| Akua Nm
New York, USA
“I really hope that by the end of this week, they will come up with policies that can be implemented…that these policies are action based and that people can go out there and do things. As youths, we should influence politicians to involve us in policy making.”
Julia Wong
Texas, USA
“I’m here at UNCSD-17 and I hope to see you here next year. I love you, Singapore!”
Kunal Doshi
Virginia, USA
“I am a representative of Sustain-US, currently dealing with agriculture. We hope to influence the countries and the major delegates on having policies that are beneficial for the major stakeholders.”
Alicia Cundall
Toronto, Canada
“Pick an issue that bothers you in your neighbourhood or something that just bugs you and you’re not sure why. Then start learning about it. As youths, we have to acknowledge that we don’t know everything, and neither do our governments. We all just have to be ready to learn and not pretend to have all the knowledge or all the solutions.”
Melody Mirzaagha
Toronto, Canada
“I’m from the Baha’i International Community, an NGO in New York. I have been working with both the Children and Youth major group as well as the Women’s major group. It is important to recognise that the emancipation of women is a prerequisite to just and sustainable development.”
Michaela Hogenboom
The Netherlands
“This is my first CSD and I’m really excited about the progress we’re making. As youths, we must be pro-active to get our points across. We do this mostly in the hallways and our approach has been successful in influencing government delegates and other major groups. We promote action-oriented policies which have a future perspective, because we are the future.”
Bozidar Rados
Croatia
“I am working with other youths. We are lobbying and changing statements and we have been very successful.”
Ivana Savic
Serbia
“I am a member of the major group of Children and Youth Steering Committee and my role is to coordinate advocacy activities prior to and during the UNCSD. It is really important to have pro-public participation and to recognise the potential in children and youth. Therefore I would like to make a call on governments to, as much as possible, include young people in decision making processes.”
Esther Agbarakwe
Nigeria
“Young people from Africa need to be integrally represented here at the UNCSD. African delegations must support young people for societal development to succeed in Africa. Young people must be involved because we are the future and without us, there cannot be sustainability in Africa.”
Kevin Tan
Singapore
“I had a very good time at the UNCSD. The discussions have been very interesting. By the end of the UNCSD, I would like to see at least a soft political commitment on some issues, for example, reducing trade tariffs and improving stakeholder participation. ” |
