When the United Nations General Assembly established World Youth Skills Day in 2015, the goal was clear: to spotlight the importance of equipping young people with the skills needed to secure employment, access decent work, and foster entrepreneurship.
A decade later, the world has changed in ways few could have predicted. The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) and rapid digitalization have transformed the global workforce, rendering many traditional skillsets obsolete. It’s estimated that AI could displace up to 800 million jobs globally by 2030, with tens of millions already impacted.
That’s why this year’s theme—“Youth Empowerment Through AI and Digital Skills”—feels especially urgent.
The Unequal Digital Landscape
While the global community increasingly acknowledges the impact of AI on youth employment, one reality remains stark: access to the education and tools needed to thrive in this new era is still deeply unequal.
The digital divide today is shaped not just by access to devices and connectivity, but also by disparities in digital literacy, affordability, and infrastructure. These challenges are even more acute for displaced persons or those whose education has been disrupted by war, civil strife, or natural disaster.
Spotlight on Afghanistan
One such place is Afghanistan, where the already fragile education system has been further destabilized since 2021. As of 2021, Afghanistan’s internet penetration stood at just 22%, while according to a 2024 report, only 15% of Afghans had internet access. The digital divide also has a disparate impact on Afghan women, with only 6% of Afghan women reporting internet access in 2022, compared to 25% of men. Likewise, the education of women and girls has been particularly affected: education above the secondary level remains banned for girls, and women face severe restrictions on movement, employment, and access to digital platforms.
Bridging the Gap: The Qatar Scholarship for Afghans Project
Amid these challenges, the Qatar Scholarship for Afghans Project (QSAP) stands out as a beacon of hope. Supported by partners Afghan Future Fund (AFF), Education Above All Foundation (EAA), Qatar Fund For Development (QFFD), and Yalda Hakim Foundation (YHF), QSAP is working to restore educational access for Afghan youth.
Since 2021, QSAP has helped approximately 275 displaced Afghan students continue their education at overseas universities in multiple countries. Remarkably, about half of these students are young women. Many have already gone on to achieve extraordinary things—like the members of the Afghan Girls Robotics Team, a group of young women whose technical skills and resilience have inspired the world.
A Call to Action
The needs in Afghanistan—and in many other parts of the world—are great. But on this World Youth Skills Day, we reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that all youth have access to the education and skills they need to compete and lead in a future shaped by AI and digital innovation.
Because when we empower youth, we don’t just prepare them for the future—we give them the tools to shape it.