme resonates – resilience. These young women and men reveal their ability to adapt, as well as communicate, what their countries need for an inclusive and resilient recovery from COVID-19.  Watch some of these remarkable youth as they discuss good governance and civic engagement, financing programs to support businesses, investing in sustainable health systems, and building digital infrastructures for education and jobs.

View: #YouthOnCOVID19 VIDEO PLAYLIST (18 Videos)

After hearing these diverse voices, we hope you too will be inspired - and more important, be reminded of the crucial support young people need to succeed.  We are grateful to all of those who participated in this campaign. Thank you for being ambassadors for your communities. As a final note, here’s a message from Soham Das from India - “For some, this pandemic is a rainbow and for others, a dark cloud. All of us know that both don't stay for long.”

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The World Bank Group and COVID-19

Authors

Pabsy Pabalan

Digital Engagement Officer and the Channel Manager of World Bank YouTube and Instagram

Numour
September 10, 2021

The youth in Nigeria are facing a lot of challenges in health and food security those with HIV and B are the most vulnerable especially those in northern Nigeria were poverty is high. COVID 19 Stand a boundary that embark youth struggle for good security

Rajan K.C>
September 10, 2021

The covid -19 has changed the social structure and social feeling. People have become too much self centered, cultural activities have been almost stopped if this trend go continue further six month or more the situation may go out of control. People are waiting for its medicine that is only the hope. People says we need to learn to live with corona but saying and practice is quite different. Life is going hard and hard day by day

Motto Anthony Xa
September 10, 2021

We did not walk very well every other steps during the lockdown. We wondered about the destinations especially school goers. We kept our hopes hanging sure as the economies became very vulnerable, unsecured and one ended when you can only spend and nearly without seeing streams of income existent! This was and is the worse catastrophe ever to witness and experience. It teaches everyone the toughest subject on humanity and its needs!

Usman Tukur Aminu
September 10, 2021

We should collectively support education and innovation.

Zechariah Makuach Maror
September 10, 2021

All of us regardless of ages were focusing on how post-trauma of COVID-19 would be managed but surprisingly we are accidentally caught down by so-called COVID-19 TO STAY FOR A WHILE. This has actually heightened the redundancy of developing countries' youths, hope for best is likely perishable.

George Naumovski
September 10, 2021

There is a need for new businesses and companies to replace the obsolete industries which have left people unemployed, underemployed and in poverty but if these new businesses and the entrepreneurs are not funded and given a chance to succeed, then the problem of unemployed, underemployed and poverty will continue.

Cho Cho Latt Tun
September 10, 2021

I also agreed with the commment as Coronavirus has brought so much uncertainty especially with the private sector economy and creation jobs for citizens including the returnees from other countries. I was really enjoyed in reading and learning on the world Bank produces e- newsletter and arti

Cho Cho Latt Tun
September 10, 2021

After reading and learned on the World Bank e-newsletter and countries stories and youth feedbacks.. I think I was improved my knowledge and listening skills.

Mike Marvin Banda
September 10, 2021

Covid has widening the inequality gap between the rich and the poor youth, children and women being the worst affected vulnerable society

odoi samuel
September 10, 2021

The economic impact of the COVID-19 crisis are increasingly hitting low- and middle-income earners and the poor. International travel restrictions and the full or partial closure of businesses and industries in the country have led to a collapse in global travel and are expected to reduce the flows of remittances. Remittances and other various modes of businesses are important sources of employment and incomes for the poor, respectively. This post assesses the potential impacts of the expected reductions in these income flows by using Ugandan youth as a case study.

The pandemic is likely to have a significant economic toll. For each month that the COVID‑19 crisis persists, the simulations using IFPRI’s Social Accounting Matrix (SAM) multiplier model for Uganda suggest national GDP could fall by between 0.7% and 0.8%. Household incomes are likely to fall, particularly among the poor.

Uganda has a majority and rising youth population in an emerging economy. Even though several reforms and initiatives like Youth Livelihood Program, Skilling the youth through the Business Technical Vocational Education and Training (BTVET) curriculum remain to be completed, we wish to have reform programs like Youth Social Protection initiative launched in Uganda. This can help us achieve economic growth of over 5% in the next years. With continued efforts aimed at improving Uganda’s business climate which is expected to be the leading sector as private sector growth and economic diversification in 2020 and beyond.

This progress will almost certainly be interrupted by the COVID‑19 pandemic. While the government is taking actions to contain the spread of the virus—including the suspension of commercial national and international passenger movements, school and sports clubs closures and a nationwide nighttime curfew,—and the number of reported infections in Uganda is currently low compared to that of many other countries, the global economic slowdown is expected to have major knock-on effects for Uganda. International travel restrictions are already curtailing tourism to the country. The global slowdown is likely reducing payments and remittances received from Ugandan youth working abroad. These sources together account for a percentage of Uganda’ GDP. Thus, any disruptions to these foreign income sources will have far-reaching implications for Uganda’s economy and population.

Lemohang Dodo
September 08, 2021

The core aspect we have to consider not only as a community but for the entire world, is to collaborate by doing so we create a strong bond between a developed and developing countries to accelerate sustainability and to enhance transformation that will uplift the world economic to support all people.