This week, Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus took the stage at the United Nations General Assembly to deliver a powerful message to global leaders: invest in your youth to shape a fairer, more equitable world. Yunus, best known for his pioneering work in microfinance and social business, emphasized that young people hold the key to solving the world’s most pressing issues, from inequality to climate change.
The Power of Youth in Shaping the Future
In his address, Yunus highlighted the critical role that young people can play in driving social and economic transformation. He called on governments and institutions to provide more opportunities for youth to engage in leadership, entrepreneurship, and innovation. By investing in education, skills training, and job creation, Yunus argued, nations could unlock the untapped potential of their younger populations.
Yunus pointed to examples from his native Bangladesh, where social business initiatives have empowered young people to become change-makers in their communities. He stressed that providing youth with the tools to succeed could have far-reaching effects, not only for economic growth but also for promoting peace, sustainability, and social justice.
Global Challenges Require Youth Leadership
Yunus warned that the world is facing unprecedented challenges, including climate change, rising inequality, and global instability. These problems, he noted, are intergenerational and require the involvement of younger generations to find lasting solutions. By ignoring the potential of youth, Yunus argued, countries risk squandering their greatest resource for future progress.
At a time when youth movements around the world are calling for action on climate change and social justice, Yunus’ speech resonated with the urgency of empowering the next generation. He called on world leaders to support policies that foster youth leadership, from expanding access to education to creating pathways for young entrepreneurs.
A Vision for a Fairer World
Yunus’ message at the UN was clear: investing in youth is not only an economic imperative but a moral one. By giving young people the chance to lead, countries can create a more just, equitable, and sustainable world. His speech was a rallying cry for leaders to rethink their approach to youth development and to see young people as active agents of change, rather than passive recipients of aid or assistance.
Yunus’ advocacy comes at a crucial time, as the world grapples with a complex set of challenges that will define the future for generations to come. His call for action emphasizes that the future is in the hands of today’s youth—and that the decisions made now will shape the world they inherit.
