UNITAR
11 July 2023, Geneva, Switzerland – UNITAR and International Training Centre for Authorities and Leaders in Shanghai (CIFAL Shanghai) proudly re-launch the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Youth Empowerment Seminar for Change-makers and the SDGs Youth Creative Seminar at UNITAR headquarters on the 6-7th of July 2023 in Geneva after a three-year hiatus during the pandemic.
The seminars brought together around 60 students from Shanghai to empower young individuals to become active participants in the UN SDGs. Each of the seminars provided participants with valuable insights into the mission of UNITAR, and the role of the UN in promoting global cooperation for the SDGs. These seminars offered each participant the opportunity to gain knowledge, engage with experts, and be inspired to exercise their contribution to the SDGs. Additionally, the seminars also included field visits to the Palais des Nations, which provided participants with a rich understanding of the historical site as it reconvened during the 53rd Session of the Human Rights Council.
The seminars featured guests lectures from Ms Prisca Chaoui, Editor in Chief of UN Today, Ms Xu Yingjie, an official from the Permanent Mission of the People's Republic of China to the United Nations Office in Geneva, along with other UN officials from UNITAR, such as Mr Julian Caletti from the Division for Multilateral Diplomacy, Ms Madina from UNITAR’s Agenda 2030 Unit, and Dr Evelyn Avalos and Ms Adriana Lopez from the Division for People who offered participants stimulating lectures to discover ways that youth can participate in contributing to meeting the goals of the 2030 agenda.
Mr Caletti remarked, “If there’s one thing I’d like you to take away from my presentation today, is for each of you to select just one of the SDGs that you’re passionate about and work towards achieving it”.
Ms Tianyue Ding, the Coordinator from CIFAL Shanghai remarked, “The seminars provide young people with a platform for learning, exchange, and knowledge sharing. Through the seminars, young people will learn about the historical mission of the UN and the youth actions around the world in supporting SDGs.”
Mr. Stephen Joyce who coordinated the seminars highlighted that “we hope these seminars act to enshrine the principles of the UN and UNITAR for youth by promoting training, and capacity-building skills that empower every one of them in finding creative and innovations solutions for impacting the SDGs”.
As one example of youth contributing to the SDGs, Dr Evelyn Avalos highlighted the role of UNITAR’s "Autosobriety Youth Creative Challenge" to promote SDG 3: Health and Well-being, as participants submitted the videos to encourage creative solutions to the “No drink driving” approach.
UNITAR
After the interactive lectures, participants offered touching presentations of their own to discuss the role that youth can have in impacting the SDGs. Each of these presentations highlighted the importance of the SDGs as each participant analyzed the role of adapting the unique targets and indicators to the context of China, and its state’s far-reaching impact beyond. Following these presentations, UNITAR officials offered their valuable insights to help guide participants in impacting the SDGs in their respective roles and aimed to instil a sense of empowerment as the participants aspire to become active agents of change. In closing, Certificates of Participation were awarded to the youth participants, as they move forward in championing their role in shaping this world to be the better place that the ethos of the SDGs envisioned.