Global Changemakers

Today on International Youth Day and the beginning to the UN’s International Year of Youth: Dialogue and Mutual Understanding, five of us Global Changemakers (Barbara Soetan UK, Stephanie Lynch UK, Jae Nelson Jamaica, Alice Yen USA) participated in the celebrations marking this day with youth from across the globe, held in the marvellous setting of Marlborough House home to the Commonwealth Secretariat and full of rich history.

The day got off to a start with a welcome address from Dr. Fatiha Serour, the Director of the Commonwealth Youth Programme followed by a statement from the Secretary General delivered by Eduardo del Buey, in which H.E Karmlesh Sharma stated: ‘I call on young people in national youth councils, schools, youth clubs, non-governmental organisations to make this year one that will long be remembered‘, with the Regional Commonwealth Youth Caucus address given in response to the statement.

We were then treated to a number of fantastic performances from young people of the Commonwealth, which came in the form of poetry from  Trinidad and Tobago, as well as an inspiring song from a group of young people from the Pacific Kingdom of  Tonga before we sat down to engage in our first panel of the day.

I myself was on the panel which showcased our work as youth activists and how it’s important to have youth participation at the centre of issues like; Sexual Reproductive Health, HIV and AIDS, Climate Change, Sport and Culture, Poverty Development and Social Enterprise – all of  the panelist’s that spoke today were incredibly empowering and were surely motivating.

During my presentation I chose too highlight the fact that young people should not be seen as the most affected group, but rather as actors of change/implementers of grass root programmes that challenge the issue of HIV and AIDS, as we have to remember that young people are key to leading the prevention revolution and must take definitive action to ensure they lead a healthy sexual relationship.

The event also saw the launch of the newly formed organisation Yparticipate which aims to provide a platform of best practice for youth participation, aimed at organisations working with young people to ensure they are more open and inclusive, they have some amazing plans for the upcoming year and are definitely worthwhile keeping an eye on them and of course if you want  to know more then look no further to our very own Barbara Soetan!

Remember that this is YOUR YEAR, YOUR VOICE and in the words of Barbara and Neil ‘Put the sizzle in the starfish and make it swim!‘

Here are some thoughts from some other Global Changemakers in attendance:

The event was a good testament of the energies and potential of us as young people to both engage and lead change. Most of all, the launch of Yparticipate was a timely symbol of the advocacy that young people will lead with our adult partners and allies, to ensure there is better understanding of our role in development dialogue and actions. – Jae Nelson