From pledges to action: Youth Reps reflect on youth as drivers of global action at UNGA 79
Question: Do you feel that young people’s voices were heard in the high-level discussions?
Meg Cummins, WOSM Youth Representative - SDGs: Ironically, the further away events were from the UN, the more spaces were saved for young people at the table. The more spaces that were saved for young people at the table, the more likely we would have an audience made up entirely of young people. They offered awesome opportunities to ensure collaboration and conversation between young people, and often felt like pockets of hope, enthusiasm, and passion. We talked of a future that we see as possible, shared stories of other young people just like us on the ground creating change, and shared real concrete strategies of what we believed was possible for the future, but the people who are currently in world leadership roles were not in the room.
The highlight for me was attending so many events where there were conversations, rather than a panel talking to the audience. The events where microphones were passed around the room and we were able to share our stories and solutions gave so much more value as everyone in the room came with their own experience and expertise.
Question: What moments left you feeling optimistic or frustrated?
Meg: During the Once Upon a Future Reception, run by the United Nations Foundation, we met the children who starred in a new documentary called Future Council. They talked about “adult-splaining”, a new term they had coined when an adult explains something that they believe to be correct based solely on the fact they’re an adult and so better and wiser. I completely resonate with that term. UNGA is based on this concept. Many people hold power because of this and believe that they know what’s right based purely because of their role and number of years of experience. But the reality is that young people also hold the answers, experiences, expertise, and connections to solve important problems. It’s this mind-set that needs to change.
Joaquín: Something that got me truly hopeful were the conversations about the future of work linked to the green economy. When you start to connect the dots between global needs, global investment trends, and the new skills needed to address these global challenges, you really begin to understand what the future of work will to look like in 10 to 20 years from now. And analysing this information with partners from different sectors, it’s just like brainstorming opportunities for young people that sound better than anything you could ever imagine. Picture this: Working on something with a purpose, that drives change in the society and the environment, that is scalable, and doesn’t only drive change in your community, but actually has the potential to change the world and is profitable enough to provide you with the livelihood you’ve dreamed of.
Question: Were there any stand out speakers or ideas? And did they change how you saw youth involvement in shaping global policies?
Flor Cagliero, WOSM Youth Representative - Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Meeting Malala Yousafzai was such an inspiring experience. Malala’s relentless advocacy for girls’ education and her own story of courage in the face of adversity has always resonated with me. But seeing her speak firsthand and passionately calling on world leaders to centre girls and young women in global policy-making was transformative. She emphasised that when girls are excluded from decision-making spaces, the policies formed do not reflect their realities. We met at a girls and women’s activation event, where we there were many, many more determined women! This moment made me reflect that when youth, especially young women and girls, are sidelined, they don’t wait for a seat at the table - they bring their own table along with a megaphone.
Meg: I was filled with hope after the intergenerational dialogue with The Elders, an event attended by the first female presidents of Ireland and of Liberia, former presidents from Mexico, Colombia and Mongolia, and young people from across the world. A question was posed to the former president of Ireland, who handed the microphone over to a young person on the panel, making a point of sharing that it is a world leader’s role and responsibility to provide a seat and voice to young people. Young people were recognised as the experts that they are, which was incredibly inspiring. The session encompassed how essential intergenerational collaboration is, with the former president of Mongolia saying that “you are never too young to lead, never too old to learn”.
Question: How do the outcomes of the Summit align with Scouting’s mission and values?
Melissa: The Summit’s outcomes aligned closely with what we strive for in Scouting. Our mission to create a peaceful, inclusive, and sustainable world fits perfectly with the commitments made at the Summit, particularly around advancing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. At the core of both is a shared belief in youth leadership, diversity, and sustainability, with a focus on ensuring young people are not just participants but drivers of meaningful change.
Flor: The Pact for the Future, one of the Summit’s main outcomes, holds significant relevance for the new Strategy for Scouting. Our Strategy focuses on empowering young people to lead in their communities, drive sustainable solutions, and advocate for peace and justice, echoing the key pillars of the Pact. This global agreement emphasises a renewed commitment to multilateralism, sustainable development, and inclusive governance - all values that align closely with what we work towards in Scouting. As Scouts, we are committed to turning these global ambitions into local actions, ensuring that young voices are integral in shaping the future of global governance and sustainable development.
