Sobering challenges are often front and center in deliberations at the United Nations. But the Baha’i International Community made room for optimism—quite literally—at the UN’s Summit of the Future, currently ongoing. 

“Over the course of the last three days we interviewed some 45 individuals from all backgrounds and positions, and asked them two simple questions,” explained BIC Representative Daniel Perell, in describing a film initiative, undertaken in collaboration with the Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation, that was at the heart of a side event organized at the “Action Days” preceding the Summit. 

“The first question was, ‘What gives you optimism in times of great difficulty?’ The second was, ‘What motivates you to keep doing what you’re doing—often despite the challenges we see in the world?’”   

The initial five-minute film that was produced, with the support of 23 partner organizations, was screened at the side event entitled “Room for Optimism: A Precondition for Success in Challenging Times.” It also served as the basis for a wide-ranging exploration among almost 100 attendees, around the roots and role of optimism in addressing global challenges.  

“We need the positive story,” said keynote speaker Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland and High Commissioner for Human Rights, and current Chair of the Elders and member of GWL Voices. 

“There is a very positive story. It’s very real. We’re on the cusp of a wonderful world,” Robinson continued, after noting the need to reverse many worrisome ecological trends. “We don’t give up. We find hope. And we find ways to go forward with that hope.”

Tshilidzi Marwala, Rector of the United Nations University and Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations framed the concept of hope in personal terms of improvements seen in the conditions of his home village in South Africa where literacy rates have improved dramatically in his lifetime, before emphasizing the need to extend that progress to others.  

“Globally negotiated texts are very important,” Mr. Marwala said. “But we should not lose sight of the fact that after everything is done, we have to go back to our communities as active global citizens and turn those texts … into reality where the material conditions of people can actually be improved.”

The event benefited from the thoughtful and enthusiastic participation of many youth delegates, and the rich intergenerational exploration that ensued. Among the many perspectives that young people shared around reasons for optimism were:

• A college student from Pakistan: “So many people ask, ‘What keeps you up at night?’ But I was recently asked, ‘What wakes you up in the morning?’ And for me, it’s the sense of being—that we have one more day in the world, one more chance.” 

• A member of the UNEP Faith for Earth Youth Council: “To be able to nurture and experience hope at an individual and collective level is paramount to environmental and social work…. When hope is embraced collectively it may sustain individual actions and catalyze change on a larger scale.” 

• A high school student from the United Arab Emirates: “Optimism is not just a feeling but a force. It’s the foundation of every meaningful success.” 

• A UNESCO youth delegate: “Everyone’s been talking about hope so far, but one thing I really want to introduce is the idea of courage…. Right now, I’m a 17 year old and I’m speaking out at a UN conference and that’s such a big moment for me. I feel courage is central.”

• A youth delegate from Vietnam: “If you’re going to talk about courage, you need to talk about examples….We are the examples. We need to be an example for others, for older people. Be the courage and the hope. Be the future. Make sure that each one of us here today does our part to make a renewed United Nations, a new version.”

• A UN youth delegate from Kenya: “I used to read about the United Nations General Assembly in books. And just seeing it happen live, in my lifetime—that gives me a lot of hope…. We are rising up to say that we need a better UN, a reformed UN.”

The close linkage between the optimism young people are able to summon for the future, and the levels of response needed to bring about that future, did not go unnoticed by older participants in the event. 

“The most optimism I get is from the youth,” said one established academic from India. “Youth who want to make a difference by contributing in their very small ways to bring difference across the world.”