At the age of thirteen, my journey toward youth participation began when UNICEF’s Retorno a la Alegría strategy reached my neighborhood. The program trained adolescent volunteers to support children facing difficult circumstances, and for me, it was a turning point. It gave me more than just a safe space—it showed me that my voice mattered. I discovered leadership, teamwork, and communication skills that allowed me to see my own story as part of a larger collective. That experience instilled in me the conviction that young people are not only beneficiaries of global initiatives but also essential actors in shaping and implementing them.
This belief has guided my career and personal mission. Today, as a UNV Youth Engagement Associate at the Joint SDG Fund, I work every day to amplify youth voices and ensure they play a meaningful role in driving change. My work is about bridging dialogue and action, creating spaces where young people’s leadership helps build a fairer and more inclusive world.
One of the most formative experiences in this journey came from working in Catatumbo, Colombia, through the project Impulso Juvenil: Transformando el Territorio, led by UNICEF, UNODC, and FAO. As FAO’s focal point, I collaborated with young people on issues of empowerment, advocacy, and land rights. There, I realized that land is not only about physical territory but also about identity, livelihood, and access to basic rights like food, housing, and work. I witnessed how youth participation strengthens communities and generates homegrown solutions to complex challenges. The youth of Catatumbo taught me that leadership is cultivated through recognition, listening, and creating real opportunities at all levels.
The United Nations has shaped my life in profound ways, but the relationship has been reciprocal. The opportunities I received as a child inspired me to dedicate my work to building partnerships and connecting young people with institutions, organizations, and communities to co-create sustainable solutions. I have learned that the most transformative outcomes arise when youth are directly involved in designing, implementing, and evaluating the policies and programs that impact their lives.
At the Joint SDG Fund, my focus is on ensuring that youth participation becomes more than symbolic. Through initiatives such as the Youth Corner, a digital platform connecting changemakers across regions, I aim to create mechanisms that are sustainable, inclusive, and effective. The goal is for youth voices not only to be heard but to actively shape decisions, ensuring that participation translates into measurable impact and real transformation.
On International Youth Day, the urgency of this mission becomes even clearer. Young people make up 16% of the global population, with nearly 90% living in developing countries, yet millions still lack safe spaces to participate and influence decisions. In a world marked by crises and inequalities, youth leadership is not optional—it is a moral and strategic necessity.
My story is just one example of how real opportunities empower young people to respond with creativity, resilience, and leadership. The UN Youth Strategy and the Youth, Peace and Security Agenda both recognize young people as essential partners in building a peaceful and sustainable future. For this to happen, organizations, governments, and leaders must open genuine spaces of power and decision-making.
Youth participation is more than a gesture; it is a strategy to strengthen the present and secure a just future. This is the path to advancing the 2030 Agenda, and it is where I hope to continue working alongside young people—ensuring their voices are not just heard but drive meaningful action.
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