(MissionNewswire) Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco, joins humanitarian organizations and the international community in celebrating World Youth Skills Day, which has been celebrated each year on July 15 since 2014. The United Nations designated the day as a way to bring greater awareness of and discussion on the importance of technical and vocational education and training and the development of other skills relevant to both local and global economies.

The theme for this year’s World Youth Skills Day is “Skills for a Resilient Youth” and explores the issues faced by educational systems during the coronavirus pandemic. UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, estimates that nearly 70 percent of the world’s learners are affected by school closures across education levels as a result of COVID-19 and the lockdowns that followed. While distance training has become a common way to educate, there are considerable difficulties. UNESCO reports that curricula adaptation, trainee and trainer preparedness, connectivity, or assessment and certification processes are all challenges faced by those providing education remotely.