Celebrate International Youth Day – August 12

International Youth Day - poster

Toronto – August 8, 2013 – Each year the United Nations' (UN) International Youth Day is observed on August 12th. This event was established in 2000 as a means of raising awareness of the issues affecting young people around the world. Now in its 13th year, IYD is part of the UN's broader World Programme of Action for Youth, an initiative that aims to promote the wellbeing and livelihood of young people through international action.

"Today's youth face pressing global challenges, including high levels of unemployment and underemployment, volatile working conditions, and exclusion from decision-making processes," says UFCW Canada National President Wayne Hanley. "However, by striving to increase youth opportunities for success, we can help young people obtain good jobs, participate in their communities, and achieve a better future."  

As Canada's leading and most progressive union, UFCW Canada constantly works to engage and empower youth through several groundbreaking initiatives. Our National Youth Internship Program is one of the premier training and education programs for young activists in Canada, and the Students Against Migrant Exploitation project educates hundreds of elementary, high school, and university students on the plight of migrant farm workers every year. Canada's best union also supports the Retail Report, a youth-led, video-based website that covers stories, statistics, and opinions from the retail world and advocates for young workers' labour rights.

UFCW Canada members and allies are invited to join the celebration of International Youth Day by displaying UFCW Canada's newest poster to honour and raise awareness of this important global event. The poster is freely available to download and print in both English and French. You can also show your support by using the International Youth Day poster image as your profile picture on Facebook and other social media sites.