Each year, on the 12th of August, we celebrate International Youth Day!

International Youth Day is acknowledged and celebrated by the United Nations, and offers an opportunity to recognise the energy, creativity, and determination of young people around the world!

This day is considered very special for the Global Tree Initiative, as our mission is, as you already know, to #PlantGrowSave!

Plant your tree,
Grow our forests,
Save the planet for our youth and future generations!

Tree planting, in particular, has become a symbol of hope: a single sapling today can grow into a leafy oxygen factory, a home for wildlife, and a legacy for generations to come. So, when it comes to caring for our planet, our young community is not just planting ideas, they’re planting actual trees! Have a look at some of these inspiring photos from our global community:

Youth from our community in Portugal, planting trees

Children from our partner, Bellview Elementary School

Children from Ecole Taimoana Erhardt Nathalie’s classroom in Tahiti.

Children of the Taman Daun community, planting coral.

Trees ready to be planted at a school in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

Congratulations to our youth for inspiring us, and for stepping up as environmental champions!

In celebration of this day, we can also consider our Global Tree Initiative partner, Manica Youth Assembly (MAYA) in Zimbabwe, and their remarkable work! MAYA has planted thousands of trees over the last years, while simultaneously leading numerous environmental awareness and educational programs.

MAYA with school children

In 2024, the director of MAYA, Jussa Kudherezera, (who is also our Zimbabwean regional coordinator) won the Youth Impact Award! Congratulations, Jussa!

Jussa receiving the Youth Impact Award.

So, this International Youth Day, let’s cheer on the young changemakers. Whether they’re planting a forest, starting a recycling campaign, or simply picking up litter, they’re showing us that you’re never too young to grow a greener future!

We end this article with an inspiring quote by one of our environmental heroes, the 14th Dalai Lama, who tells us that “When educating the minds of our youth, we must not forget to educate their hearts.”

The Dalai Lama in Italy, sharing seeds with children

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If you planted trees for Youth Day, please remember to tell us about it!