The IYOC participates in the 6th Youth Assembly at the United Nations

From 5 to 7 August, the 6th Youth Assembly at the United Nations (Manhattan, NY; USA), entitled “Youth Leaders Worldwide Contribution to the Achievement of the Millennium Development Goals-MDG,” was held with the participation of some 500 young delegates, mostly university students from the United States; Asia and Africa.

Lluc Martí, IYOC director was one of the very few European delegates in the Assembly, which had 3 main objectives: to motivate young people to take leadership and global responsibility for the achievement of the MDG, to increase their awareness and personal concern regarding global challenges, and to create networking opportunities among young delegates from around the world.

Many different presentations took place in the 3-day program of plenary sessions, workshops and leisure-cultural events , which were useful to animate young people to take leadership in addressing global challenge, like poverty eradication or fighting against climate change.

Special attention was given to life-changing experience stories like the paralympic sport of the last carrier of the Olympic torch, Ping Yali or the Captain of the Jamaican National Bobsled Team Devon Harris.

The Assembly also served to echo messages of peace and understanding of distinguished speakers like Arun Gandhi, Mahatma Gandhi’s grandson, and to share information on what key international organisations, like UN Agencies, UNICEF, and Doctors without Borders are currently doing.