As a Digital Communication Officer and a young member of UNICEF, I had the honor of representing UNICEF Ghana at the Summit of the Future in New York City, USA. This global event brought together young people and world leaders and was the culmination of extensive preparation, including the successful Children’s Model Summit and SDG Action Event in Accra, Ghana.
Before the summit, UNICEF Ghana worked closely with the National Development Planning Commission and the SDG Advisory to organize the Children’s Model Summit. 82 young people from across the country gathered to discuss and propose solutions that contribute to the SDGs. The event provided a platform for children to share their experiences and advocate for their rights.
Upon arriving in New York, I visited Generation Unlimited and met with colleagues, particularly the communication team. During my visit, I had a pleasant conversation with Mr. Thomas Asare, Assistant Secretary-General at the World Meteorological Organization, who shared some valuable advice with me. I also participated in the planning meeting for the Breakfast Forum: "Strategic Public-Private-Youth Partnerships for Africa," where the theme was "Build an Alliance: Invest in African Youth." I had the opportunity to share ideas and best practices from Ghana. The commitment board used at the Children Model Summit was also adopted for this event. Later in the day, I went to the UNICEF HQ to connect with colleagues.
The following day, I attended a side event at the African Union building focused on scaling up advocacy for meaningful child participation in Ghana. The event was organized by Ghana’s SDGs Advisory Unit and the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC). This event was a significant step in broadening the conversation about children's involvement beyond Ghana and onto the global stage. The main takeaway was clear: young people, including children, must genuinely participate in decision-making processes, rather than just being present for appearances. It was a powerful reminder that their voices are crucial in shaping policies that will impact their futures.
In the afternoon, I attended the inspiring opening session of the UN Summit of the Future, where young advocates actively participated in discussing solutions for the Sustainable Development Goals. Areej, a 17-year-old UNICEF Youth Advocate from Yemen, delivered a powerful message, urging youth to follow their passions. It was a proud moment to witness the engagement of youth advocates in meaningful discussions with world leaders at the UN Assembly.
Later in the day, I joined the Ghana delegation to meet with the Director of Social Policy, Natalia Winder Rossi, at UNICEF House to discuss the importance of child participation and the role of UNICEF in advocating for children’s rights. She welcomed us with open arms. During the meeting, we discussed the significance of prioritizing children in policy and financing decisions.
I recall Areej's passionate plea, which reminded me of Beatrice, a youth advocate from Ghana. She stood out during the intergenerational dialogue at the SDGs Action Summit in Accra, fearlessly sharing her thoughts on the future. Her words, "We, the youth, are capable of anything because we have the burning fire in us," still resonate with me. I also remember the impact of empowering youth to share their voices, as showcased at The Children's Corner during the visit of the President of Ghana.
On the third day, I had the privilege of meeting youth advocates who had come to participate in various side events, including Charles Yabe, an alumnus of UNICEF Startup Lab. During the Generation Unlimited side event "Green Visions and Thriving Futures," the panelists emphasized the importance of multilateral cooperation as the need for both the public and private sectors to work together to empower and equip young people with the necessary resources, guidance, and employable skills for the future. The panel acknowledged that the nature of work is changing and highlighted the importance of meeting the demand and supply. While technology is a powerful tool, it is essential to provide young people with the right resources and skills to prepare them for the future.
Together with my colleague Grace from Ghana, I attended a high-level policy dialogue organized by UNICEF, the European Union, and the African Union. The event brought together passionate youth advocates and leaders focused on discussing life-changing solutions, including immunization, quality education, and investing in young people to reduce poverty. I learned a lot about the event's branding and the solutions shared. Additionally, I had the opportunity to meet young advocates and high-profile individuals.
The day before I left New York, I attended the Breakfast Forum on Strategic Public-Private-Youth Partnerships for Africa, in partnership with the African Union and Generation Unlimited. The event brought together African leaders and youth advocates with the goal of catalyzing investments and scaling innovative opportunities for 100 million youth across Africa. During the planning phase, I contributed to the discussions, shared best practices from Ghana, and supported the event from a branding and communication perspective. I had the opportunity to meet and interact with George Laryea-Adjei, Director of the Programme Group at UNICEF, Praise Majwafi, Co-founder of AYA Africa, Vicky Aridi, Manager for YEO 2030, Generation Unlimited Board Member, Iliana Albino, Deputy Director of Partnerships, Resource Mobilization & Innovation at Generation Unlimited, and several influential individuals. Surprisingly, I also met some friends from Ghana at the event.
My experience at the UN Summit of the Future in New York was fantastic. I participated in the main event and various side events, where UNICEF Ghana expressed their commitment to empowering young people. I gained valuable insights and made meaningful connections during the events. I'm grateful to the Generation Unlimited team for trusting me and giving me the platform to support and learn.
I feel that I have grown as a person and am eager to implement the ideas and lessons I have learned in Ghana. I'm also looking forward to preparing for future summits and supporting the next Children Model Summit. Thanks to colleagues who have supported me on this journey. It has been a pleasure creating content related to youth engagement.
