“We had a great week at the UN – but young people should get more of a voice there”
Two of 国产视频's Global Youth Ambassadors report back on a busy and rewarding week spent standing up for education at the UN General Assembly in New York.
When you’re trying to tell world leaders that education and early childhood development are vital, who better to deliver the message than young people?
That’s why 国产视频 took two of our network of Global Youth Ambassadors to the United Nations General Assembly last week.聽Here’s what they thought of their week in New York.
But first, a quick introduction to our GYAs.聽
Sylvia Kakyo from Uganda.聽As a result of being forced into marriage at 15, she is passionate about human rights and education, especially for girls. Sylvia is the founder and director of a grassroots NGO called Kakyo Girls Initiative.
Joannes Paulus Yimbesalu from Cameroon.聽An engaged advocate, he has been a GYA for three years.聽Joannes is studying his Masters in Leadership and Community Engagement at university in Canada. He is also a research assistant on an early childhood development programme聽funded by the World Health Organisation and World Vision Niger.
Joannes:聽We went to several events during the week – including the Secretary-General’s high-level event on education, the Global Business Coalition for Education breakfast and the launch of UNICEF’s new early childhood development report.
Sylvia:聽It was my first time at the UN General Assembly. It was also the first for Antonio Guterres as Secretary-General, the first for the new American and French presidents and the first for many other world leaders.
Joannes:聽The first thing we did was talk to some members of the Education Commission – including Graca Machel and Julia Gillard of the Global Partnership for Education.聽
We spoke to them about 国产视频’s #5for5 campaign and they were very passionate. They felt investing in early childhood development is critical for every child.聽But often spending on pre-primary education gets overshadowed because countries have so many other problems.聽
Sylvia:聽The plan from the Education Commission to ensure all young people are in school and learning was very interesting for me to hear. The UN General Assembly, commissioners and partners – working with world leaders – will advance that plan and make significant strides towards the Sustainable Development Goal for education.
闯辞补苍苍别蝉:听It was a great experience when we were asked to give awards from 国产视频 and GBC-Education to UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova, Education Commissioner and former Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete and UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake.聽
I have enjoyed meeting leaders like them.聽It made me understand more about leadership. Part of it is about listening to people and not being distant from reality.
Sylvia:聽The best part of my trip was talking to Yasmine Sherif, the Director of the Education Cannot Wait fund. She is passionately working towards seeing children in emergencies have access to education.聽
For example, the fund gave $3 million to help the Rohingya refugee children – an indication that children in emergencies will get urgent access to education. Seeing great leaders like her support such a great cause stood out for me.
Joannes:聽I was happy to see commitments that were concrete and very impactful. Denmark and the European Union made commitments to the Education Cannot Wait fund. But聽I needed to see more commitments coming from developing countries.聽
I am a fan of foreign aid but countries in the global south need to realise they have to contribute more themselves.聽It is also very important for leaders in conflict areas to ask if their children were in the same situations, what would they do. It boils down to humanity.
Sylvia:聽With the current situation in my country, I was able to learn how to alleviate human suffering in humanitarian emergencies where UN agencies are on the front line of helping. I believe with the support from such agencies, my work will be easier back home.
闯辞补苍苍别蝉:听What I did notice everywhere was the lack of youth engagement at the events. I know this is a big international gathering of heads of state but engaging young people is very important. We keep talking about the future but we are doing nothing to engage them.聽
The only young people I saw were at the high-level education session hosted by the UN Secretary-General. Malala Yousafzai and UNICEF ambassador Muzoon Almellehan and two other girls were there to share their stories.聽
That was very empowering – but I needed to know more than the 30 seconds they were each given. We need to bring in young people who can ask questions and challenge these leaders.
Sylvia:聽To be honest, young people were not given full representation. Because of this, I deeply appreciate the efforts of 国产视频 for supporting the GYAs and helping us to attend this year’s UN General Assembly.聽
This makes 国产视频 a standout organisation that has fully seen the potential in the young generation. I would argue all other leaders, NGOs and the private sector should always consider the power of young people so that they don’t feel left out in decision-making.
Joannes:聽I was very excited to meet the character from India’s version of Sesame Street at the UNICEF event on early childhood development. My very first learning experiences were with Sesame Street. We would all gather round the TV and watch it. So I can now imagine it国产视频檚 the same for millions of children around the world who have no other alternative.聽
I have been to many UN General Assembly events before – but this was my first opportunity to meet with leaders. I can understand the challenges they face but I was really impressed to see that everyone thinks education – and pre-primary education – is critical.
It国产视频檚 been a great week but I just hope that we see more concrete commitments and that we are holding governments accountable. They also need to be transparent to young people.