The world’s largest youth organizations, representing 250 million members, and the WHO are launching a global mobilization to respond to the disruptive effects of COVID-19 on young people

Funding for community programs, involving young people in solutions to COVID-19 and convening a Global Youth Summit are key features of this new mobilization

Today, a new revolutionary youth mobilization was launched to invest and expand youth-led solutions and engagements in response to COVID-19. The initiative was launched by the Alliance of the World’s Largest Youth Movements and Organizations, along with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Foundation.

“Global mobilization of young people for the disturbed generation” leads Large 6 Youth organizations (Christian Association of Young Men, YMCA; World Christian Association of Young Women, YWCA; World Scout Organization; World Association of Guides and Scouts; International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, IFRC; and the International Duke of Edinburgh) Award), which together actively involve more than 250 million young people, and their goal is to support young people to get involved and devise efforts to reverse the impact of the pandemic.

The Global Youth Mobilization will include the convening of the Global Youth Summit in April 2021 and a $ 5 million fund to support local and national youth organizations, including grants for youth-led solutions and an accelerator program to increase existing response efforts.

The leadership of the WHO, Big 6 and youth organizations around the world call on governments, companies and policy makers to support the efforts of the Global Youth Mobilization and commit to investing in the future of youth. These measures will directly support young people engaged at a grassroots level in addressing some of the most pressing health and social challenges arising from the pandemic.

“WHO has the honor to join this really exciting and a strong global movement to mobilize and empower young people around the world to be the driving force of recovery from COVID-19, ”said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “Joining forces with Big 6 and the United Nations Foundation provides the WHO and the world with a unique opportunity to learn from hundreds of millions of young people and be guided by their sustainable solutions to help communities better recover from a pandemic.”

Although the direct effects of the pandemic on youth on young people in general have been less serious, they are disproportionately affected by the long-term consequences of the pandemic. Such effects include disruptions in education, economic insecurity, loss or lack of employment opportunities, impacts on physical and mental health, and trauma from domestic violence. For example, mental anxiety brought on by COVID-19 has been identified in nearly 90 percent of young people; school closures have affected more than a billion students in almost every country; and 1 in 6 young people worldwide lost their jobs during the pandemic.

At the same time, young people are also initiating change and implementing solutions in response to COVID-19 by taking action through community interventions and volunteer services, such as acting as first aid and delivering food and supplies to those in need. The Global Youth Mobilization will highlight the urgent need for solutions to support young people and highlight the critical leadership role that young people play in their communities to counter the effects of a pandemic.

“We are proud to partner with the WHO to provide opportunities and funding to help millions of young people around the world respond to the local challenges associated with COVID-19 in their communities,” the Big 6 leadership said in a joint statement. “The mobilization will provide direct financial and programmatic support to youth organizations at the national and international levels. We believe that young people have solutions to their own problems, and by providing a global platform for young people, combined with national activation for youth projects, we can unleash skills, enthusiasm and a desire for young people to be a force for good in their communities. “

With the support of the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund for the WHO, and supported by the United Nations Foundation, the Global Youth Mobilization contains a strategic partnership with the WHO and its newly launched Youth Council. It will involve other United Nations agencies, as well as a number of prominent global partners, brands and advocates, from FIFA to YOUNGA through BridgingTheGap Ventures, and the creation of youth councils with influence on social media, including Influential platform. The initiative, developed in consultation with young people from around the world, will be youth-led, community-based, evidence-based and involve different communities based on meaningful youth participation and engagement.

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About the big 6 youth organizations

Founded in 1996, Big 6 Youth Organizations are an alliance of leading international youth service organizations. The “Big 6” encompasses the world’s five largest youth movements: Christian Association of Young Men (YMCA), World Christian Association of Young Women (YWCA), World Scout Movement (WOSM), World Association of Guides and Scouts (WAGGGS), International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and the flagship youth development program, International Award of the Duke of Edinburgh (Reward). Together, Big 6 actively involves more than 250 million young people, which has contributed to the empowerment of more than a billion young people over the past century. For more information visit www.bigsix.org

In response to the unique challenges facing young people today and coinciding with the launch of the Global Youth Mobilization, Big 6 also released a new policy paper: ‘Young People Winning in the Postpandemic Future’. The paper is a joint call to action on behalf of the 250 million children and young people who make up the Big 6 youth organizations and includes recommendations regarding education, employment, mental health and digital inclusion. Read the full report and calls to action at bigsix.org.

About the World Health Organization

The World Health Organization provides global leadership in public health within the United Nations system. Founded in 1948, the WHO works with 194 member states, in six regions and from more than 149 offices, to promote health, keep the world safe and serve the vulnerable. Our goal for the period 2019-2023 is to ensure that one billion more people have universal health insurance, to protect one billion more people from emergencies and to provide further billions of people with better health and well-being. For updates on COVID-19 and public health tips to protect yourself from coronavirus, visit www.who.int and follow the WHO further Twitter,, Facebook,, Instagram,, LinkedIn,, TikTok,, Pinterest,, Snapchat,, YouTube, i Snatch.

About the United Nations Foundation

The United Nations Foundation brings together ideas, people, and resources to help the United Nations drive global progress and solve urgent problems. Our feature is cooperation on lasting change and innovation in solving the greatest challenges of humanity. Find out more at www.unfoundation.org

About the solidarity response fund COVID-19

To support the World Health Organization (WHO) and partners in their global response to COVID-19, the United Nations Foundation helped launch the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund, which raised more than $ 238 million for rescue operations worldwide to prevent detect and respond to COVID-19. Learn more about the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund for the WHO, launched by the United Nations Foundation at www.covid19responsefund.org.