How can I work with the UN? How can I speak at the EU?

Thank you.

I get this question a lot. How can I work with the UN? How can I speak at the EU?

But to be honest, I don’t know if it is the right question to ask. Because sitting here, speaking in the European Parliament, influencing EU policy… that should not be your goal. It is a means. A way to achieve your goal. Something you actually want to achieve. Which can be a peaceful world. Gender equality. Education for all.  

What I would advice you is first to find out what you care about. What makes your heart beat faster. What is something you want to change in this world. Because at international organisations, there are enough people, young and old, whose goal it is to just BE there. Just be there, and then find out what I am actually going to do there.

So I would advice you first to find out what you want to do, and then find the right place where you can make a difference. If it is the UN, you’ll end up there. If it is the EU, you might end up in this room. But if you can make more impact in your university, your community centre or city council, then that’s where you should be.

Because it is not about you, or about me. It is about what you stand for.

And, because international organisations are not always open to young people. It is hard to make a change.

When I am at the United Nations, I know that with 19 years old, I am the youngest in the room. I know I have the least experience. I know some people expect me to sit back and stay quiet.

And for a long time, I thought I needed to pretend to be someone else just to be taken seriously.  Hide my age behind a fancy suit and an expensive tie. Hide my inexperience behind difficult language. Hide my idealism behind a serious face.

But I realised something. The power of young people is exactly that.

We are young; so we raise the topics that matter to our generation. We are inexperienced; so we come up with new, bold ideas. We are idealistic; so we dare to believe in things that might seem impossible.

And the only reason it is interesting for politicians, policy makers, or diplomats to meet you… is because of your perspective, your struggles. Your dreams.

So never hide yourself. Never let anyone tell you that you are too young to be heard. Because the fact that you are young, that you are still learning, still questioning and still dreaming, is exactly the reason you deserve to be at the table.