The Young Visionary Leaders Ghana (YVLG) has joined the global community in commemorating International Youth Day 2025, celebrating the vital role young people play in advancing sustainable development. This year’s theme, “Local Youth Actions for the SDGs and Beyond,” highlights how youth are turning the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into real, local initiatives that positively impact communities.
Over the years, YVLG has partnered with young Ghanaians nationwide, empowering them as leaders, innovators, and advocates for meaningful change. Their projects have addressed a wide range of critical issues, including quality education, gender equality, climate action, and access to safe water.
“Young people are not just beneficiaries of development; they are powerful agents of change. At YVLG, we create spaces for youth voices to be heard, ideas to be nurtured, and solutions to be implemented,” said Joseph Tettey Afangbe, Founder and Executive Director of the organisation.
Through training programs, advocacy campaigns, and grassroots projects, YVLG has:
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Empowered members of its High School SDGs Clubs to design local solutions under the mantra, “Think Global, Start Local.”
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Partnered with local authorities to integrate youth perspectives into community planning.
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Supported school-based initiatives promoting environmental stewardship, literacy, health, and access to clean water and sanitation.
As the 2030 SDG deadline approaches, YVLG is calling on government, civil society, private sector actors, and development partners to increase investment in youth capacity building, include young people in policymaking, and expand support for youth-led innovations.
“This International Youth Day, we reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that young Ghanaians are central to shaping a more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable future,” Afangbe added.