The United Nations routinely serves as a forum to discuss the needs and interests of the 1.2 billion young people worldwide. Less often, it opens its doors for those youths — a group aged between 15 and 24 that is expected to grow by nearly 7 percent by 2030 — to speak on what matters most to them and how best to engage them on development issues.
Last week, Alpha Sennon, 29, and Natasha Puri, 21, were among the speakers selected to present their development projects on health and well-being at a breakout session during the two-day Youth Forum, hosted by the U.N. Economic and Social Council, which stressed engagement in development at all levels.
The forum has been held annually since 2012 and aims to “bring youth into discussions” on the U.N.'s development agenda.
About the author
Amy Liebermanamylieberman
Amy Lieberman is the U.N. Correspondent for Devex. She covers the United Nations and reports on global development and politics. Amy previously worked as a freelance reporter, covering the environment, human rights, immigration, and health across the U.S. and in more than 10 countries, including Colombia, Mexico, Nepal, and Cambodia. Her coverage has appeared in the Guardian, the Atlantic, Slate, and the Los Angeles Times. A native New Yorker, Amy received her master’s degree in politics and government from Columbia’s School of Journalism.
