Question

role of rural youth in society during covid
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Answer 1

Answer:

 The COVID-19 pandemic is affecting all parts of society and livelihoods around the globe. It is

though worth recognizing that disadvantaged segments of populations like rural young

women and men will be impacted harder. Nevertheless, when proactively engaged, they have

demonstrated to be innovators in their own sectors to surmount the pandemic impact.

 In rural areas, the education, vocational education and training system may already be

disadvantaged by the underdevelopment or lack of certain services. The closure of education

and learning facilities, may leave behind millions of rural youth, owing to the difficult context

they live in, paired with difficulties in accessing technologies for distance learning. All this may

further result in inhibiting their school to work transition.

 Around one in five of the world’s youth are not in employment, education or training with

young women outnumbering young men two to one. Furthermore, the youth unemployment

rates are about three times as high as those of adults (ILO, 2019). The COVID-19 crisis will

increase this already tough scenario and intensify their unemployment rates and possibly

their labour market vulnerabilities. The youth cohort1

aged 15-17, may experience

heightened barriers to prepare and access decent employment opportunities with the

current crisis and be more vulnerable to child labour if exposed to hazardous work as a

negative coping mechanism. Overall, young people represent a large majority of the

workforce in the informal sector and therefore may not be able to access COVID-19 social

protection measures put in place by countries.

 Rural youth are often unheard and not consulted. Although it is increasingly recognized that

youth participation has an important role in decision-making, including during the COVID-19

pandemic discourse, too often their participation remains symbolic or passive.