CubaPLUS Magazine

Since 1999, every August 12 has become, by United Nations call, International Youth Day, a day that transforms joy into actions in favor of noble causes of social life, productive or useful tasks, and community -in end, in all spheres-, also giving face to problems that urgently need solution.

"When youth leads, everything is possible!" is the compelling main theme of 2023, something that makes us shudder to think about the force that emanates from the wave of people of that generation, the largest in history, made up of some 1.8 billion girls and boys between the ages of 10 and 24, according to data from the UN.

This is a very vulnerable sector of the population if it does not receive the attention, care, and education it deserves, among other basic human rights that they should enjoy but, at the same time, entails the wonderful potential of the present and the future. And not only of them, of humanity.

On the planet, not a few, perhaps millions or hundreds of thousands, are forced to live in conflict zones, they suffer from chronic hunger, extreme poverty, they are not literate or without guarantees of schooling corresponding to their ages. Much less, protected by health programs from birth.

This drama is totally alien to Cuban childhood, adolescence and youth, an achievement of our society that has been maintained with great effort, political will and love from all. From the classrooms, since in this blocked Caribbean island, general education is compulsory up to the middle levels, girls, boys and young people in general participate in multiple social, school, sports, cultural and vocational training activities in organizations structured in the country life.

Through the pioneering groups created for the little ones and the UJC, multiple activities are marked out that punctually celebrate Children's Day, Students Day, Children's Day, in short, a wide spectrum of interests. Notwithstanding, the general blockade that Cuba suffers affects the health of children and young people who have serious conditions, due to the lack of medicines, and of course there are very specific isolated problems originating in dysfunctional families that receive care from relevant organizations.

This August 12, although our schoolchildren enjoy the last month of vacation, there is an invitation for tasks with an emphasis on recreation, sports and culture, but also on carrying out activities in favor of environmental conservation, to contribute to the reduction global warming, learn more about traffic laws and save energy. Very necessary topics within the framework of current daily life.

It will therefore be a joyful day, celebrations and contribution to community life. Excellent purposes.