Beirut, 12 August 2021--On the occasion of International Youth Day, marked annually on 12 August, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) is launching its newly released comic book the "ESCWA Stories" in Arabic, which tells the story of 6 Arab youths, who are united by their mission in bringing change to their community and achieving the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development.
The book illustrates in five sections the interdisciplinary role of ESCWA, in a lighthearted, educational and accessible way, through stories inspired by its work in dealing with the region's challenges. Every story describes the actions taken by young women and men to fight inequality, combat poverty, mitigate the effects of climate change and contribute to the prosperity of their neighbourhood.
"Young people are the present and the future, and they are leaders and essential partners in achieving the sustainable development goals, and in finding solutions to the challenges facing our region," ESCWA Executive Secretary Rola Dashti assured. "I believe that Youth must be fully involved in the development process, and we should provide them with all the needed support," she added.
The comic book is narrated by 9-year-old "Ward" and her grandfather, two generations bridging the present and the future of sustainable development. Every story addresses the social, economic and environmental challenges facing the neighbourhood of these youths.
In parallel, a series of animated videos will be released weekly, and the book will be distributed to various schools across the region for young students to enjoy the stories and discuss their topics among themselves.
You can download the book here, and watch the videos on our YouTube channel.
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About ESCWA
One of five United Nations regional commissions, ESCWA supports inclusive and sustainable economic and social development in Arab States, and works on enhancing regional integration.
