Youth for SDG 6

Millions of young people face uncertain economic prospects, low employment rates, and significant social stressors. The youth unemployment rate is 10.6 percent in Bangladesh and 29.8 percent of the total youth population are neither in education, nor in employment or training. It is believed that given the right opportunities, these young people can become change makers with the ability to improve the lives of their communities, while growing the required professional skills and capacity that support them to find work and build successful careers. 

The overall aim of this platform is to engage young people to accelerate progress towards the 2030 Agenda.
Connect youth to act on the critical issues of water, sanitation and hygiene to achieve SDG 6; 
Collaborate with youth to build their skills, capacity and knowledge to become change agents'
Change what is normal together with youth to address issues that are important to young people and their communities.

The platform will be led through member volunteers, selected through a creative and competitive selection process. The member volunteers will be equipped with knowledge and skills through comprehensive training from WASH Sector, will work as one or several teams to design and implement WASH agendas in locality, supported where needed by general volunteers. Developing capacity on advocacy, campaign, networking, public speaking skills, problem-solving and decision-making skills. The platform will contribute to overcoming limitations of skilled manpower in the workforce. Graduates will become platform alumni, continuing their involvement through alumni-focused networking opportunities and mentoring of new and existing members.

The advisory panel board is a group of dynamic professionals from diverse background who will strategically guide the platform led activities, by underscoring the links between the youth and SDG 6 through their knowledge, guidance and leadership. 

Sustainable Development Goal 6: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all is one of the 17 global goals set by the United Nations General Assembly. To achieve the targets by 2030, adequate infrastructure, sanitation facilities, encouraging hygiene, enhancing capacity-building support for desalination, water efficiency, wastewater treatment, recycling and reusing technologies, improving accessibility, protecting and restoring water-related ecosystems are necessary. 

1. Design and deliver a comprehensive training on WASH, campaign design and implementation, project management and life skills for youth
2. Connect platform members to other youth networks and alliances to amplify their voice and work.
3. Maintain and facilitate a strong presence of young voices on WASH nationally and globally. 

As the platform grows, youth groups across the country will implement WASH campaigns in solidarity, collaborating with different volunteers and organizations. Creating a critical mass that will influence local, regional and national WASH awareness and action becoming a vocal and valued part of civil society. The platform in the future will expand its regional presence in India, Nepal, Pakistan, Myanmar and beyond.