Almost half of the human population is under the age of 25. If we young people are given education, political support, resources, skills, and hope, they will promote sustainable development of our planet. If they are misdirected, civilization risks destabilization. The book “Young People, Education and Sustainable Development: Exploring Principles, Perspectives and Praxis” shows how to use this powerful opportunity for society. It includes 38 essays, representing a diversity of culture, gender and generation. It provides a global perspective on theory and praxis of education by and for young people. The preface is written by Wangari Maathai, the foreword by Gus Speth, and the afterword by Ruud Lubbers. The publication is a contribution to the UN Decade on Education for Sustainable Development. It is primarily targeted to policy makers, educators and researchers in education. It also appeals to students, youth serving organisations, civil society; and young people.

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By Pebbles B. Sanchez, Youth Committee of the Confederation of Independent Unions in the Public Sector (CIU)

Growing in a family of public servants, I had the privilege to witness various undertakings of and within the government whenever I went to visit the offices of my parents. Through years and years of observing a typical day of a bureaucrat and having indulged myself in the study of public administration, I have concluded that working in and for the Philippine government is not as simple as it appears to be.

Distrust has clouded the image of a bureaucrat. The culture of red tape and inefficiency has been attached not only with the systems followed by the government but also with the work force that runs its engine. People have come to think that government employees lack the enthusiasm to serve and the competence to deliver outputs. However, there is something more to this picture. There are several reasons why government employees appear to be laidback and tend to be lenient. 

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By Min Jeong Kim, KTX Crew Branch Worker of the Korea Federation of Public Services and Transportation Workers’ Union (KPTU)

Right after I woke up this morning, while I was in bed, I started counting from one. It took me a while to get to one thousand. This shows that even counting up to 1,000 takes time. But, we have been fighting for the last 1000 days in order to obtain regular job positions. November 25th 2008 marked the 1000th day of our struggle. I still vividly remember the first day when we went on strike 1000 days ago. And of course, I won’t forget the day when I started working as a KTX crew member.

In April 2004 before KTX (Korea Train Express) started its service, the Korea Railroad Corporation hired 351 KTX female crew members, and the high competition during the recruitment process, was a hot topic among the general population. That time, the corporation and its subsidiary Railroad Distribution Service Corporation used all kinds of possible flowery language in describing the female crew positions to embellish the job itself and working conditions by referring to KTX female workers as ‘Flower of KTX’ and ‘Flight Attendant of Ground. ‘

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By Katie Rowsell, CPSU Organiser (Australia) and PSI Oceania Youth Network Coordinator

Once upon a time there was a new generation of worker. They were focused and knew what they wanted out of their careers. They had a high level of education, and equally high levels of student debt. They were technologically savvy and were frustrated when their parents couldn’t work the DVD player. They had been brought up by parents - both working and earning an income and who wanted their children to have EVERYTHING! When this generation started school, girls and boys alike were told “You can be anything you want to be” and they were confident that this was indeed the case. They basically got taught that they were the centre of their own little universe.

Suddenly, the new generation workers left the cocoon of family life and education and stepped out into the big wide world. The previous generations of workers could not understand them. They seemed to have no loyalty, flitting from job to job for more pay. Lifestyle came before their duty to work. They even checked that new fangled thing called Facebook during work time! The older generations thought “We’ll just have to ignore them and hope they grow up some day.”

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The Asia-Pacific Knowledge Network on Youth Employment (APYouthNet) is a community of practice that aims to connect youth employment experts from across the Asia Pacific region.

APYouthNet aims to bring together individuals engaged in designing and implementing policies and programmes which promote decent and productive work for young women and men. A lively network can benefit everyone. By sharing information and experiences we can better understand youth employment challenges in the region and work towards achieving decent work for young people.

APYouthNet is being launched within the framework of the Asian Decent Work Decade as part of the Asia-Pacific Knowledge Network on Decent Work.

Enter the portal, click here. Be participate, this website is based on the community practice and its members are the people in the region who’s work is dedicated to youth employment. Register your name and actively participated.

Contact Ms. Goy Phumtim, moderator/facilitator for the APYouthNet Portal: pornpenn@ilo.org or you can communicate directly with her through her skype: goy.phumtim