International Youth Day 2025 Newsletter

Foreword by the UN Resident Coordinator

Celebrating Youth Leadership and Local Action for Sustainable Development

It is with great pride and optimism that I welcome you to this special edition of the UN Sierra Leone newsletter, published in celebration of International Youth Day 2025. This year’s global theme, “Local Youth Actions for the SDGs and Beyond,” and our national theme, “Empowering Sierra Leone Youth to Localise SDGs,” reflect the growing recognition of young people not just as beneficiaries of development, but as bold innovators, resilient organisers, and essential partners in building a sustainable future.

Youth aged 15 to 35 represent over 35% of Sierra Leone’s population. Their energy, creativity, and deep-rooted community knowledge are indispensable assets in addressing the complex challenges of our time. Across the country, we are witnessing inspiring examples of youth-led initiatives that are translating global goals into local realities—from climate action and peacebuilding to entrepreneurship and civic engagement.

This edition highlights the success stories of various UN agencies working hand-in-hand with young people to accelerate progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These stories are a testament to the UN’s commitment to youth empowerment, as outlined in the UN Youth 2030 Strategy, now entering its second phase (2025–2030). Sierra Leone stands proudly as one of the fast-track countries implementing this strategy, and we commend the Government for its leadership in prioritising youth development in the new Medium-Term National Development Plan.

We also celebrate the milestone achievement of the first-ever Status of Youth Report, presented to His Excellency the President in July 2025. This landmark report will be officially launched at the inaugural Mano River Union YouthConnekt Summit, hosted by Sierra Leone, bringing together youth from Guinea, Liberia, Côte d'Ivoire, and Sierra Leone to foster regional collaboration and innovation.

As we mark the 30th anniversary of the World Programme of Action for Youth, we are reminded that when young people lead, societies thrive. The UN in Sierra Leone remains deeply committed to supporting the aspirations of our youth, amplifying their voices, and investing in their potential to shape a fairer, greener, and more inclusive future.

Let this newsletter serve not only as a celebration of youth achievements but also as a call to action—for all of us to continue championing the transformative power of young people in Sierra Leone and beyond.

Happy International Youth Day!

— Seraphine Wakana