Regional Youth Forum Metropolitan Lima

By Jose Arrieta, Social Good Peru Leader

On Saturday, June 8, young leaders gathered at the Regional Metropolitan Lima Youth Forum, an event organized by the National Secretariat of Youth of Peru (SENAJU), the Peruvian state agency attached to the Ministry of Education.

Social Good Peru had the honor to participate and contribute in the construction of the National Youth Policy, which will guarantee full citizenship for young people, including equal opportunities, access to adequate and integral services, and the effective participation of the young population.

The Minister of Education of Peru, Flor Pablo Medina; the President of the Republic, Martín Vizcarra; the National Secretary of the Youth, Henry Jordan and representatives of the Municipality of Metropolitan Lima joined the forum to hear from and work with young people on these pressing issues.

According to the official results of the 2017 National Censuses, 24.9% of the Peruvian population is young. That is, 1 out of every 4 Peruvians is between 15 and 29 years old. The National Youth Policy seeks to take advantage of development opportunities to invest in quality services aimed at the young population, prioritizing attention to their demands and improving their potential, which will directly contribute to the improvement of the entire country.

We, the Peruvian young people, share a set of needs, problems, aspirations, and potentials. The National Youth Policy will help empower us and involve us in decision making on national issues.

“The National Policy will guarantee rights and opportunities for young people” — Minister of Education, Flor Pablo Medina.

During the forum, the President of the Republic of Peru, Martín Vizcarra, reaffirmed his commitment to young people and motivated us to continue adding our voices into spaces for youth participation. Likewise, the President said that Peru wants to have the strength, dynamism, and commitment of its young people.

“When we travel across the country, we see in the youth those flags of change to improve, to include more women, to have a better justice, to fight against corruption, to improve politics, who take those flags first are the young. The fact that you are here demonstrates not only your commitment with the youth, but also with Peru.” — President of the Republic of Peru, Martín Vizcarra

During his speech, The President pointed out that it is essential to take into account to the young people, because they are the first force that supports important decisions that achieve substantive changes in society. The President also mentioned the need of the strength and dynamism of young people to achieve the changes that boost them the development of the country.

Learn more about Social Good Peru and their movement to support the SDGs locally.