Get ready to be inspired as we start our count down to the Youth Forum! Brimming with anticipation of the event, Hana Elkaiei (participantfrom Egypt) shared her perspectives on youth empowerment, reminding us that "We are the present and the future, we are the change that we want to see in this world."
But the excitement doesn't stop there! With the Youth Forum only a week away, young leaders from 28 countries are already hard at work, engaging in pre-forum activities and sharing ideas with their peers. They're eagerly looking forward to what promises to be a truly remarkable experience, and we invite our readers to join us as we celebrate the energy, creativity, and determination of young people from around the world who are working towards positive change. Together, we can make a difference and create a brighter future for all.
Let’s meet some of the youths:
“I think that the opinion of young people, like us, will create the future. However, it is difficult to make immediate changes, despite that, by having the change to meet with people around the world, exchange opinions, and discuss what we think society should be like in the future, we can take steps to make the world a brighter place" are Moe Yokoro’s (Japan) anticipations regarding her participation. Indeed, one of the core goals of the Youth Forum is to stimulate discussions and support youth empowerment regarding drug use prevention.
From Canada, Lauren Anzarouth explains how significant it is to advocate for youth empowerment, “It is really important to emphasise the impact that we can have on society, we have the potential to shape our future in a way that encourages more progressive and inclusive views, something that can really benefit everyone. We can take action against challenges that are faced by society, and learn and grow from our own experiences and share our ideas that can contribute to a better future for those around us.”
And here is İrem Sena Arslan fromTürkiye, speaking of the importance of listening to the voices of young people, and further explaining that “giving responsibilities to people, at such a young age, raises awareness and this is important for us to develop the community we live in. Collaborating with youths not only provides practical ideas but also help shape the world in which youth will live in”.
Despite the fact that youths are coming from all over the world, with nearly every region covered, they all share a common interest and motivation in deepening their knowledge in substance use prevention during the Youth Forum, with the hopes of creating a positive impact in their community. We can’t wait to meet and greet all participants in person soon!