Different Contexts, Common Aspirations: Voices of Myanmar’s Youth calendar

On 12 August, the United Nations in Myanmar and partners marked International Youth Day, amplifying the voices of young people across the country. In a country where a young generation is navigating hardships and uncertainty with remarkable resilience, this year’s theme “different contexts, common aspirations” is more than a slogan — it is a testament to their unwavering hope for a better future.

"Our lives may differ, but our aspirations for better access to opportunities and safe spaces are the same," shared *Palae, a youth delegate from Kayin State.

Amid protracted crises and economic contraction, young people are showing that despite their quiet struggles and daily challenges, they share a common hope for a future built on dignity, safety, and the opportunities they deserve. Many young people, including a young person from Chin State shared that the youth want a future where they are heard, respected and given the chance to contribute toward building a peaceful and resilient community. 

The UN Myanmar Inter-Agency Youth Theme Group (YTG), continues to work to connect the realities of Myanmar’s youth with global solidarity. The YTG provides dedicated spaces for the young people where they can engage directly with the UN.

“We need our voices to be heard. But we also need to be listened to by our communities, decision-makers, and elders. For donors, NGOs, and the UN, we need to be recognized not just on paper, but through concrete actions at the field level”, said representatives from the LGBTQIA+ and persons with disabilities (PWDs) communities.

International Youth Day was an opportunity for many young people to participate and engage in conversations with key stakeholders from the UN and partners.

Youth voices on livelihoods, constraints, and migration

Young people of Myanmar today increasingly face difficulties in securing employment. Many feel forced to migrate to find work — a journey that is often unsafe and undocumented, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation and harsh working conditions.

A group of youth expressed concerns about the need for accessible digital and language skills training for both in-school and out-of-school youth to help bridge the opportunity gap. They urge decision-makers and the donor community to support community learning centers in rural and urban areas so young people can build sustainable careers and migrate safely if they choose to do so.

For *Pwint Phyu, who is currently with the Myanmar Independent Living Initiative (MILI), the struggle of finding a job is compounded. She shared the barriers faced by persons with disabilities (PWDs) and how often they are confined to working within their own circles due to deep-seated misconceptions about their abilities. She recalled, “Employers just simply assume that I am incapable and deny me employment, even though I am fully qualified.” She is now calling for a shift toward inclusion that recognizes the skills and potential of PWDs.

Youth voices on mental health

While young people’s lives may appear ordinary on the surface, many carry invisible struggles. Like youth around the world, young people in Myanmar desire leisure, social connection, hope, and strong support from their families and communities, but these needs remain fragmented under current circumstances.

Youth representatives described their mental health challenges as a direct consequence of instability, comparing the situation of them to "fish out of water" in an environment that no longer sustains them.

Shared visions for a better tomorrow for Myanmar’s youth

In the hopes of a better tomorrow, the YTG partners with youth networks across Myanmar, actively advocating for and offering the support they need so their collective aspirations are realized.

Their personal journeys reveal the daily pressures young people face, and their voices shed light on the diverse realities they go through across Myanmar. Even so, they continue to create, innovate, and aspire toward a dignified, safe future and better opportunities, regardless of where they come from.

Perhaps the clearest call of the day came from a youth delegate from Chin who urged the international community not simply to listen to Myanmar's young people but to stand with them: “Our message to the world is simple: Do not forget the youth of Myanmar. We do not ask for sympathy. We ask for partnership. Stand with us as we work to build a peaceful, inclusive, and prosperous future.”

*Name changed for privacy. 

The Youth Theme Group is a United Nations interagency coordination platform, chaired and led by UNFPA.