A news story on the United Nations Population Fund site states that “Young people are increasingly recognized as critical actors in matters of global importance.” The same story quotes Former United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon saying, "I place great hope in their power to shape our future.” Globally, young people are taking charge of their future, speaking out, and standing up for what they believe in. This is evident in various youth initiatives in different fields that push for positive change and social justice. Erin Blakemore writes in nationalgeographic.com that “teenagers and young adults have a history of pushing social change forward. Look at passionate young people from any era and you’ll find impressive catalysts for change.”
The Epic Youth Leadership Awards (EYLA), under the parent banner Gawad Geny Lopez, Jr. Bayaning Pilipino Awards, seeks to recognize the movers, innovators, and changemakers serving the youth whether in the U.S., Canada, or in the Philippines. The awards’ Project Director Fr. Nilo Tanalega says that with the EYLA, “we are making a statement that the future has come with these young people that we will look for and recognize.” Similar recognitions are valued by the youth as shared by the 4-H Science in Urban Communities. They say that “Recognition is a basic youth need and provides them with motivation to not only complete projects, but to complete them in an exemplary manner.”
