Today, we commemorate International Youth Day and recognise the important role young people play in shaping more inclusive, peaceful, and sustainable societies. We welcome this year’s theme, “Different Contexts, Common Aspirations”, which reminds us that while different realities shape young people’s lives, many of their aspirations are shared.

Across countries and communities, young people want to be respected, have access to quality education and meaningful opportunities, engage in decent work, develop their skills, support their families, and contribute to their communities. They want to build healthy, stable, and sustainable futures for themselves and their loved ones.

Yet these opportunities are not equally available. Young people face interconnected challenges related to education, employment, limited economic opportunities, digital inclusion, social exclusion, and well-being. The circumstances in which young people grow up can also shape their exposure to risks and their access to the support services and opportunities they need to thrive.

Understanding these different realities requires listening to young people themselves. It also requires creating opportunities for them to participate meaningfully in the decisions that affect their lives.

Young people should not only be reached by programmes and policies once they have been developed. They should have a permanent seat at the table from the beginning, helping identify challenges, shape solutions, and influence decisions that affect their communities and their futures. Meaningful youth participation is not simply an opportunity; it is a right.

This principle is at the heart of the Global Youth Declaration on Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery, launched in 2025 and rooted in the perspectives of more than 1,100 young people from around the world. The Declaration calls for young people to be actively involved in policy and programme development and highlights priorities including youth-focused research, evidence-based awareness, accessible services, economic independence, leadership opportunities, and stronger community support.

Young people themselves express these aspirations clearly. As Kinya N Gitonga from Kenya shared:

“One aspiration that many young people in my community share is to achieve financial independence through meaningful employment or entrepreneurship. They want opportunities to build stable careers, enhance well-being, support their families and make a positive impact in their communities while pursuing their personal dreams.”

And, as Aliyu Mukhtar Usman from Nigeria reminds us:

“One thing every young person needs to thrive is a seat at the table before the crisis, not after. Trust young people early, and they will build solutions, not just survive them.”

These voices reflect why youth participation must go beyond consultation. Young people bring knowledge, perspectives and solutions that are essential to creating effective policies, programmes and communities. At WFAD, we believe that investing in young people means not only addressing risks, but also strengthening the protective factors that enable them to grow, contribute and thrive, including life skills, supportive families and communities, education, meaningful opportunities and access to appropriate support when needed.

Calling for Input by Youth

To mark International Youth Day, WFAD is launching the Global Youth Survey today, in partnership with the ISSUP Global Youth Network, Drug Free America Foundation, and Fourth Wave Foundation.

Building on the Global Youth Declaration, the survey seeks to better understand the experiences, needs and aspirations of young professionals working in the field of prevention, treatment and recovery, including where they see opportunities for further support, learning, and professional development.

We strongly encourage young people working in the field to share their experiences by completing the survey. We also call on civil society organisations, including WFAD members and partners, to help disseminate the survey among their young professionals so that their voices are represented.

The survey will be introduced during a webinar today at 4:00 p.m. CEST. Read more and register here.

On International Youth Day, we reaffirm our commitment to listening to young people, creating space for their meaningful participation, and investing in the opportunities and support they need to shape their own futures.

Different contexts may shape young people’s experiences, but their aspirations are shared. By listening to young people and trusting them as partners in creating solutions, we can help build healthier, more inclusive, and sustainable communities where every young person has the opportunity and support to thrive.