August 12: International Youth Day

Montevideo, August 12, 2021.

ICTs play a fundamental role in the development of youth worldwide, offering countless advantages—from facilitating access to various types of content to new forms of learning that enrich knowledge and enhance skills. While significant challenges remain related to the digital divide and digital literacy, various organizations and governments are creating opportunities and spaces that contribute to building a more equitable world.

Currently, young people aged 15 to 24 represent 16% of the global population, and this figure is expected to grow by 7% by the year 2030, according to the United Nations (UN). This presents a major challenge for societies, governments, and organizations, as youth demand greater opportunities and conditions that allow them to reach their full potential. By doing so, organizations help to eradicate poverty, gender inequality, unemployment, migration, and the negative impact of climate change.

In this context, recognizing the essential role of youth and, more specifically, their leadership as agents of change for a more just, equitable, and fair society, the UN General Assembly designated August 12 as International Youth Day. This day aims to empower young people to participate in all areas of society and to share their solutions as part of global efforts to foster a more inclusive society full of opportunities for everyone.

In line with this, Sofis Solutions is taking action to help reduce youth unemployment, whether due to lack of opportunities or lack of the experience demanded by the labor market. To address this issue and contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda, the company created the "My First Job Program", an initiative that provides job opportunities to young people aged 18 to 29 who are seeking their first work experience in the IT field, and who wish to develop their skills and competencies through the "learning by doing" approach.

Thanks to this initiative, some young people have benefited and remain part of the company’s workforce. Furthermore, the initiative supports the right to a first work experience and aligns with SDG 8: Promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment, and decent work for all. This goal emphasizes equality of opportunity, the eradication of poverty, and the creation of quality jobs—not just more jobs, but better ones.

Additionally, Sofis Solutions has worked on projects that support youth development. Some of them include:

• Montevideo Libre: This project involved the design, implementation, and execution of a tool that ensures access to cultural events for students in grades 10, 11, and 12 of public secondary schools in Montevideo. Through the platform, students can search for events in theater, dance, music, cinema, carnival, among others, and reserve tickets.
• Education Management Information System of El Salvador (SIGES): This project involved the development of an information system that centralizes student data at the national level. It includes data from early childhood to high school education in various formats. The system was developed for the Ministry of Education of El Salvador and benefits both the educational community and the general public.
• Vía Trabajo: This project focused on creating a platform that provides services related to career guidance, training, and job placement. It aims to meet labor market demands and offers access to job and professional development opportunities. Users can complete their profiles, making them available to companies looking for candidates.
• SKILLS Project: This project involves the design, development, and implementation of a digital platform for managing Career Counseling activities under the "Education for Children and Youth" initiative. It provides career guidance and vocational counseling to students in El Salvador.

Each year, International Youth Day focuses on a specific theme. The 2021 theme was: "Transforming Food Systems: Youth Innovation for Human and Planetary Health", calling attention to society's needs and urging collective efforts to preserve the planet and ensure a better quality of life through more equitable and resilient food systems.