This marks simply one among many conferences the 2 younger New Yorkers took, as a part of the lengthy to-do checklist that constitutes the Meeting President’s day.
The idea of being PGA for a Day is straightforward: two college students from the general public college system come to UN Headquarters to shadow President Francis in his function as chief of the Common Meeting.
They are going to have interaction within the conferences he has deliberate, take part in the identical interviews, and even take lunch when he does.
The day will likely be lengthy, however the college students are as much as the duty – each excited on the prospect of being proper on the centre of world diplomacy.
Mr. Ponomarev and Ms. Akter are each incoming tenth graders concerned with the International Chief’s Academy, a programme that focuses on bringing collectively multilingual immigrant college students to construct their management capability whereas additionally encouraging them to contain themselves with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
UN Assistant Secretary-Common for Youth Affairs Felipe Paullier (centre) meets New York Metropolis college college students Fariha Akter (proper) and Erik Ponomarev.
Ardour for progress
They have been chosen after taking part in a six-week workshop, impressing their academics with passionate essays on SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Sturdy Establishments, and SDG5: Gender Equality, respectively.
“The following technology has our personal concepts,” Mr. Ponomarev states confidently. “We’re formidable and with our ambition, we are able to make loads of progress.”
To start out their day, the scholars meet UN Assistant Secretary-Common for Youth Affairs, Felipe Paullier, to debate their ambitions, considerations, and questions concerning the function of youthful individuals in shaping coverage.
“It’s nice to listen to about how they’re bringing this into their very own views,” Mr. Paullier mentioned. “I’m joyful that younger individuals have entry and alternatives to be a part of the SDGs, as their participation is essential.”
The scholars then made one other cease to bounce extra youth engagement concepts off Daniel del Valle Blanco, Deputy Everlasting Observer of the Central American Integration System (SICA), Chair of the Youth Advisory to UN Habitat and former Ambassador of the Worldwide Youth Group to the UN, earlier than heading to the President of the Common Meeting’s Workplace.
Common Meeting President Dennis Francis (proper) meets New York Metropolis college scholar Fariha Akter.
Presidential trio
Proper earlier than assembly Mr. Francis for the primary time, their pleasure is palpable.
Not solely is that this a giant second for his or her private growth, but it surely’s additionally a primary for the Workplace with the launch of the brand new programme.
The very first thing the three “presidents” do collectively is conduct an impromptu press convention within the Press Briefing Room the place spokesperson Monica Grayley is at the moment making ready to talk with the press.
Mr. Ponomarev and Ms. Akter sit with President Francis on the rostrum, fielding questions from correspondents on future recommendations for the Presidency, what they are going to inform their pals concerning the UN and extra.
All through the day, the scholars will proceed to achieve different essential insights, together with the possibility to talk to Dezhi Xu of CGTN America (off the document, after all) after his interview with President Francis. Additionally they get to sit down in on a gathering with the brand new Everlasting Consultant of Kenya, Ambassador Ekitela Lokaale.
The UN has lengthy acknowledged and revered the rights of younger individuals to take part successfully in social change, financial progress and technological innovation.
Common Meeting President Dennis Francis (proper) and New York Metropolis college scholar Erik Ponomarev.
Give attention to youth – and the long run
The present PGA isn’t any completely different – he has labored exhausting to centre youth as indispensable changemakers all through the course of this yr’s 78th session.
He notably carried out a #AskPGA: Dialog with Youth occasion in the course of the Common Meeting’s first-ever Sustainability Week in April, praised younger enterprise leaders from West and Central Africa on the ECOSOC Youth Discussion board and attended a Networking Night time in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, for environmentally acutely aware younger individuals.
President Francis says that he not solely discovered the expertise gratifying, however hopes that his successors will be capable to proceed this programme within the years forward after he leaves his put up subsequent month.
He additionally needs Mr. Ponomarev and Ms. Akter to have walked away from the day extra illuminated and excited concerning the work of the United Nations.
As for the scholars? They are going to be working exhausting on some summer season homework – a mirrored image on what they took away from their day on the UN, personally assigned to them by President Francis – and certain dreaming a few future again on the UN on a extra everlasting foundation.
