12th August 2026
This International Youth Day, we shine a spotlight on Hyelladi Vandi, a remarkable young man who grew up in northern Nigeria with a future nearly already decided for him. His parents dreamed of him becoming a doctor. Secretly, he dreamed of flying planes. Neither dream came true.
Instead, after years of setbacks, academic persistence, difficult family expectations and an unexpected career change, he discovered something far more powerful than a profession: his purpose.
Hyelladi Vandi is today Deputy Consortium Lead and Programme Manager at Save the Children International in Nigeria. His story, shared in a soon to be released episode of Fresh Humanitarian Perspectives, is a reminder that while young people may grow up in vastly different circumstances, they often share the same aspirations – to make a difference, to serve others and to build a better future.
Vandi’s message is fitting for International Youth Day 2026, themed “Different Contexts, Common Aspirations,” which celebrates the shared hopes that unite young people across cultures, countries and communities.
“Your career is what you do, but your purpose is who you become while doing it. When your purpose aligns with your career, your work becomes service. Service becomes impact. And impact becomes your legacy.” – Vandi Hyelladi, 2026
International Youth Day reminds us that young people are not defined solely by geography, income or opportunity. Some youth begin their careers in refugee camps; others in bustling cities. Some enter the humanitarian sector through university, others through volunteering or lived experience.
Yet across these different contexts, common aspirations similar to Hyelladi’s emerge. Young people want meaningful work; they want opportunities to learn; they want to solve problems within their communities; they want to be trusted with leadership and they want their voices to matter.
These aspirations are increasingly important in today’s humanitarian landscape, where complex crises require local knowledge, fresh thinking and the energy of a new generation of leaders.
Hyelladi’s advice to young humanitarians – “Don’t chase titles. Chase competence.”
Hyelladi argues that lasting leadership is built on service and humility – a message particularly relevant in an era where career progression is often measured by job titles or visibility.
He encourages young professionals to focus on three things:
- Developing competence in their work.
- Building character through humility and integrity.
- Asking continually, “What can I contribute?”
In the soon to be released episode, Hyelladi leaves listeners with words that capture the spirit of International Youth Day:
“The greatest measure of success is not how high you climb, but how many people stand taller because you chose to serve. Purpose is rarely found in comfort. It is found in courage. And if your work leaves hope where there was once despair, then you have lived a life that truly matters.” – Vandi Hyelladi, 2026
On this International Youth Day, that is perhaps the most powerful reminder of all: regardless of where young people begin, the aspirations: to serve, to lead and to create lasting change have the power to shape a more just and more humane future.