Category DAYS TO REMEMBER

          The ability to read and write is one of the chief achievements of Man that led to the development and enhancement of civilization. It is an important skill for an individual’s participation in socio-political and cultural discourse. It helps develop one’s awareness of one’s rights, civil responsibilities and knowledge of the world. The UN has dedicated a day to celebrating literacy known as the International Literacy Day, which falls on September 8.

          Universal access to quality education and learning opportunities for people is part of the agenda of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. Despite the progress people across the world have made, there still persist literacy challenges in certain parts of the world.

          Literacy has become an important requirement for livelihood, especially in the context of advanced employment schemes; The UN provides opportunities to achieve literacy for all the young people and the adults who lack these skills.

          International Literacy Day focuses on the competencies required for employment, careers, and livelihoods along with skills.

          We all are aware of the dreadful destruction that Hiroshima and Nagasaki underwent towards the end of World War II. The casualties and losses were not limited to the immediate effects of the bomb; the radiation still haunts the                                                  cities as deformed babies are born even now.

          However, nations have not stopped testing nuclear weapons. It is said that the nuclear weapons possessed by various nations have the firepower to destroy our planet five times over.

          The International Day against Nuclear Tests serves as a warning against the danger of deadly nuclear arm race and further testing of nuclear weapons.

         Nearly 2,000 tests have been conducted the world over since the first nuclear weapon test on 1945 July 16. Various international bodies have spared no effort to put an end to all forms of nuclear testing. The United Nations proposed a Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, which did not materialize.

         The international Day against Nuclear Tests calls for increasing awareness about the effects of nuclear tests, to achieve the goal of a nuclear-weapon-free world.

          Man being a social creature is neighbour to another man. What makes him different from the other animals is not only his superior intelligence, but also his quality of being humane and altruistic.

         Every day, millions of men and women help others in need without expecting anything in return. The World Humanitarian Day is celebrated every year to pay tribute to aid workers who risk their lives in humanitarian service, and to rally support for people affected by crises around the world. The day is observed on August 19.

         Sadly, the world is not a peaceful place any more. Incessant conflicts and wars have torn our world apart. Millions of civilians are affected by armed conflicts every day. Children have turned to militancy to fight with guns and other deadly weapons for causes they do not know.

          Humanitarian workers attempt to treat their wounds and illnesses and bring them relief. The World Humanitarian Day is a reminder to the world that humans need to be more humane and brings an assurance that humanity and compassion have not left the human heart yet.

           The wealth of a nation is its youth, people say. A nation with a considerable number of young people needs only to direct them in the right path; they will subsequently lead the nation to glory. Young minds are full of fresh thoughts and novel ideas. Therefore, the International Youth Day, falling on August 12, is an occasion to celebrate the young, who are humanity’s future.

          Statistics suggest that the world has the largest number of young people currently, around 1.8 billion, between the age of 10 and 24. Although it is a matter of great promise, the fact is that one in 10 young children live in conflict zones and 24 million of them do not get any education. The youth in our societies are increasingly isolated due to political instability, labour market challenges and limited space for political and civic participation.

          The International Youth Day aims to provide them safe spaces where they can come together and engage in activities related to their diverse needs and interests. The youth should be encouraged to participate in decision-making processes and freely express themselves.

          Governments should provide spaces for accommodating the needs of diverse youth.

          Many would turn to a dear friend in times of a dilemma or a crisis. A friend might be able to understand certain problems better than a parent or an older sibling. Friendship is said to have the ability to increase happiness and diminish misery by doubling our joy and cutting down our grief. Hence, a day dedicated to friendship on July 30, the International Day of Friendship, has so much relevance today.

          The world offers us both happiness and sorrow. There are many challenges, crises and forces of division in the world such as poverty, violence and human right abuses in the world. There are many others that undermine peace, security, development and social harmony among the world’s peoples. The anxiety and depression that they have on young minds is beyond imagination. To confront these crises and as an answer to them, a shared spirit of human solidarity, which is otherwise known as friendship, must be promoted among men and women.

          Man learns to trust and love through friendship. These qualities will eventually transform the world to a better place to live.

          Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of the Indian nation, advocated the need of educating children in a skill-based system, so that they would be skilled and employable after their education. Education should not only aim at moulding a good human being, but also ensure a decent means of living and the ability to lead an honourable life in the world. On July 15, the World Youth Skills Day, the UN envisages a world where the young people are self-reliant and responsible for themselves.

         According to a recent study, the youth are almost three times more likely to be unemployed than adults. They are continuously exposed to lower quality of jobs, greater labour market inequalities and longer and more insecure school-to-work transitions. In the case of women, there is a higher probability of their being unemployed than men. In addition, women, in general, are underpaid and forced to undertake part-time jobs or work under temporary contracts. In this regard, the UN considers that education and training are key determinants of success in the labour market.

          The World Youth Skill Day is an opportunity to raise awareness on the importance of empowering the youth and investing in youth skills development.