UN Assembly Mobilizes Young Leaders to Meet  MDG Benchmarks

by Ursula Lincoln

Vision. Passion. Action. The Sixth Annual Youth Assembly at the United Nations focused on these three key aspects to inspire young delegates who came to the world body’s New York Headquarters on August 5-7 from 50 nations. With a clear vision and passion for promoting peace and equitable development, young leaders are being empowered to work not only for their communities but as international agents of change.

Dr. Elaine Valdov, the executive director of the International Institute for a Culture of Peace , began the proceedings with an address to youth delegates, declaring, “the world needs you.” This affirmation set the tone and outlined the overall goal of the conference: to engage, encourage and inspire young leaders to utilize their strengths, talents, and affiliations to achieve the UN’s Millennium Development Goals.

Dr Elaine Valdov chats with a delegate at the UN Assembly.

• eradicate extreme hunger an poverty;

• achieve universal primary education;

• promote gender equality and empower women;

• reduce child mortality;

• improve maternal health;

• combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases;

• ensure environmental sustainability; and

• develop a partnership for global development

Ambassador Heidi Schroderus-Fox, Deputy Permanent Representative of Finland to the UN, underscored the delegates’ important role in the implementation of the MDGs. Ambassador Schroderus-Fox citied numerous avenues young leaders have created and utilized to advocate for human rights, organize community projects, and improve critical human services around the world. Saying “you are the source of innovation,” the ambassador also encouraged delegates to become involved in government and collaborate with local leaders to direct change to affect the world.

Patrick Sciarratta, executive director of the Friendship Ambassadors Foundation, warned of alarming trends relating to lack of budgeting among large numbers of NGOs. Many groups are well-intentioned, he said, but lack the much-needed funding to make the impact needed in the communities served. Sciarratta urged delegates to network, share experiences, and exchange ideas with other young leaders to help combat this growing problem. Echoing the words of the revolutionary American patriot Thomas Paine, Sciarratta declared, “We have in our power to begin the world again. How do we begin the process of creating a world of peace? What's your role in creating this world?” Delegates were encouraged to process the question and look inside themselves and their hearts to find the answer; how to bring about positive transformation around the world.

The Assembly presented a variety of daily workshops and round table discussions, offering tools and techniques to improve community service. Each workshop provided an opportunity for an open dialogue between delegates and presenters on the topics of MDGs, education, youth initiatives, and other themes important to achieving world peace. The overall goals of the workshops and round table discussions were to promote advocacy, activism, and action that result in resource development on the local and international levels.

“Partnerships in Development” was one of the various workshops which focused on achieving effective, efficient communication between local and international young leaders. Gerrit Beger, presenter of the forum, encouraged delegates to become innovative thinkers to provide avenues to get their message to the world. Asked what forms of communication are used in rural areas to improve community outreach and involvement, Beger cited a multitude of means familiar to youth leaders, such as video, SMS, Facebook, and other social networking sites. Beger also encouraged partnerships with organizations to assist with development of community centers in rural areas with computers and other technological advances.

Lessons learned, experiences shared, and ideas exchanged during the Assembly will lead to sustained and renewed efforts to achieve the MDGs and continued promotion of world peace. The United Nations Programme on Youth is exclusive to youth issues. The focus is advocacy, policy and development, empowerment and investment of youth participation in governmental policies. The programme’s annual International Youth Day, on August 12, 2009, celebrates the positive works of youth around the world, emphasizes education and youth advocacy, and encourages the development of organizations to empower youth.

Dr. Arun Ghandi, grandson of modern India’s revered founder Mahatma Ghandi, ended the conference with powerful guidance to “understand life has meaning and that meaning has purpose.” These words appeared to have a profound affect on delegates, as the room listened attentively. Many in attendance showed their affection and admiration for Dr. Ghandi as he received a standing ovation after his words of encouragement.

These international delegates and their colleagues are the leaders of tomorrow. Through the education, encouragement, and leadership capacity building of such assemblies, the passion of next-generation leaders can be deployed to meet the MDG benchmarks by the target year of 2015.