This session focuses on the implications of changing jobs and livelihood prospects of young workers and entrepreneurs because of the coronavirus crisis and how they’ve stayed resilient throughout the pandemic.

Health is an area where youth-led activities have the potential to significantly affect outcomes for young people, and in turn, have whole life-cycle implications. For instance, in the area of diet, harmful habits (drugs/alcohol), and exercise, positive behavior change can reduce non-communicable diseases stretching into adulthood. In addition, the pandemic has shown that decisions taken to avert one health crisis can have significant effects on other health outcomes, especially on young people.

From Nepal to the Marshall Islands, hundreds of thousands of young volunteers have taken to streets ringing alarm bells around the climate change crisis and are participating in global campaigns like ‘Fridays for Future’ and ‘Climate Action Now’. While the protests showcase youth’s frustration in current socio-political systems of managing the climate emergency, they are increasingly bringing youth in the limelight of ‘taking action’ and several governmental and non-governmental actors are now reinforcing this rhetoric particularly at the upcoming UNFCCC COP26.