World Youth Day (10/11)

Every year, young people around the world widely celebrate their holidays and events. International Youth Day is celebrated on August 12, Russian boys and girls celebrate Youth Day on the last Saturday of June.

November 10 is World Youth Day (WYD), which is established in honor of the founding of the World Federation of Democratic Youth (WFDY). This event took place at the World Youth Conference held on October 29 — on November 10, 1945 in London.

This historic conference was convened at the initiative of the World Youth Council, which was created during World War II to fight fascism. For the first time, the conference brought together representatives of the international youth movement, which united more than 30 million young people of different political ideologies and religions, youth of more than 63 nationalities.

Since then, the international association of youth organizations — has been the center of the international democratic youth movement, uniting young people around the world without distinction of political and religious views, race or nationality.

The WFDY is fighting for peace, youth rights, independence of peoples, international unity of progressive youth; against colonialism, neo-colonialism, fascism and racism. WFDY has consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council.

According to the UN, there are currently 1.2 billion young people (15-24 years old) in the world, or 16% of the world's population. The number of youth in Russia (14-35 years old) reached 39.1 million people in 2020. The UN believes that youth can play an important role in the field of development if they are given the knowledge and opportunities necessary to realize their potential.

The most famous event held by the WFDY is the festival of youth and students. The 1st World Festival of Youth and Students was held in Prague in 1947 and attracted 17 thousand participants.

Russia has been the host country of the festival three times. The 6th World Festival of Youth and Students was held in Moscow in 1957. Moscow that year received 34 thousand participants from 131 countries. The motto of the holiday was the words: For peace and friendship! (For Peace and Friendship!).

Moscow also hosted the 12th World Festival of Youth and Students in the summer of 1985. Festival held under the slogan: For anti-imperialist solidarity, peace and friendship! (For anti-imperialist Solidarity, Peace and Friendship!), brought together 26 thousand participants from 157 countries.

In October 2017, the 19th World Festival of Youth and Students was held in the Russian city of Sochi under the slogan «For peace, solidarity and social justice, we fight against imperialism — respecting our past, we are building our future!», gathering more than 25 thousand participants from 185 countries world. By the way, the next festival is also planned to be held in Russia — in February-March 2024.



Infographics — poster «November 10 — World Youth Day»

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