ECOSOC YOUTH FORUM REFLECTIONS

Bridging the Gap in Youth Inclusion

Written by: Anoushka Sinha, Youth Lead and Consultant, Youth Friendly Standards (YFS)

The ECOSOC Youth Forum, hosted by the President of ECOSOC, UN DESA, and the UN Youth Office, in partnership with IANYD and MGCY, annually convenes global youth leaders to tackle pressing issues like climate change, poverty, and injustice. This year, as Youth Friendly Standards (YFS)’s Youth Engagement Lead, I entered the forum with high expectations for real, actionable commitments toward meaningful youth engagement.Our goal at YFS is to elevate youth voices not just in theory but in actionable frameworks that can pivot the global stage towards true inclusivity.

Access and Investment: The Dual Barriers to Meaningful Engagement

The forum promised a platform for genuine partnership, yet many young participants faced significant barriers. The irony of discussing poverty alleviation while young leaders struggle with underfunded travel resonates deeply. True partnership requires removing these financial and bureaucratic barriers to ensure all voices can be heard. The first hurdle many young participants face is accreditation. The limited spots available and the cumbersome bureaucratic processes effectively gate-keep many passionate youths from even entering these forums. The message is clear: we value youth participation in words, not in resources.

The cost of participation is another significant barrier. Many young leaders spend substantial amounts of money to attend, hoping to make a meaningful impact, only to find themselves marginalized. Issues like badge misprints or overly extended speeches by senior leaders further diminish their already limited opportunities to speak.

Tokenism and Ineffective Participation

The promise of meaningful youth engagement often dissolves into tokenism. At the forum, it was disheartening to witness young leaders being cut off mid-speech or their issues being sanitized for the program. Genuine concerns are often sidelined by older, more dominant voices, limiting the scope of discussion and the potential for real impact.The forum often feels like a tick-box exercise, where youth participation is more about appearances than substance. Such practices not only demean the value of youth voices but also contradict the forum’s fundamental goals.

A Call for Authentic Inclusion

Despite these challenges, the forum also presented a canvas of what could be possible. Engaging with young leaders who had invested significant personal resources to be heard was both inspiring and a stark reminder of the gaps in our approach to youth inclusion. We need to redesign these spaces to be truly accessible and empowering for all youth, ensuring they are partners in crafting the solutions to their futures.

A Call for Authentic Inclusion

Youth-Friendly Standards Intergenerational Dialogue: A New Chapter

In contrast to the challenges at the ECOSOC forum, the Youth-Friendly Standards Intergenerational Dialogue, held online on April 24th, marked a significant advancement in how we envision and enact youth engagement.

Event Overview

This dialogue was not just a discussion but a vibrant exchange of ideas and experiences aimed at empowering the next generation for a global shift towards sustainable development. The event brought together dynamic youth leaders, experienced policymakers, and experts in a rich discussion about the practical implementation of the 2030 Agenda and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Speakers and Contributions

The dialogue featured a diverse group of panelists who shared their experiences and strategies for enhancing youth inclusion:

Fatima Zahrae Tarib, a climate activist, discussed strategies for overcoming barriers to youth participation in decision-making processes, emphasizing the need for courage and persistence in diverse advocacy environments.

Lily Mott, a Fulbright Scholar and founder of the Be The Change Network, shared insights on navigating advocacy spaces dominated by established demographics and offered tips for young leaders on avoiding tokenism.

Ian Hopwood from UNICEF highlighted how experienced leaders could mentor and support emerging youth leaders to ensure their voices are heard and their potential realized.

Jermale Mathis from Krafo Systems discussed successful examples of intergenerational collaboration that have led to positive outcomes for communities and organizations.

Thomas Archibald, Executive Director and Professor, Virginia Tech shared misconceptions and Supportive Environments for Youth Leadership: One common misconception is that young leaders aren’t ready for significant leadership roles due to a lack of experience. This belief underestimates the innovative perspectives and adaptive strategies that young executives bring to an organization.

Pia Saunders Campbell, Director, Strategy and Technical Services, International Youth Foundation spoke on Barriers to Embracing Youth-Friendly Standards and Promoting Youth Equity: A significant barrier is the perceived risk associated with deviating from traditional management practices. Organizations often hesitate to implement youth-friendly standards fearing disruption to existing processes. To overcome this, it’s crucial for leaders to champion a shift towards a more inclusive culture that values diverse perspectives, including those of the youth.

Call to Actions for Various Stakeholders

For Youth:

Engage with Youth Friendly Standards: Participate in our forums and workshops to voice your challenges and aspirations. Your insights are crucial in shaping policies that directly affect your future.

Become a Youth Ambassador: Represent Youth Friendly Standards in your community or region. Help us spread the message and engage more young people in our initiatives.

Share Your Stories: Use social media to share your experiences and successes in engaging with our standards. Tag us and use our hashtag #YouthPowerYFS to increase visibility and inspire others.

For Executives (C-Suite Execs, Ambassadors, Heads of States):

Incorporate Youth-Friendly Policies: Review and integrate Youth Friendly Standards into your organizational or governmental policies to ensure an inclusive environment for young people.

Mentorship Opportunities: Establish mentorship programs to nurture young talent within your organizations, providing them with the guidance and opportunities to grow.

Support and Sponsorship: Offer financial and structural support for youth-led initiatives and forums that align with Youth Friendly Standards, demonstrating commitment to actionable change.

For Institutions (NGOs, Startups, Government Institutes, Companies):

Adopt Youth-Friendly Standards: Evaluate and adapt your organizational practices to become more inclusive of young people. Use our self-assessment tools to guide your improvements.

Collaborate on Projects: Partner with Youth Friendly Standards on projects that empower young people. Engage in collaborative efforts that bring tangible benefits to both your institution and the youth.

Educational Programs: Develop and support educational and training programs that equip young people with the skills needed to excel in environments that uphold youth-friendly standards.

Engagement and Outcomes: Powering Progress Through Intergenerational Dialogue

The Youth-Friendly Standards Intergenerational Dialogue exceeded expectations, fostering an energized and meaningful conversation across different generations about sustainable development and youth empowerment.

Progress Made

Increased Awareness: The dialogue significantly raised awareness about the integral role of youth-friendly standards in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Participants gained a deeper understanding of how inclusive policies can enhance youth engagement on a global scale.

Enhanced Collaboration: The event facilitated stronger collaboration between younger and older generations, creating a robust platform for sharing experiences and strategies. This enhanced partnership is crucial for the effective implementation of SDGs.

Participant Recommendations and Youth Mobilization: The dialogue spurred a wealth of actionable recommendations, with the YFS Community of Champions and external youth leaders outlining specific steps to intensify youth engagement in sustainability efforts.

Empowerment of Youth: Young participants left the event feeling inspired and empowered to initiate and drive change within their communities. This boost in confidence demonstrates the event’s success in mobilizing the next generation of global leaders.

Engagement Metrics via Social Media

The dialogue’s impact was magnified by substantial organic engagement across social platforms, significantly expanding our reach and interaction with a global audience.

Instagram:
- Impressions: 7,200 (a 466% increase)
- Total Reach: 2.8K (a 453% increase)
- Follower Growth: 223 (a 38.5% increase)
- External Link Taps: 3600% increase
- Primary Age Range: 18-24 years old
LinkedIn:
- Impressions: 8,501 (a 992.7% increase)
- Follower Growth: 542 (a 642.9% increase)
- Page Visitors: 443 (a 328.6% increase)

The substantial social media activity reflects a broad and engaged audience, eager to learn more about integrating youth perspectives in policy-making and organizational frameworks. The significant increase in followers and engagement metrics not only highlights the relevance of our dialogue but also underscores the global community’s commitment to empowering youth.

WATCH FULL SESSION HERE : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fy1eFp-ZQ7E&t=5s

Conclusion: Bridging Generations for a Sustainable Future

Reflecting on the experiences from both the ECOSOC Youth Forum and the Youth-Friendly Standards Intergenerational Dialogue, it’s clear that while challenges persist, there is a vibrant global commitment to enhancing youth engagement. The ECOSOC event highlighted critical barriers—like access, funding, and tokenism—that often stifle young voices in spaces meant to foster collaboration and change. It underscored the necessity of transforming these platforms into truly inclusive environments where youth are not only present but are active, valued participants in shaping their futures.

The YFS side event, on the other hand, was a beacon of what successful intergenerational collaboration looks like when it’s done right. It demonstrated the power of dialogue and shared insights that bridged generational divides, providing a promising glimpse into how structured, supportive frameworks can significantly enhance the contributions of young individuals globally. Through this event, participants not only shared space but also forged actionable pathways toward implementing the Sustainable Development Goals in a manner that respects and amplifies the youth voice.

Both events collectively illuminated the journey ahead: to move from tokenistic engagement to genuine, impactful collaborations that recognize young people as key stakeholders in global development. The rich discussions and the enthusiastic participation at the YFS event particularly have laid a strong foundation for ongoing engagement and have sparked a series of initiatives aimed at ensuring young people are not just beneficiaries but are leaders and shapers of these conversations.

Moving forward, the lessons gleaned from these forums will be instrumental in driving YFS’s agenda of creating environments that are not just youth-friendly but are youth-led. The insights from the forums will continue to inspire our strategies and help us refine our approaches to support, empower, and collaborate with the youth across the globe.

As we continue to navigate these complex dialogues and collaborations, both events serve as powerful reminders of the untapped potential that lies within our youth. They are not just leaders of tomorrow but are also capable and necessary partners today. Engaging with them, investing in them, and empowering them will undeniably propel us toward a more inclusive, sustainable, and vibrant global community.

For more detailed insights and to join our movement, visit the Youth Friendly Standards website and follow our journey on social media as we continue to empower young leaders globally.

Youth Friendly Standards