A closing remark of Ms. Mina Choi, Secretary General of Good Neighbors Global Partnership Center, which summed up the powerful dynamic during the online side event at the 2026 UN High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development.
When we talk about transforming the future, we are talking about young people. It begins with small actions taken within local communities. Guided by this belief, Good Neighbors has remained committed to its mission for the past 35 years. One of our key strategies is to create platforms where young people can raise their voices, share their aspirations, and become active participants in driving sustainable development.
We brought six youth leaders from around the world to share how they are creating good change in their own communities.
The discussion opened with remarks from Ms. Gloria Gatsinzi, Founder and Executive Director of Care and Help Child Organization in Rwanda. Her journey as an advocate began at just 16 years old, after seeing children on the streets begging instead of attending school. Determined to make a difference, she used the income from her part-time jobs and even sold her hair to buy school supplies for children. This initiative testifies that meaningful change can begin with personal sacrifice.
“Youth are not only the leaders of tomorrow, but they are also the leaders of today.”
Drawing from her own experience, Ms. Gatsinzi encouraged young people to build strong networks, continue learning, embrace challenges without fear, and use digital platforms to amplify their voices. This was not merely a suggestion, but a tested formula. By harnessing social media to engage CSR partners, her initiative has supported 770 children to date.
Youth Climate Action and Advocacy for Sustainable Communities.
Representing the theme of Climate Action were Ms. Sohyang Lee and Ms. Gyeongbin Park, Good Neighbors Youth NGO Activists from the Republic of Korea.
“We are often called the climate crisis generation, but I want us to be remembered as the generation that refused to stay silent and created change,” said Ms. Sohyang Lee.
For her, climate change was no longer an abstract global issue, but sadly it became part of everyday life. “Unbearably hot summers, thick fine dust, cancelled outdoor gym activities, the climate crisis that had slowly become normal,” she recalled.
Her initiatives included marching in youth-led environmental campaigns against plastic pollution in Seoul and Busan. She also connected local advocacy with global climate discussions through exchanges with youth from Vietnam, Uganda, and Rwanda through Good Neighbors’ program, Global Youth Network. Extending her advocacy beyond the streets, she published a newspaper opinion piece to encourage broader public engagement on climate action.
Following up on her peer, Ms. Gyeongbin Park initiated an environmental action campaign called Breaking Up with Plastic, which mobilized more than one thousand participants.
She contributed youth perspectives to international policy discussions by submitting a youth statement during the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5) conference. Reflecting on her experience, she identified three essential elements for effective youth advocacy: collective action, access to appropriate platforms, and the unique perspectives of younger generations.
Her calling in advocacy leads her to pursue International Development Cooperation in her current study. She concluded with a message to youth all over the world, “You do not have to wait until you are perfectly prepared to begin creating change.”
Youth Leadership for Girls’ Rights and Inclusive Community Participation.
This session featured Ms. Dueiny Coral Lozano from the Dominican Republic. As a Coordinator of the Girls and Adolescent Advisory Council, she has been actively advocating for girls’ rights, equal participation, and protection from digital gender-based violence.
“No one knows the reality of adolescents better than we do.”
Her initiatives combined face-to-face awareness sessions with digital campaigns through Instagram and WhatsApp to reach a wider audience. She experienced how emotional intelligence training helped her overcome fear, build confidence, and become a stronger youth leader. Reflecting on her experience, Ms. Lozano emphasized that meaningful youth participation begins by recognizing that adolescents understand their own realities and should be included in the decisions that affect their lives.
Disability Inclusion and Meaningful Youth Participation for Accessible Communities.
Serving as Head of Access for All Philippines and Co-convener of the Kasali Tayo Movement, Mr. Rhay Janssen Occay has become an inspiring voice for youth-led advocacy and inclusive communities and participation. His initiatives include developing accessible learning methods using visual materials, simplified content, and interactive activities to ensure everyone can participate.
During his session, he emphasized that the greatest barriers to inclusion are not physical infrastructure, but negative attitudes and social perceptions. Through his advocacy, he has demonstrated that when young people with disabilities are given meaningful opportunities to participate, they can lead initiatives, influence decision-making, and make valuable contributions to their communities.
His message to young people was simple: “The world shaped by youth is not a vision for tomorrow. It is already happening today.”
Youth-led Peacebuilding initiatives for Community Transformation.
Last, but definitely not least, was Mr. Franck Ngenzebuhoro, Co-director at the Youth Empowerment and Leadership Initiative in Burundi.
He addressed a reflection on the lessons of Burundi’s 2025 political crisis, how young people were mobilized during the conflict but excluded from peacebuilding efforts afterward. “Youth are often trusted to fight for peace but not to build it,” he said.
To help bridge the gap, Mr. Ngenzebuhoro promotes intergenerational dialogue as a practical approach to strengthening trust between young people and community leaders. In an era shaped by artificial intelligence, he also emphasized the importance of promoting peace while combating misinformation.
“Trust is not given overnight. It is built through consistency, integrity, and action.”
His dedication has led him to contribute to the development of Burundi’s national Youth, Peace, and Security strategy while representing the region through the United Network of Young Peacebuilders.
Good Neighbors is an international humanitarian and development organization founded in 1991, working in over 50 countries to make the world a place without hunger and where people live in harmony. Engaging with over 200 communities globally, we empower people and transform communities through social and economic development initiatives. Good Neighbors has General Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (UN ECOSOC) since 1996.
For further information, please contact Good Neighbors Global Partnership Center.
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