Youth participation crucial for SDGs: experts

Kathmandu: A workshop on Global Leadership and Youth Forum on Sustainable Development Goals (SGD) ended in the Capital on Saturday, with a conclusion that creating opportunities for youths and enhancing their capabilities hold to achieving those goals.

The event themed ‘Moral and Innovative Leadership: New Models for Peace and Development, convened by Asia-Pacific Peace and Development Service Alliance (APPDSA) with other local partners, highlighted the issues of services, volunteerism, innovation and youth’ participation in SDGs.

The workhop had drawn 150 participants. The SDG is a global agenda for Sustainable Development adopted by world leaders in 2015 UN Summit that included 17 SDGs to be achieved by 2030.

Speaking at the programme, Jibaraj Pokharel, vice chancellor at the Nepal Academy of Science and Technology, called on the youths to work on innovative with more focus.

Similarly, Ram Rohan Pant, chairman of the Global Peace Foundation Nepal, suggested youths to “work like bees”, serving for the community with team work without looking for personal gains.

To encourage the youths, several creative ways will be exercised, leading to a competition, ensuring practical measures for achieving sustainable development goals in the stipulated time frame, Pant said.

During the programme, panelists spoke on Quality Education, Clean water and Sanitation, Affordable and Clean Energy, Peace Justice and Strong Institutions and Partnership for Goals that comes under 17 SDGs.

Nikesh Balami, an entrepreneur from Code for Nepal, said that the youths should be motivated to use media and technology to promote social media for connecting with people and recreation purpose. The youths should have access to government data, he added.

Bhawana Bhatta, executive board member of the National Youth Council, welcomed the decision to involve youths to attain the ambitious sustainable goals.

Source: The Kathmandu Post