The power of youth: 鶹APP鶹APPs campaigners take #LetMeLearn message to world leaders
Global Youth Ambassadors
Our Global Youth Ambassadors were in New York to ensure the voices and experiences of young people were front and centre in efforts to tackle the education crisis.
The passion and power of young people shone this week as 鶹APP鶹APPs Global Youth Ambassadors – along with thousands of other young people – took the message of our #LetMeLearn campaign to world leaders.
Five of our amazing young activists travelled to New York to speak at events and spread the word during the United Nations General Assembly.
Highlights included:
- Seeing their tireless campaigningpay off with the launch of a funding initiative to unlock education for millions of children in developing countries.
- Sharing their voices and experiences at the historic Transforming Education Summit and being part of a Youth Declaration to leaders.
- Holding talks with Gordon Brown, the UN Special Envoy for Global Education.
- Taking part in campaign events, including a 鶹APP hologram installation featuring children鶹APPs pleas to #LetThemLearn.
鶹APPOur voice is strong,鶹APP said Gabriel Monteiro, a Global Youth Ambassador (GYA) from Brazil. 鶹APPWe have proved we can be loud enough to be heard and we will never be silenced again if we put education as our first priority.鶹APP
The other GYAs who attended events were Yuv Sungkur from Mauritius, Mathilde Boulogne from France, and Blessing Adogame and Jennifer Borrero from the United States.
Here鶹APPs a closer look at an exciting and memorable few days of youth activity in New York.
Friday, September 16
Our Global Youth Ambassadors arrive, ready to spread the #LetMeLearn message.
Our are in New York to meet world leaders gathering for to end the global education crisis.
Education is my right.
— 鶹APP (@theirworld)
They head to day one of the three-day Transforming Education Summit at the UN鶹APPs headquarters. But first they visit the #LetMeLearn campaign wall on the UN plaza with 鶹APP President Justin van Fleet.
GYAs Blessing, Mathilde, Gabriel and Jennifer with 鶹APP President Justin van Fleet at the United Nations
Blessing leaves a message on the wall.
At the entrance to the summit is the campaign wall where people can share their message with world leaders ✍️
— 鶹APP (@theirworld)
鶹APPs youth day at the summit. And it鶹APPs a huge moment for Yuv and #LetMeLearn as he appears on the stage of the main General Assembly hall alongside UN Secretary-General António Guterres.
Yuv says: 鶹APPWe need to keep this momentum going and use this opportunity as a launchpad for inclusive鶹APPand鶹APPtransformative education policies. I am hopeful that together, young people and decision-makers will work hand in hand to define a future where every child has the opportunity to unleash their potential.鶹APP
GYA Yuv Sungkur with UN Secretary-General António Guterres at the youth day during the Transforming Education Summit (鶹APP/Ilya Savenok)
A Youth Declaration is delivered to the Secretary-General. Our GYAs have been among the many young voices who contributed to the document.
Gabriel says: 鶹APPThe remarkable thing about the summit is that for the first time in 70 years education has a place at the centre of the debate. I was so happy to see that young people took part in the planning and organising that event. As local changemakers, we are often closer to our community issues.鶹APP
Saturday, September 17
鶹APPs back to the UN, where GYAs and other young campaigners meet Little Amal – the giant puppet of a Syrian refugee girl which went on a famous walk across Europe last year to highlight the plight of displaced children.
#LetMeLearn campaigners with Little Amal at the UN headquarters
The GYAs meet Gordon Brown, the UN Special Envoy for Global Education, at the #LetMeLearn wall.
Attending the 's Summit in New York ahead of the UN General Assembly this week, it was uplifting to meet the young activists who have campaigned tirelessly for education who say for every child So grateful to them all.
— Gordon Brown (@GordonBrown)
Mathilde says: 鶹APPI really enjoyed being at the summit because I got to meet a lot of young people but also government ministers. A lot of countries are really making youth voices count.鶹APP
Then the GYAs have exclusive talks with Gordon Brown to discuss education funding – and the launch of the game-changing International Finance Facility for Education. After six years of campaigning by 鶹APP, our GYAs and others, this multi-billion dollar plan will unlock learning for millions of children.
Our , along with young people from and , met with UN Special Envoy for Education, , at the summit to share some of the experiences and challenges they face in their countries.
— 鶹APP (@theirworld)
Sunday, September 18
The GYAs gather under the Brooklyn Bridge, where theimpressive #LetMeLearn hologram installation is on display. It features young people who have been displaced from their homes by conflict.
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Blessing says: 鶹APPI think it鶹APPs important not just to hear the voices of the people that can鶹APPt be here but also to see them. We are able to tap into their stories a little bit more.鶹APP
Monday, September 19
Mathilde and Jennifer appear in a panel discussion on early childhood education at the Unlocking the Future of Learning Festival. 鶹APPs hosted by Michael Simpson, Senior ECD Policy and Research Manager at 鶹APP.
鶹APP and are hosting a short panel discussion on marginalisation in the early years. The panel consists of , Exec Director of and Mathilde Boulogne and , moderated by Michael Simpson.
— 鶹APP (@theirworld)
Afterwards, Jennifer says: 鶹APPMy experience here at the summit has been extremely positive. Finally, youth are getting listened to. But I do wish we had a little bit more integration between youth and the leaders.鶹APP
Meanwhile, it鶹APPs Leaders Day at the Transforming Education Summit. A 鶹APP video featuring the voices of GYAs and other young people saying #LetMeLearn is shown at the start of the event.
Play/span>Video
Blessing appears in a panel discussion on Unleashing the Full Potential of the Next Generation, hosted by the 鶹APP initiative the Global Business Coalition for Education.
Business has a vested interest in solving the to close the gap. At the summit, we've assembled 鶹APPs Blessing Adogame & 鶹APPs Ara Anoshiravani w/youth activist @LanreShape of to talk solutions.
— Justin W. van Fleet (@justinvanfleet)
Yuv is at another session – this time the Rewiring Education for People and Planet, hosted by the Education Commission. Talking about climate change, he says: 鶹APPIt is the most vulnerable (children), who are the least responsible, who are affected the most. Climate education needs to be included in every curriculum.鶹APP
Youth are a crucial stakeholder in . Youth activist states that we must utilize their energy and excitement to progress on the win-win solutions particularly on climate education 🌍
— Education Commission (@educommission)
An eventful day ends with 鶹APP’s Transforming Education Summit Outcomes event in the evening.
Yuv, Blessing and Jennifer at the 鶹APP event in New York
Through the week, the voices and experiences of our GYAs have also been amplified by UN agencies, organisations and campaigners. Here are a couple of examples.
We couldn鶹APPt agree more:
As soon as young people are old enough to advocate for themselves, leaders need to listen. 👏
Hear from more leading youth voices like Global Youth Ambassador at .
Watch:
— United Nations Foundation (@unfoundation)
. Global Youth Ambassadors and Alum say no more to education injustice, urge world leaders to so that hundreds of millions of young people around the world have equitable quality education
— Benedict Joson (@BenedictJoson)
Reflecting on her time in New York, Jennifer says: 鶹APPCommon themes this week have been having governments fund more early childhood education, the need for more education around climate change and education that really prepares students for their careers by focusing on skills.
鶹APPI am extremely hopeful for the future with the change that I see coming around the corner. I think the summit has been a big step forward, especially having youth in the room.鶹APP
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