YLAG's exemplify International Youth Day

Alan Robertson

Monday 12 August 2024 - 12:39

Today (12 August) is International Youth Day so the timing is perfect for the release of a new video that focuses on raising the profile of Youth Local Action Groups (YLAG).

A YLAG is a group of young people between the ages of 16 and 30(ish) who care about their local area and hope to improve rural living for young people, now and in the future. They are organised in rural regions across Scotland, originally inspired by the EUROPARC Youth Project in rural Europe and receive 'Community Led Local Development' (CLLD) funding from their area Local Action Group (LAG).

CLLD funding forms part of the Scottish Governments Scottish Rural Development Programme (SRDP) and gives local communities the power to tackle their own, local challenges. By building knowledge and skills, supporting new ideas and encouraging cooperation, CLLD helps to create viable and resilient communities. Funding is allocated across 21 Scottish LAGs by Scottish Government on a yearly basis.

International Youth Day was established by the United Nations in 1999. The UN recognized the importance of investing in youth as a means to foster sustainable development, peace, and security. The day was officially designated to be celebrated annually on August 12th, following a recommendation from the World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth, held in Lisbon in 1998. Since its inception, International Youth Day has served as a platform to amplify the voices of young people and promote their active participation in various aspects of society.

The theme of the 2024 is "From Clicks to Progress: Youth Digital Pathways for Sustainable Development” highlighting the importance of young people designing, and using digital solutions to share information, and accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals. The theme covers specific digital innovations, including AI, all the way to young people using social media to mobilise and support each other.

To celebrate the day in this spirit, YLAGs from Orkney, the Outer Hebrides, Fife, Scottish Borders, Forth Valley and Lomond and the Cairngorms Youth Action Team worked in partnership to produced a collaborative film highlighting the contribution of youth-led local development to rural and island communities, and inviting participation and allyship from other young people and practitioners who work with them.

At the heart of this campaign is the following short film which explains what they are about: