International Youth Day

On December 17, 1999, The United Nations General Assembly endorsed a recommendation that August 12 be declared International Youth Day. The Assembly recommended that public information activities be organized to support the Day as a way to promote better awareness of the World Programme of Action for Youth, a policy framework and practical guidelines for national action and international support to improve the situation of young people around the world.

"As we look for ways to keep our country prosperous, we need to make the next generation a significant priority. Even economic experts agree that child development is the foundation for community development - which, in turn, is the foundation for economic development. Capable children become the foundation for a prosperous and sustainable society."

That quote from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation sums up how I have always felt about children and education. Children are our future! Call it cliche but also call it true. An investment in children is an investment in the future of the world.

At Cabrini Connections, our vision is that every child who joins a tutor/mentor program in 7th or 8th grade is starting a job and career of his or her choice by age 25. We achieve this by following seven success steps, from building regular participation in weekly tutor/mentor activities to maintaining connections after high school graduation. Because of their long-term participation with Cabrini Connections, the continued involvement of our volunteers, and their use of the Internet to share information and network with each other, our youths have a support system that they can draw from as they move through the rest of their lives.
I hope that you will take this day to reflect on the potential of youth, to celebrate their achievements, and plan for ways to better engage yourself and your network of family, friends, and co-workers. If you want to help make our vision a reality, please explore tutor/mentor resources on the Tutor/Mentor Connection web site and consider making a donation.

Special thanks to Bloggers Unite for asking bloggers to write about this subject.