VIRGIN HEART FOUNDATION MARKS 2025 INTERNATIONAL YOUTH DAY.
Location: Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria
Imo Youth Driving Local Action for Sustainable Development Goals – Virgin Heart Foundation Marks International Youth Day 2025.
Virgin Heart Foundation, a youth-led and women’s rights organization in Imo State, joins the global community in celebrating International Youth Day (IYD) 2025 under the theme “Youths Localizing the Sustainable Development Goals.” SDGs
Observed annually on August 12, International Youth Day is a United Nations initiative that recognizes the contributions of young people to building a more inclusive, sustainable, and peaceful world. This year’s theme is a powerful reminder that the solutions to global challenges must be rooted in local action and that young people in Imo State are essential drivers of change.
With youth making up a significant portion of the state’s population, their energy, creativity, and local knowledge are vital in addressing challenges such as unemployment, insecurity, unemployment, agriculture, gender inequality, and limited civic participation. In fact, over 65% of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are tied to local governance meaning progress depends heavily on active youth involvement in community planning, policy-making, and grassroots innovation.
However, the current security crisis and human rights situation in Imo State demand urgent attention. The state government must take decisive action to address the harassment of youths and the widespread human rights abuses resulting from the activities of both state and non-state actors. The menace of insecurity has taken too much from the youth of Imo State with many losing their lives, being displaced from their communities, or stripped of their basic means of livelihood. Without safety and justice, meaningful youth participation in development is impossible.
Peace Dike
Executive Director
Info@Virginheartfoundation.org