*All photo credits go to the Youth Assembly at the UN (@youthassembly).
I was very lucky to have attended the Winter Session of the Youth Assembly at the United Nations. This winter, after the passing of the Sustainable Development Goals in September of last year, this Youth Assembly was focused on discussing the important role of youth in the implementation of them.
Along with being surrounded by empowered youth, I was fortunate to have listened to inspirational speakers. Here are some of my favorite quotes from the speeches and discussions:
1. "Don't only make noise. Make a symphony of change." --
2. "Young women and men are just not the future. You are here now!" --Lakshmi Puri
3. "Start with what you have... Start with what fires you up or makes you angry." --
4."Demand your right at the table!" --
5. "Your mind is a dynamic master builder. It creates reality." --
6. "The naked truth is, we humans must change now or we'll perish." --
7. "We'll fight you for you and you should fight for yourself." --Aashka Merchant ()
8. "The real goal of a nonprofit should be to shut down operations one day. You've solved the problem. " --
9. On running nonprofits: "Just as important as your business plan is your succession plan and your exit strategy." --
10. "Youth may not have a voice in the vote, but it can certainly be influential behind the vote." --
11. "We need to focus on engaging the next generation. Gender equality isn't going to happen overnight." --Jason Tan de Bibiana
12. "Young people are not only the beneficiaries but also the drivers of change." --Oh Joon ()
13. "You cannot expect men to be part of the process unless we make sure they are empowered to be their whole selves." --
14."The connections you have and the experiences you draw equip you to tell stories." --
15. "Remain alert. You'll discover that life is constantly presenting you with situations where you can make a difference." --Cheri Kaufman
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