{"id":16824,"date":"2018-02-19T17:31:08","date_gmt":"2018-02-19T16:31:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.fundacionmicrofinanzasbbva.org\/en\/los-jovenes-grandes-aliados-lograr-los-ods\/"},"modified":"2018-03-28T14:43:46","modified_gmt":"2018-03-28T12:43:46","slug":"los-jovenes-grandes-aliados-lograr-los-ods","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fundacionmicrofinanzasbbva.org\/en\/los-jovenes-grandes-aliados-lograr-los-ods\/","title":{"rendered":"The youth: crucial allies to achieving the SDGs"},"content":{"rendered":"

They are associated with selfishness, but also with altruism; with consumerism, but also with environmental consciousness; with apathy, but also with the desire to change the world. Regardless of their origin, race or gender,\u00a0the youth share similar concerns and are driven by the same motivations.\u00a0 But who are they, really?<\/p>\n

They are 1.8 billion inhabitants\u00a0in the planet. They are also major allies in fulfilling the most ambitious agenda for development: the Sustainable Development Goals.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

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The United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Youth Forum recently concluded and it shone light on the\u00a0major issues that concern young people throughout the world: the desire for greater\u00a0participation in the social, economic and political arena, funding\u00a0for their initiatives and access to technological innovations, to name a few. Yet all are necessary to speed up the journey towards achieving the SDGs.<\/p>\n

The BBVA Microfinance Foundation<\/a> is aware that the youth plays an important role in driving economic and social development. It also knows about the difficulties\u00a0they face in\u00a0securing and keeping an employment. Whether\u00a0because of incompatibilities with their studies, or because there are not enough jobs available, the obstacles are real and\u00a0hinder their full participation in the society.<\/p>\n

Latin America is home to nearly 160 million youth, a region where the Foundation promotes the development of vulnerable entrepreneurs so they can prosper\u00a0through\u00a0their own efforts.<\/strong> \u00a0It serves people who are\u00a0excluded from\u00a0the formal financial system, nearly 20% of whom are under 30 years old.\u00a0This is also the reason\u00a0why it harnesses the talent of young microfinance officers, who are essential in bringing the BBVAMF\u2019s mission to fruition and in making real changes to the lives of the people they support.<\/p>\n

Young people also show great\u00a0examples of vitality, passion and tenacity. For instance, Josfranny Reinoso, from the Dominican Republic, is 22, and in spite of an illness limiting his motor functions,\u00a0he has set up a small store\u00a0 which supports his family; in Peru, Karina Lizbeth Mallqui, a 28-year old microfinance officer, travels to remote rural areas promoting financial inclusion among the residents.<\/p>\n

These are only some examples of a generation able and willing to fight to eradicate poverty. Bearing in mind that they represent nearly a quarter of the world\u2019s population, they are a powerful ally to accomplish this goal. They\u00a0possess the energy needed to transform our world into a beter place, they just need the opportunity.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\t\t