International Youth Day is celebrated every year on August 12th. This day was designated in 1999 with the adoption of resolution 54/120 with the goal to highlight issues that young people are facing around the world. Every year as part of the International Youth Day there is a theme on which special focus is placed. The theme for this year’s International Youth Day is “Youth Civic Engagement”. This year’s campaign hopes to encourage youth to engage and participate in political and public life. The choice of the theme, “Youth Civic Engagement,” acknowledges that youth are not only our world’s future but also our world’s present. We need to include youth and young people in conversations not only in regards to youth specific issues but also in regards to a diverse array of issues. By following the example of this year’s International Youth Day and encouraging youth to be involved and take leadership roles in our communities, we can help empower youth to make a difference both in their local communities but also in their global community. One way that people can get involved is to participate in this year’s International Youth Day campaign through social media. The campaign is urging people and especially youth to post on Twitter, Instagram, and/or Facebook using the hashtag #YouthDay. Photos posted using the hashtag #YouthDay will have the possibility of being chosen to be showcased on the UN4Youth Facebook and/or Twitter. Learn how you can get involved in the social media campaign.