International Youth Day takes place annually on the 12th August.
Founded in 2000 by the United Nations, the day is dedicated to raising awareness of youth issues and the challenges faced by the world’s youth. Bringing youth voices to the fore, it encourages them to take action with a different theme discussed each year such as mental health, climate change or civic engagement.
Several collections held within the Queen Mary University of London Archives show historic efforts to understand and meet the needs of young people. By implementing programmes and education to help improve the lives of young people and to help them overcome difficulties.
The People’s Palace collection records an early endeavour in the east of London to educate the young and poor. Allowing those previously unable to access education to do so through day and evening classes. View highlights from the collection in our galleries.
The Westfield College collection highlights the work done to bring education to young women at a time when women’s education was often overlooked. Find out more here: www.women.qmul.ac.uk
The Donald Chesworth archives chronicle his work as a political campaigner and activist, including work in local government in London. Whilst not as prominent among his work, some of the schemes he supported included a youth buddying programme, which matched a member of the police force with at-risk teens to provide guidance and help. He was also involved in a campaign to establish a Thames Children's Beach in Tower Hill in the 1980s-1990.
For more information on these or any other collections in the archives please see the Guide to Archives or get in touch with us at archives@qmul.ac.uk