World Youth Skills Day 2017

The United Nations DESA Division for Social Policy and Development (UNDESA-DSPD), in collaboration with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and United for all Peoples (UP), is organizing an event for World Youth Skills Day 2017 under the theme: “Youth in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) for achieving peace and positive social change for all”

The event is taking place in New York, on 14 July 2017 from 9:00 to 10:30 (NY time/CET -6).

Topic

The event aims to discuss how the academic fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) can contribute to the empowerment of youth - with a special focus on young women and girls - by eliminating the gender gap in education and skill-development, and by providing equal employment opportunities, as a strategy to reduce overall inequalities, eradicate poverty and promote peace and prosperity for all. Furthermore, the event seeks to recognize the role that young women and men in STEM are playing in our society and in the achievement of the SDGs, thus functioning as drivers of peace and prosperity.

Concept

One billion people today live in poverty. The difficult economic conditions worldwide have hit particularly the youth. Improving the skill sets of youth before they enter the job market could increase their employment opportunities and help achieving peace and positive social change for all.

With particular emphasis on STEM skills of young women and girls, the event will address how, through science, technologies, engineering and math, youth can find employment or create new job opportunities. Mastery of STEM skills represents also a communication channel and a platform for social engagement, sharing information and innovative ideas to overcome poverty, to improve the well-being of groups in marginalized situations, such as persons with disabilities and to promote peace and prosperity for all.

Commemorating the 2017 World Youth Skills Day, successful STEM professionals, entrepreneurs and representatives of academia will share their experiences and knowledge to inspire and encourage young people to develop and use their STEM skills in all industries, identify better strategies for building necessary skills, eliminate stereotypes, and reaching gender equality across the field.

Participants

Georgi Panayotov (Opening Remarks) - Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Bulgaria to the United Nations

Daniela Bas (Mistress of Ceremony) - Director, United Nations DESA Division for Social Policy and Development

Hibah Kamal-Grayson (Moderator) - Senior Public Policy Analyst, Google

Werner Faymann (Video Message) - UN Secretary General’s Special Envoy on Youth Employment

Carlotta Buiatti (Video Message) - Director of Art and Design, UP

Melissa Sassi - Program Manager, Affordable Access Initiative, Microsoft

Zach Sims - Co-founder and CEO, Codeacademy

Tracy Chou - Co-Founder, Project Include

Mahrinah von Schlegel - Executive Director, Embassy 2.0

Kelly Lovell - Youth Mobilizer, CEO, Lovell Corporation

Carol K. Kennedy, Ph.D. (Discussant) - Educational Technology Consultant, Manhattan Multicultural Counseling

For more information, please see the event's brochure and concept notes.