Marking the celebration of 2018 International Youth Day in an event was organized by the International Federation for Peace and Sustainable Development (IFPSD), Ambassadors and youth leaders from around the world gathered at the United Nations headquarters to speak on an insightful panel about youth empowerment and welfare. Sally Kader, the President and Founder of the IFPSD, hosted and moderated the high-level panel discussion titled “Creating Safe Spaces for Youth”.
President Sally Kader of IFPSD, in her welcome remarks, stated, “As a young person your circumstances do not make who you are. You can rise above whatever conditions you are in.” The event commenced with a lively discussion by distinguished Ambassadors from the Permanent Missions of the African Union, Bolivia, Guatemala, Malta, Uzbekistan and Zambia to the United Nations. Each ambassador delivered their remarks sharing the initiatives undertaken by their respectful countries to empower youth and the challenges that the young population is facing today.
This was followed by a discussion by distinguished youth leaders sharing their experiences as young change-makers. The speakers comprised of Amelia Sawalich, a 15-year-old philanthropist and volunteer with Starkey Hearing Foundation and Jack McConnell, a 17-year-old entrepreneur, who was born with hearing loss and has devoted his career to help those affected by hearing impairments. Malika Djalalova, currently with UNWTO, and Phillip Deng, one of the “Lost Boys of Sudan” who was displaced during the second Sudanese Civil War also spoke at the panel. The event also witnessed a performance by two young classical musicians from the Mannes School of Music, Li-Jung Chien and Lily Wei Ye.
President Sally Kader added that youth leadership is one of the central pillars of IFPSD’s mission to ensure international peace, security and justice through regular educational programs and community outreach initiatives. “We believe that we should educate the youth because they are our future leaders and our hope for a peaceful world.”
Youth Speakers [left to right: Milika Djalalova, Jack McConnell, Amelia Salawich]
Young classical musicians [Left to right: Lilly Wei Ye, Li-Jung Chien]
As an organization deeply committed to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, IFPSD was honored to host distinguished guests of ambassadors and youth leaders to celebrate the youth around the world. The IFPSD, is in consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (UN-ECOSOC), and is associated with Department of Public information (UN-DPI) also associated with the UN Department of Political Affairs (UNDPA) and accredited with the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). It is represented across 5 continents and 17 countries. In addition to youth empowerment, IFPSD is also committed to human rights, interfaith dialogue, cultural heritage, health and well-being, and women and girl empowerment as a part of its efforts to reach the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
IFPSD continues to advocate for the voices of youth to be heard, striving to achieve gender equality, decent work and economic growth, reduced inequalities and peace, justice and strong institutions.
To watch the full event, click here (hyperlink- http://webtv.un.org/search/creating-safe-spaces-for-youth/5821603634001/?term=2018-08-13&sort=date)