August 12 is International Youth Day, a time to recognize the leadership and imagination of young people shaping fairer, more sustainable, and food-secure futures in their communities. This year’s theme, “Different Contexts, Common Aspirations,” reflects a truth we see every day: young people live in different realities, but they share a common hope for dignity, opportunity, meaningful participation and a future where everyone can thrive.
For too many young people around the world, the future feels decided. The future looks like a life of undernourishment, unemployment or needing to leave home for a city that may not have good economic opportunities. For girls, it too often means marrying young and starting a family.
This is not a failure of ambition. It is a failure of permission.
At The Hunger Project, what we do—at our best—is create the space for a different possibility. We don’t hand young people a plan. We help them see that they are allowed to write one. That the life they inherited is not the only life available to them. That the opportunity they cannot yet picture might still be theirs to build.
Creating this space of opportunity and vision is critical to creating a world without hunger. The world is home to nearly 1.2 billion young people aged 15 to 24, making it the largest generation of youth to date. By 2050, 69% of the world’s youth will be living in low- and lower-middle-income countries, compared to 59% in 2025.
This cohort could be the generation to end hunger for good. It’s up to us to ensure that they know they can do it.
