PHILIPSBURG – Friday, August 12, is International Youth Day (IYD), as declared by the United Nations (UN). This day presents an opportunity for every country to assess their investment in and commitment to their young people.
The IYD will be commemorated on St. Maarten by having a Youth Congress, to be held on Friday, August 12, from 1:00pm-5:00pm at the University of St. Martin (USM) in Philipsburg, hosted by the St. Maarten Christian Party (SMCP). The Youth Congress is open to all young people, especially between the ages of 10 and 26.
“The SMCP recognizes the importance of involving our youth in the development of St. Maarten. The Youth Congress is not about a political party, but about allowing our young people to lend their voice to the issues at hand in the country. There will not be any discussion about elections, but about the youth’s perspective on issues that affect them. The SMCP has established a committee to organize this event, which will be held every two,” an SMCP press release said.
“We encourage the youth of St. Maarten to attend this congress and be the voice of the nation,” the release concluded.
Director-General of UNESCO Irina Bokova stated: “Young people are not only our future, they are our present.”
