The Baha’i International Community (BIC) launched the first of a series of workshops exploring aspects of the role that youth can play in fostering constructive social transformation. The event was held as part of this year’s ECOSOC Youth Forum, which concludes today.  

Titled “Youth Can Move the World,” the series considers different thematic areas each month, inviting participants to develop concepts and language for a BIC statement on youth, to be released in conjunction with the United Nations’ Summit of the Future in 2024. 

The kick-off event focused on the role that young people can play in transforming models of leadership and decision-making at the UN. It was organized in partnership with the Global Futures Forum and SDSN Youth. 

“Rapid changes are occurring in numerous sectors, and the youth of today are at the heart of a global society in the midst of fundamental change,” said BIC Representative Lili Nkunzimana, in opening remarks.

“If the international community is to truly tap the transformative potential of rising generations, we need to achieve changes in paradigms around leadership and leadership development,” she added. 

Framing the discussion were several notable multilateral processes, such as deliberations around the UN Secretary-General’s Our Common Agenda report and the formation of a UN Youth Office, the SDG Summit taking place this September, and the Summit of the Future scheduled for 2024. 

“Humanity is at a key moment of transition, and young people are at the forefront of driving positive change,” said Daniel del Valle Blanco, Permanent Observer of the International Youth Organization for Latin America to the UN, and one of the event’s speakers. 

Rosleny Ubinas, Youth Representative to the United Nations from the American Baha’i community, highlighted in her remarks fundamental questions about how young people understand themselves and their place in society.  

“We young people often think about ourselves, but we also have another generation coming right behind us,” Ubinas said. “Youth are at such an eager stage. They really want to understand more deeply their role in the world and they want to make a tangible contribution to the societies they live in.”

Discussions at the event was informed by a thought piece developed by the BIC, exploring conditions that will allow youth to “be at the forefront of transforming the concept and practice of leadership itself,” as well as a case study on experiences of the Global Coalition for Youth, Peace, and Security. Following the event, a summary of key themes that emerged from the discussions was also circulated.

Notable among these themes was the centrality of trust in facilitating effective leadership and governance. “Young people, in a lot of contexts, move away from formal [governance] structures, because of a lack of trust,” said Freya Scharrelmann, Advocacy and Protection Coordinator at United Network of Young Peacebuilders. “We need to critically reflect on current structures and see how we can improve them.”

The role of the community, as a vital element in leaders’ efforts to advance social progress, was noted by Steve Chiu, United Nations Representative of the Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation, and one of the event’s facilitators. 

“Underneath each youth who is [recognized as] a ‘leader’ there is a community that is with them, supporting them, and ensuring that their work can move forward,” Chiu said. “A lot of the powerful leadership traits that are beneficial in shifting us away from selfishness and ego are centered in values of being in community with each other and notions of mutual aid.”

The hybrid event was attended by some 80 participants, including the BIC’s delegation to the ECOSOC Youth Forum. The series builds off the “Youth are Pillars of Society” series held last year, and responds in part to the UN Secretary-General's recent policy brief on “Meaningful Youth Engagement in Policymaking and Decision-making Processes”.

Upcoming installments of the “Youth Can Move the World” series are tentatively scheduled for May 25 (on “Effective Models of Communication and Interaction”), June 22 (“Approaches to Social Change”), and July 14 (“Building a Compelling Vision of the Future”.)