UNFPA, in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth and Sports and United Nations Egypt commemorated International Youth Day on August 12, under the theme 'Youth Digital Pathways for Sustainable Development.' 

The event was attended by Dr. Ashraf Sobhy, the Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr. Yves Sassenrath, UNFPA Representative in Egypt, Mr. Jeremy Hopkins, UNICEF Representative in Egypt, and Ms. Manal Gamal, Head of the Central Department for Projects and Youth Training at the Ministry of Youth and Sports. 

This year's theme emphasizes the importance of equipping youth with digital skills to advance progress in education, employment, health, and environmental sustainability.

The event saw a panel discussion on “Digital Skills for the Future: Education and Employment,” bringing speakers from the Ministry of Youth and Sports and UN agencies, as well as a workshop on digital marketing, in addition to the launch of the Youth 4 Sustainability Initiative. 

The event also saw a performance by Shamandoura, a group of volunteers who develop and perform songs around different population issues, under the UNFPA-operated Population Awareness Clubs, in partnership with the Ministry of Youth and Sports and Etijah.

Sassenrath said that while the digital world today is powerful, it is important to protect women and girls from digital violence. 

“It is important to ensure that the digital world is safe, protects and supports the development and potential of the youth and society overall,” he said.

Sassenrath added that “Egypt has been a cradle of innovation for humanity, having brought innovations to the world in many different aspects of our lives today. The Egyptian youth, in that sense, has enormous potential and enormous opportunities to continue being an engine of innovation in the digital age. They have the chance to harness the power of digital technology and the environment we are in, not just for the country, but also for the region and, why not, the world.”