Delegate: Ms. Keren Sudri
65. Ms. Sudri (Israel), speaking as a youth delegate, said that when countries developed reforms affecting young people, they did not always ask for the opinion of young people. That had to change.
66. When she was 16, she and her friends had established a centre to connect children from low income families with youth volunteers, who served as mentors. When they had first asked the municipal authorities for help with the project, they had been told that they should instead volunteer within existing frameworks. They believed, however, that they could build a setting that was far more inviting than the existing structures. The project’s success had led the municipal authorities to become involved after a few months. Similarly, hundreds of young people in her country were creating social projects under the guidance of Lead, an Israeli non-governmental organization developing youth leadership. In Israel, 55 per cent of young people volunteered and there was a creative and innovative atmosphere in which young people thrived.
67. Young people had the energy and unique perspectives to devise solutions to worldwide problems and the audacity to challenge the existing reality. They needed the right guidance and access to opportunities. Social change was born when young people were given responsibility. She therefore called for young people to be given a seat at the decision-making table in countries and cities.
UN Doc.: A/C.3/72/SR.1
Cite as:
UN Doc.: A/C.3/72/SR.1, 2 October 2017, p. 10, Youth Delegate Search: https://youthdelegatesearch.org/israel-2017/, doi: 10.17176/20221018-192607-0.