Create spaces where young people have the resources, mentorship, and opportunities to act.
This year’s International Youth Day theme, “Local Youth Actions for the SDGs and Beyond,” underscores the transformative role of young people in adapting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to local realities. It is a reminder that youth are not merely beneficiaries of development; they are innovators, decision makers, and active agents of change in their communities and beyond.
While inclusion is vital, the challenge lies in ensuring that youth participation goes beyond representation to genuine influence. On this International Youth Day, I share my reflections as a young professional at the start of my career, exploring how youth within international institutions such as the United Nations can meaningfully contribute to positive change in their own workplaces.
My recent internship with the Strategic Communications and Gender Units at UNOAU has given me a front row view of how multilateral institutions engage with youth. This engagement happens both internally, by offering pathways for young professionals, and externally, by partnering with youth-led organisations in the peace and security space. Working alongside seasoned colleagues was a masterclass in diplomacy and communication. Whether attending conferences, joining internal meetings, or helping shape outreach campaigns, each moment was a learning opportunity.
What stood out most, however, was being given space to contribute by sharing my opinions on initiatives like She Stands for Peace or helping to organise a joint photo exhibition for the International Day of UN Peacekeepers alongside our partner, African Union.
I quickly learned that there truly is no such thing as a “silly” idea, only what can be acted upon and what cannot at a given time. The willingness of my colleagues to listen, even when decisions differed, was a powerful reminder of the value of openness in institutional settings.
From my perspective, the first step in motivating young professionals is recognising that fresh perspectives are as valuable as years of experience. Encouraging us to think beyond established practices sparks new approaches to complex challenges. Youth bring creativity, adaptability, and a global mindset that can complement the institutional knowledge of more senior colleagues.
Of course, multilateral work comes with its own hierarchies. Senior leaders hold decision-making authority and institutional memory that young professionals have yet to acquire. But these dynamics can unintentionally make junior staff hesitant to speak openly. For youth participation to be truly meaningful, institutions must create environments where younger voices are not just invited to the table but empowered to speak freely without fear of being dismissed.
For me, International Youth Day is both a celebration and a call to action to ensure that young people are not only recognised for their achievements but supported with structures that allow authentic contributions. My time at UNOAU has shown me that when young professionals are trusted with responsibility and given the space to express their ideas, they can rise to the occasion.
When youth are empowered to bring their full voice and vision to the table, they are not just shaping their own futures; they are helping to shape the future of the institutions they serve, and the communities they aim to impact.
UNOAU's Communications & Gender Intern, Ms. Betesayda Bezabeh.
As a young intern with the Communications team at UNOAU, I have had the opportunity to contribute directly to multilateral work at the intersection of youth, peace, and development. Whether supporting communication strategies, drafting event materials, or engaging with partners, I have witnessed how youth perspectives strengthen inclusive and sustainable peace initiatives. This year’s theme, “Youth for Peace and Development,” resonates deeply with that journey.
Being part of UNOAU’s strategic communications team has shown me how youth engagement fosters inclusive dialogue, amplifies diverse voices, and drives innovative solutions to address global challenges.
From organising a photo exhibition for the International Day of UN Peacekeepers to amplifying climate-related initiatives and creating messages around dialogues on disarmament and peacebuilding, I have seen how young professionals bring something essential to multilateral spaces: curiosity, urgency, and a deep sense of responsibility.
One particularly impactful moment came during the Climate Security Mechanism Partnership Dialogue and Workshop in Addis Ababa, where discussions on climate, peace, and security highlighted youth as vital agents of resilience.
While capturing moments and creating digital content for the event, I reflected on how the ambition of young professionals drives progress from fostering dialogue to shaping innovative solutions for climate resilience, peacebuilding, and inclusive governance.
I also participated in a Youth Forum themed “Building the Future Together”, held to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the United Nations, where young people from across Ethiopia discussed climate action, education, employment, and technology.
Witnessing the hope and determination of these participants reminded me of the vast space youth have to lead, innovate, and collaborate on urgent global challenges. One outcome I valued was the UN Country Team’s call to maintain a continuous dialogue by regularly organising youth forums ensuring young people play an active and meaningful role in shaping decisions.
Through this internship, I have come to deeply appreciate the vital role communication plays in delivering an organisation’s key messages, mobilising support, and raising awareness around critical causes such as peace and development.
As young people, we bring fresh ideas and advanced skills in technology and social media, allowing us to reach broader and more diverse audiences. Our familiarity with today’s global challenges makes our messaging relevant and impactful. My generation carries a deep commitment to confronting the issues of our time and transforming them into positive change. This collective energy, combined with creativity and innovation, shows that youth are not only the leaders of tomorrow, we are already active agents shaping the present.
To accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals, it is essential to create spaces where young people have the resources, mentorship, and opportunities to act. When youth are trusted, supported, and fully included in decision-making, they have the power to deliver solutions that are innovative, inclusive, and lasting.
UNOAU’s Digital Communications Intern, Ms. Sumire Hayakawa-Ivanovic.
This year's theme – Local Youth Action for the SDGs and Beyond – reminds us that global progress begins in communities. And in every corner of the world young people are leading the way.
They are driving sustainable development, building more inclusive communities, forging peace, and demanding a fairer, greener and more just future.
Young people are bold innovators, resilient organizers, and essential partners in in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
This year also marks a renewed commitment to the World Programme of Action for Youth – a recognition that when young people lead, societies thrive.
To every young person: your voice, ideas and leadership matter.
Let us work together to support youth-led solutions and build a more just, peaceful, and sustainable world, from the ground up.
United Nations Secretary-General.
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