My Experience as the U.S. Youth Observer at the UN

Serving as the U.S. Youth Observer at the United Nations is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for youth to engage in development and diplomacy. This role allowed me to travel around the U.S. and abroad to speak to young people about how they can become more engaged in the work of the UN, as well as how they can organize grassroots initiatives in their own communities.

In addition to working with U.S. youth, I worked with 40 other Youth Delegates at the UN, from countries such as Kenya, Thailand, Turkey, and Germany, to ensure that youth voices and priorities are better incorporated into the decision-making process of the UN. Many of the UN Youth Delegates became some of my closest friends and colleagues, and I will cherish these relationships for years to come.

Today’s youth have unprecedented potential to solve the world’s toughest problems, and they must be a central part of any development program or policy. As the next U.S. Youth Observer, you could play a vital role in promoting youth participation as a critical aspect of development and diplomacy. As the U.S. Youth Observer, I had the opportunity to share this hopeful message with current heads of state and government, such Malawi President Joyce Banda, industry leaders, such as Bill Gates, and countless others who share a vision of a more equitable future of inclusive growth.

The next U.S. Youth Observer will project a positive image of youth in the global community, transform the role of young people in solving global problems, and chart the path for the next year of U.S. youth engagement with the United Nations. Apply today to be the next U.S. Youth Observer at the UN; it’s an experience that can change your life and help the UN affect positive changes in the lives of others.