Australia

Paige Burton is the United Nations Youth Delegate from Australia. Paige previously served as the National Education Director and Chair of the Board for United Nations Youth Australia.   Paige helped develop the UN Youth Australia’s national curriculum, founded the first national advocacy-oriented public speaking competition (Voice), and facilitated educational tours of Timor-Leste and the Middle East for high school students. Paige has also represented Australian youth on the United Nations LGBT Core Group’s panel at the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia Event.

Until 2016, Paige was the Events and Operations Manager at the Centre for Australian Progress, a non-profit organization committed to building the advocacy capacity of Australian civil society. In 2015 and 2016, Paige was recognized for her work by Pro Bono Australia as the youngest ever recipient of the ‘Impact 25: The 25 Most Influential People in the Social Sector’ award. In 2017, Paige was named as a finalist for New South Wales Young Woman of the Year.

Austria

Anna Katharina Holzhacker, aged 20, is the United Nations Youth Delegate from Austria. She is currently studying journalism and public relations at FH Joanneum in Styria, Austria. Anna volunteered with the Catholic Youth Movement as a German tutor for children for many years. These experiences have provided Anna with an inside perspective into the needs and interests of the Austrian youth.

With a background in journalism, Anna has the necessary tools to reach out to young people and give them a better understanding of the UN system. Anna has attended meetings such as the 2016 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP22), the twelfth edition of Conference of Youth (COY 12), India and the 2016 Budapest Youth Delegate Summit. As a youth delegate, Anna has chosen to focus on Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) implementation in Austria, raising awareness for democracy, as well as giving young people a voice in political contexts and supporting their efforts in creating sustainable projects.

Belgium

Ms. Mariame Keita

Mr. Matthias Rombouts

Bulgaria

Assya Pandzharova is one of two United Nations Youth Delegates from Bulgaria. She is currently earning a bachelor’s degree in Arabic and Semitic studies at The University of Sofia (St. Kliment Ohridski).  Assya actively participates in several non-governmental organizations as a youth coordinator and trainer focusing on human rights, public health and the integration of vulnerable groups into society. Furthermore, Assya has taken part in several seminars and trainings in order to strengthen her knowledge and experience in human rights, cross-cultural communication and lifelong learning.

Ralitsa Dikanska is one of two United Nations Youth Delegates from Bulgaria. Ralitsa is a fourth-year architecture student at University of Architecture Civil Engineering and Geodesy as well as a translator at the American College in Sofia. She also works at her family-owned company “Dikanski and Partners”.  Ralitsa has actively participated in the Rotary International Youth Program, Rotaract, for 4 years and currently serves as the Assistant District Rotaract Representative to Rotaract Bulgaria.

Ralitsa is an avid tennis player and feels that sports’ values of responsibility, discipline and perseverance are at the core of who she is.

Chad

Mr. Abdeldjalil Bachar Bong

Mahamat Silim Moustapha is one of three Chadian Youth Delegates to the 72nd General Assembly. Mahamat graduated with bachelor’s degree in Physics and Chemistry from the University of N’Djamena faculty of pure and applied sciences. He is involved with many different youth-led associations at the local and regional level. He is the founder and coordinator of Youth IGF Africa, the online governance forum for African youths. He also has a background in the boy scout movement. Mahamat was the Co-founder and Secretary General of the Chadian Medical Organization and an alumnus of the 2014 International Visitor Leadership Program in the United States of America on STEM Education. He also participated in the first Pan-African Youth Forum held in N’Djamena.

Mahamat is passionate about bringing change to his community and improving the lives of vulnerable citizens. He works to empower youth by encouraging young people to take action in their environments, speak up, and be ready to form creative solutions to the challenges that this generation is facing in order to create a better future. As a Youth Delegate to UN, he will speak on behalf of Chadian youth to help their voices be heard, have their demands realized and represent them in the decision-making processes.

Oumar Gadji Soumaila is one of three United Nations Youth Delegates from Chad. He is a Environmental and Water Engineer and a Fulbright Scholar. Oumar graduated in the summer of 2016 with a Master of Science in Water Resources from the University of Missouri – Columbia (USA). Following his graduation, he joined the Sustainable Development Goals Fund (SDG Fund) of the United Nations Development Programme, in New York for 6 months of internship. As a Research Intern, he drafted articles and undertook research on developing issues, including on implementing the SDGs, tackling environmental issues, empowering women and promoting inclusive growth.

Oumar has not only been involved in his local community, but also in his host communities by being a student representative and volunteering in several projects (such as serving as the President of the Missouri University Fulbright Organization for 2015-2016). As the UN Youth Delegate of Chad, he is focusing on the implementation of the SDGs in the country, especially Goal 5 (on gender equality), Goal 13 (on climate change), as well as Goal 16 (on peace, justice and strong instituations).

Czech Republic

Mr. David Ulvr

Petra Sykorova, aged 22, is the United Nations Youth Delegate from the Czech Republic. Petra is interested in public international law and human rights and currently studies law at Charles University in Prague. Petra has completed internships at the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports and at the national office of United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. She has participated in international student exchanges and conferences on the topics of social inclusion, migration and the involvement of young people in society. Petra has worked as a legal student for a non-governmental organization that supports the victims of sexual crimes and violence against women. She is passionate about volunteering, travelling and education.

Denmark

Clara Halvorsen, aged 25, is the United Nations Youth Delegate from Denmark. Her Youth Delegate mandate covers both the UN High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) and the General Assembly. Clara holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and has just defended her thesis on global development. Currently, Clara works as a campaign leader at World’s Best News and is a representative at the Danish Youth Council, where she works to provide grants for “youth to youth” partnership projects. She has also represented the Youth Council in the ‘DANIDA Youth Panel’ – a panel feeding into the official review of the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ work with youth. As the former organisational Vice-President of the Social Liberal Youth, a political youth organization, she also has a background in politics. As a UN youth delegate, Clara’s main interest is in making sure that youth are not passive observers, but are active participants in decision-making processes and the advancement of the 2030 Agenda and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals.

Finland

Ilmi Salminen is the United Nations Youth Delegate from Finland. She is completing her Masters of Science in Information Networks and majoring in Knowledge Intensive Business at Aalto University. She is also completing a Law Degree at the University of Helsinki. Ilmi has worked in the national Student Union movement of Finland as well as in scouting and guiding. Ilmi has devoted herself to work in international relations, development and gender equality. She has given speeches and held workshops on gender issues at events such as the European Youth Event and the opening of the European Youth Capital in 2016. In her role as a Youth Delegate, Ilmi hopes to highlight the importance of youth in peace and security and promote the rights of girls and young women.

Georgia

Giorgi Tumasyan, aged 22, is the United Nations Youth Delegate from Georgia. Giorgi holds a bachelor’s degree in International Relations and Law from the Free University of Tbilisi and is completing his master’s degree in public administration at the German University of Administrative Sciences Speyer.  Giorgi is the founding director of the Peace Foundation, a non-governmental organization which supports Georgia’s democratic development and the protection of human rights. He is also the founding director of the Caucasian Academy of Diplomacy, a think-tank based in Tbilisi.

Additionally, Giorgi is an alumnus of the Tbilisi School of Political Studies, which was established by the Council of Europe to train future leaders from countries in transition, as well as the Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies, an independent policy think-tank in Georgia aimed at educating young leaders in foreign policy. Giorgi is a member of numerous youth organizations such as the International Network of the Young Professionals in Foreign Policy and the Youth Parliament of Georgia. He has participated in conferences and study courses in the United States and various countries throughout Europe and the Middle East.  In addition to his native Georgian and Armenian, Giorgi speaks English, Russian and Arabic.

Germany

Anaïck Geißel, aged 23, is one of the two German Youth Delegates to the United Nations. She currently studies German, Politics and Economics at the University of Stuttgart and plans to become a teacher. She is very committed to political education and has organized many Model UN Conferences in order to spread the work and values of the United Nations to German youth. As member of Model United Nations of Germany, she participated at the Commission on the Status of Women in 2015 and the Commission on Social Development in 2016, lobbying for the interests of young people. In her hometown, Anaïck is the leader of JUSOS, the youth organization of the social democratic party, and works on empowering young people to participate politically.

Mio Kuschick is one of two United Nations Youth Delegates from Germany. Currently, Mio is studying Education and Nordic languages at the University of Erlangen and holds several positions in the German Scout and Guide Association, the German Scout Federation and Youth for Understanding Germany. Mio is passionate about non-formal education and empowering young people to take action in their own environments and develop creative solutions to their generation’s challenges. As a Youth Delegate, Mio travels throughout Germany, speaking and listening to young people in order to bring their voices to the General Assembly.

Hungary

Zsófia Rácz is the United Nations Youth Delegate from Hungary. Zsófia is proud to be the country’s second Youth Delegate to the United Nations and is currently a student at Eötvös Lóránd University where she studies law. In high-school, Zsófia was a board member of the Student Council, editor of the school newspaper and board member of the school’s student association. Zsófia is a member of the Model Hungarian Parliament where she has served as the President of Commission for two years. In 2016, she visited the European Parliament in Strasbourg, through the Euroscola Program, and was the representative and spokesperson for the Hungarian Model Parliament delegation.

Zsófia’s experience in public speaking and debating have prepared her well for her role as youth delegate. She came in third in the International Public Speaking Competition in both 2015 and 2016, competed at the Debating Society of Hungary and established the “Word-War” Debate Club. Recently, Zsófia worked in different sectors of the Hungarian government and gained useful experiences that she will draw upon during her work as a youth delegate.

India

(Ms.) Dr. Tanu Priya

Ireland

Lauren Flanagan is one of two United Nations Youth Delegates from Ireland. Lauren recently completed her LL.M. in International Legal Studies at New York University (NYU) School of Law. Lauren is also a law and politics graduate from University College Dublin Sutherland School of Law. Lauren is passionate about tackling economic and social inequality – issues which she chose to address with former UN Sectary General Ban Ki-moon in 2015. While at NYU, Lauren was a student advocate in the Global Justice Clinic working on tax abuse and women’s rights in developing countries. She was the LL.M. representative on the board of NYU’s chapter of If/When/How: Lawyering for Reproductive Justice and volunteered with the Hope Foundation in Kolkata, India and Dublin, Ireland.

Lauren has had many experiences working with the UN on children’s and youth issues. For example, in 2014, while working with the Children’s Rights Alliance in Dublin, Lauren co-authored ‘Are We There Yet?’ Ireland’s civil society shadow report to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child. She has experience lobbying various UN committees on multiple youth issues. In 2015, Lauren represented UCD at the National Model United Nations competition in New York where she was awarded outstanding delegate for the UNICEF Committee.

Paul Dockery is one of two United Nations Youth Delegates from Ireland. Paul attended St. Mel’s College in Longford and recently graduated from University College Dublin (UCD) with a bachelors’ degree in Economics with a focus on Politics and International Relations. Paul is passionate about youth empowerment and participation and believes that young people should be given a greater role in decision-making processes.  Paul has had several experiences advocating for youth, including representing the National Youth Council of Ireland’s “Young Voices” group at the EU Youth Conference in Malta, under the EU Structured Dialogue process.

In addition, Paul believes that the Sustainable Development Goals should be achieved with and by young people. Paul represented Ireland at the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe’s recent “Youth, Peace and Security” Conference, where he presented these points on the SDGs to the OSCE Secretary General, Ambassadors and Delegates in attendance. His inputs were included in the final Decalogue of recommendations from the conference. Paul is also a member of the UCD Economics Society Committee and is active within the UCD Students’ Union (UCDSU). He has served as Class Representative, Referendum Campaign Manager and Union Secretary within UCDSU. In 2016 Paul represented UCD Law Society at the National Model United Nations competition in New York, where his team was given the Distinguished Delegation Award.

Israel

Ms. Keren Sudri

Italy

Giuseppina De Marco, aged 23, one of two United Nations Youth Delegates from Italy. Giuseppina is a law student at the University of Bologna and has an interest in international law, international organizations and youth empowerment. She has always been involved in her local community, where she has served as a student representative, a member of her local youth council, and an active volunteer.

As a university student, Giuseppina founded the student-led AlmaMUN Society to promote UN values and initiatives within the student community. In 2016, Giuseppina served as Secretary-General at the first convening of AlmaMUN.

Recently, Giuseppina interned at the Max Planck Institute of Comparative Public Law and International Law. Additionally, in 2015, she took part in an international study group to the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus and participated in the 9th UNESCO Youth Forum on sustainable development.

Tommaso Murè is one of two United Nations Youth Delegates from Italy. He studies international relations at the University of Roma Tre and he is currently undertaking one year at L’École des hautes études en sciences sociales (EHESS) in Paris. Tommaso has been involved in youth engagement since high-school and was elected as Delegate to the Provincial Council of Rome in 2011. During that time, Tommaso developed a strong interest in international issues which led him to take part to several cultural exchanges and study abroad programs in in Ireland, Spain, France and Germany.

In 2015, he spent a semester in Berlin as an Erasmus student at Freie Unviersität where he researched Globalization. Tommaso is a member of the UN Youth Association of Italy (MSOI Roma) and has served on the board since October 2016. In November 2016, he and his team won the #Zerohackathon, the first hackathon on sustainability, held at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Headquarters.

Luxembourg

Clémentine Rixhon, aged 19, is one of two Youth Delegates from Luxembourg. She is involved in various youth organizations such as the Luxembourgish Youth Parliament, the Model European Parliament, the National Working Group, European Youth Conferences as well as the Youth Parliament of the Francophonie. This summer, she volunteered in Armenia, helping Syrian refugees and disabled children.

In 2016 Clémentine was nominated by the Luxembourgish Minister of Education to advocate for young people at the High Council for Youth. In addition, Clémentine was awarded Best Speaker by the President of Parliamentary Assembly of the Francophonie and is one of 10 Zonta International Young Women in Public Affairs awardees of 2017.

Clémentine currently dedicates her time to empowering girls and young women in Luxembourg. She has made several public speeches about feminism and has even presented a resolution on gender equality at the Luxembourg Parliament. At the end of the year, she will travel to the Philippines to collaborate with several non-governmental organizations on providing protection to abused girls. Outside of her political involvement, Clémentine is interested in entrepreneurship. She has run several start-ups and is currently working as a Business Development Manager.

Mathieu Lohr, aged 24, is one of two Luxembourgish Youth Delegates to the United Nations. Over the past several years, he has participated in and organized European youth-exchanges and political education initiatives across the European Union, including founding and heading the European Youth Parliament in Luxembourg. His efforts resulted in a series of international conferences in Luxembourg and abroad, providing fora for youth to learn about and debate the key-challenges facing our generation. Mathieu’s other engagements include representing young people through various student and youth-councils, presiding over the Commission on Foreign Affairs in the Luxembourgish Youth Parliament, attending the Arab-European Young Leaders’ Forum, and supporting related initiatives. Following his studies in Politics & International Relations at York, Mathieu is currently working towards a in a Masters of Science on Violence, Conflict, and Development at the School for Oriental and African Studies, University of London. As a Youth Delegate, he will focus on the inclusion of youth in decision-making processes and helping youth fulfil their potential to translate and implement ideals into practice.

Mexico

Braulio Fausto, aged 22, is one of four Youth Delegates from Mexico to the United Nations General Assembly. He is currently pursuing a degree in International Relations with a focus on International Cooperation for Development, at Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey campus Guadalajara (ITESM). During his studies, he spent one semester abroad at University of Warsaw, in Poland. Braulio is passionate about the role of international actors in the development process of countries and of civil society. This year, he was an intern at the Colombian Presidential Agency of International Cooperation (APC-Colombia), where he was able to see the vital role of international actors in achieving the historical peace process in Colombia. In addition, he has also participated in the 6th edition of the World Universities Debating Championship in Spanish (CMUDE) in 2016 in Cordoba, Spain. Braulio is currently part of the board members of a civil society association named ECO, which looks into political empowerment of civil society, and of the University’s Student Association. In the future, he would like to become a politician and take into action the knowledge and experience gained from representing his country in the 72^nd Session of the United Nations General Assembly.

Mr. Diego Pineda

Ms. Eugenia Padilla

Ms. Gaby Leal

Morocco

Anas Ben Mejdoub, aged 19, is one of two Moroccan Youth Delegates to the United Nations. For the past five years, Anas has been actively engaged in his community and played an active role as a young leader. In 2012, Anas became the Founder and President of the Interact Club Casablanca which helps young people in need and raises awareness regarding poverty and the need for education. In addition, he was appointed High School Student Body President as well as Ambassador at the Forum for Young Mediterranean Leaders. Anas has also been involved in numerous causes through engaging in volunteering, fund raising for education, and participating in campaigns such as Disease awareness.

In 2016, Anas started studying at Concordia University in Montreal where he was awarded Note Taker & Volunteer at the Center for Students with Disabilities. During the same year, he was a member of the University delegation to the Canadian National Moot Court competition in Ottawa. In 2017, he was appointed Assistant-Chair at the Harvard World Model United Nations Conference in Montreal and recently became a member of the Golden Key International Honour Society.

Today, Anas studies at Sciences Po Paris as part of an exchange program and is pursuing his goal of becoming an international lawyer.

Mr. Hamza Benlarabi

Ms. Nora Ouchen

Nour Mehadji, aged 18, is one of two United Nations Youth Delegates from Morocco. She is a Political Science and Human Rights bachelors student at Concordia University in Montreal, Canada and is currently studying abroad at Sciences Po Paris. Nour has been involved in volunteer work for many years, such as working with local associations to deliver fresh meals to people in need and volunteering regularly in an orphanage. In 2016, Nour was a representative at the “Resolution for Climate Change” conference following the COP21 in Paris.

Last year, Nour was a delegate to the Concordia Model United Nations. She is a certified and awarded note taker at the Center for Students with Disabilities at Concordia University. Currently, she is a member of the Sciences Po Refugees Help Association where she is involved in the education programme and teaches French classes to refugees every week in order to help them find a place in society. Nour’s passion for international relations and human rights, along with her dedication to fostering girls’ education worldwide, has allowed her to develop a critical mind and a determined opinion on today’s global issues.

The Netherlands

Elian Yahye, aged 18, is one of two United Nations Youth Delegates from The Netherlands. Elian is currently in his second year of International Relations and Organizations at Leiden University. He has been engaged in a diverse range of activities, from being part of the Advisory Board of his high school and writing for political news sites to being the editor in chief of an award-winning student magazine. He is committed to bringing people from diverse backgrounds together and building bridges between groups that seem far apart.

Elian sought to put these ideals into practice in the context of the United Nations, and in October 2016 he won a public campaign to become a Youth Representative from the Netherlands, following an extensive application procedure. As a youth delegate, he will focus on the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by youth. He will also pay special attention to achieving these goals in such a way that the most vulnerable groups in society, such as ethnic minorities, victims of persecution and persons with disabilities, will not only benefit from the SDGs, but will be active participants in the process. Elian believes that problem-solving must be inclusive, so we will truly leave no-one behind.

Sahar Afzal is one of two United Nations Youth Delegates from The Netherlands. She is a student at Amsterdam University College where she studies International Law and International Relations. Sahar has been involved in many NGOs and organizations for the last couple of years. She has also worked as an Anne Frank ambassador, spreading Anne Frank’s ideals around the world through international conferences and exhibitions. As a member of the European Youth Parliament, she organizes and chairs sessions.

In October 2015, after many selection rounds and a public campaign, she was chosen as the new Dutch United Nations Youth Delegate. Sahar has worked on policies and resolutions at the 54th Session of the Commission on Social Development, where she also gave a statement on behalf of the Netherlands, and at the 14th session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD 14) in Nairobi in July 2016. In the Netherlands, Sahar primarily works on young people’s implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals. She believes that youth are a key factor for the achievement of the Sustainable Development goals.

Norway

Daniel Overskott is one of two United Nations Youth Delegates from Norway. He has a Bachelors of Arts in Economics and a Bachelors of Arts in communications and Worldview, both from NLA University College. He is a member of IFES and Laget, a Christian student organization. Additionally, Daniel is involved with Laget Interact, a national network of youth leaders that work to connect immigrants and Norwegians. For the past 7 years, Daniel has worked with refugees and immigrants in several different organizations and now plans leadership conferences and helps to start local branches of Laget in different cities.

In recent years, Daniel has engaged in politics through the KRF (Christian Democrat Party) and has participated in various international projects through the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations and KIA Ung.

Maria Moe, aged 23, is one of two United Nations Youth Delegates from Norway. She is currently studying Law at the University of Oslo. Maria has been part of the Norwegian Christian Democratic Youth Party for six years, and has been a member of the national board for the past three. She served as the International Secretary for the Youth Party, and was responsible for all international projects and international policies and for representing the party in the European political arena. Maria previously worked for the parliamentary group of the Christian Democratic Party, as well as for the largest financial institution in Norway.

Peru

Khiabet Salazar, aged 24, is the Youth Delegate from Peru. Khiabet serves as an External Collaborator at the International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour (IPEC), a regional ILO project for Latin American and the Caribbean. She has a degree in Political Science from the Pontificia Universidad Catolica del Peru and in 2014, she was granted the Emerging Leaders of the Americas Scholarship from the Government of Canada. In 2015, Khiabet interned at the Permanent Mission of Peru to the United Nations. Khiabet is interested in research, foreign policy and human development issues.

Khaibet is the President of Politai, a civil association that seeks to encourage the study of political science themes in Latin America and the participation of young researchers through the publication of two academic journals per year. In August 2017, Khiabet was designated as the National Youth Coordinator for the Kailash Children’s Foundation’s “100 Million for 100 Million Campaign Peru.” Khiabet is eager to promote the participation of youth in decision-making processes to achieve inclusive and sustainable development. Through her work in public policy, she hopes to help empower youth, especially young women.

Portugal

Mr. Alberto Silva

Hugo Carvalho, aged 26, is the United Nations Youth Delegate from Portugal. Hugo is President of the Board of the National Youth Council (CNJ) and Secretary-General of the Youth Forum of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries. He is from Viseu, Portugal, and is a scout, musician, athlete and youth leader. He is also a former board member of the Student Association of the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto and of the Academic Federation of Porto. From 2014 to 2015, he was appointed project and budget administrator of the Academic Federation of University Sports and was the representative of CNJ in the National Education Council. Hugo has a Master’s Degree in Energetic Sustainability and a Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering from the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto.

Republic of Korea

Hyeongyo Suh is the United Nations Youth Delegate from the Republic of Korea. She is a passionate youth activist who holds a Bachelor’s degree in English Language and Literature from Kyungpook National University. During the last few years, she has been actively involved in organizing, leading, and participating in both national and international conferences across Korea to advocate for inclusive participation of youth in all levels of decision-making.

Hyeongyo has been engaged in the 17th and 18th World Knowledge Forum as a member of the secretariat, the 19th Tripartite Environment Ministers Meeting Among China, Japan, and Korea (TEMM) as a youth representative of the Republic of Korea, Daegu Municipal Enterprise of Ministry of Gender Equality and Family as the English host and supporter, the first Korean Peninsula Policy Consensus (KPPC) as a youth representative, and the 5th Asia-Pacific Youth Parliament for Water as a representative of the Republic of Korea.

Hyeongyo believes youth empowerment, especially youth education and decision-making, is critical in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and has actively contributed to improving the educational gap and building youth capacity in Korea by participating in volunteer programs as a language instructor and launching various projects at both national and international levels. As a Youth Delegate, her interests and focus lie on advocating for the SDGs; specifically social development, youth capacity building and gender equality.

Romania

Ioana Covei is one of two United Nations Youth Delegates from Romania. She recently completed her master’s degree in culture and politics at the University of Bucharest. For the past 10 years, Ioana has been member of the Romanian Association for Debate, Oratory and Rhetoric, and served as Executive Director of one of its regional branches. She has instructed and coordinated several projects that promote human rights through debate, such as a multi-ethnic debate club tackling xenophobia and Debating Threats to Democracy, an International Debate Education Association project helping young people use critical thinking to advance democratic values. Ioana is especially interested in issues relating to youth health and patient rights. During her term as a youth delegate, Ioana hopes to empower young people to get involved in the betterment of their communities.

Vlad Măcelaru, aged 24, is one of two United Nations Youth Delegates from Romania. Vlad is a graduate of Fontys University of Applied Sciences in the Netherlands where he earned a degree in international business and management. Vlad had the opportunity to study abroad at Musashi University in Tokyo, Japan. His experience abroad made him curious and passionate about technology and inspired him to volunteer for the League of Romanian Students Abroad, where, together with his team, he mentors young people eager to study abroad. Currently, Vlad lives in Bucharest where he helps bring people together for technological and humanitarian projects.

Serbia

Teodora Pavković is the United Nations Youth Delegate from Serbia. She is a third-year student of International Affairs at the Faculty of Political Sciences in Belgrade.

Driven to effect change in her small town, Teodora has been involved in many volunteer projects over the years. Teodora first volunteered at age fifteen as a peer educator on HIV/AIDS. After six years of various activism and volunteerism activities, as well as two Model UN experiences, Teodora is now an intern at the International Security Affairs Centre.

Teodora advocates for better and more inclusive education greater health, as well as the active participation of youth in decision making processes.

Slovenia

Sabina Carli, aged 26, is the United Nations Youth Delegate from Slovenia covering the High Level Political Forum (HLPF) (including participating in Slovenian Voluntary National Report on the Implementation of the 2030 Agenda) and the UN General Assembly. Sabina holds a masters’ degree in international relations and international law from the Brussels School of International Studies, University of Kent, and recently returned from a postgraduate exchange programme at the China Foreign Affairs University in Beijing. She is working as a project manager at the Centre for European Perspective in Ljubljana, Slovenia, focusing on the preparation and execution of Bled Strategic Forum, the largest strategic conference in the region.

Sabina has over eight years of experience working in youth-led and youth-focused non-governmental organizations, including the United Nations Association of Slovenia, UNESCO Youth Platform, Association of Students’ Clubs of Slovenia, Movement for Decent Work and the Welfare Society. As the UN Youth Delegate working in the scope of the National Youth Council of Slovenia, Sabina is focused on youth mainstreaming and youth participation in political affairs, economic matters and local communities.

Sri Lanka

Shehan Koshila Kannangara, aged 25, is one of two Sri Lankan Youth Delegates to the United Nations. He is currently studying Landscape Architecture at University of Moratuwa and studied local and international politics at the National Youth Service Council.  Shehan is the Vice Chairman of the National Council of the Sri Lanka Federation of Youth Clubs. He works as a youth leader, organizing programs for the betterment of youth athletics, leadership development, self-employment and education.

Furthermore, Shehan is an active member of Sri Lanka Youth Parliament and is involved in the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) in Sri Lanka. He is particularly focused on coastal conservation, turtle conservation and environment conservation projects. Shehan served as a Sri Lankan representative to the non-infectious disease conference in India in 2015 and to the Ship for World Youth 28 (SWY 28) in 2016. In 2014, Shehan won third place in the Emerging Young Leader Awards (EYLA).

Sheshadri Kottearachchi, aged 25, is one of two Youth Delegates from Sri Lanka. She holds a Bachelors of Science (Hons.) in international relations, degrees in diplomacy and world Affairs and French language, and is due to graduate with a Bachelors of Arts in English Literature later this year. She is a national award-winning public speaker, debater, published author and has been a Model UN delegate since 2009; recently winning the award for Best Delegate of Security Council at EIMUN, Kathmandu. Sheshadri is currently working as a UN Volunteer for UNICEF Sri Lanka and has previous experience working for The Commonwealth Elections Committee, United Nations Development Programme and International Alert. Sheshadri has also participated in exchange programmes both within Sri Lanka and internationally, having most recently spent a summer term at Tsinghua University, Beijing.

Sheshadri has studied and worked in the field of international policy, social development and communications for the past four years. As youth delegate, Sheshadri’s mandate focuses on community reconciliation and the representation of young people in Sri Lanka.

Sweden

Hanna Bergman, aged 21, is the United Nations Youth Delegate from Sweden. This fall, she will begin her bachelor’s degree in peace and conflict studies. Hanna’s involvement in youth organizations began at age 13 when she joined her school’s student council and the student union movement. Hanna presided over one of the top student unions in Sweden and attended Raoul Wallenberg Academy’s Leadership Program. While she was employed by the Swedish Federation of Student Unions, Hanna worked towards the further engagement of young people in the movement. Hanna then backpacked solo around the globe.

Hanna was elected President of More Youth, a Swedish lobby organization for youth inclusion, and serves on the board of the Young Feminists organization as a spokesperson for housing and community planning. As a UN Youth Delegate, Hanna will focus on human security and the UN Security Council Resolution 2250 on youth, peace and security.

Switzerland

Sabine Fankhauser, aged 21, is the United Nations Youth Delegate from Switzerland. She is currently studying international relations at the University of St. Gallen and working as a trainer at a youth exchange organization and as a snowboard instructor. Sabine has been an active volunteer for many years. For example, she was a board member of a consulting club for sustainable start-ups where she organized a trip for 300 Swiss youth to attend the World Youth Day Event in Krakow. Additionally, Sabine volunteers as a German tutor for young migrants.

During her mandate, Sabine travelled through Switzerland to speak with young people from various backgrounds and ethnicities about their concerns and interests. Additionally, Sabine organized school visits, workshops and study trips to the United Nations in Geneva for young people. Sabine believes that incorporating youth into the decision-making processes can bring new and creative perspectives to politics.  She thus would like to work towards a society which attaches more value to the voices of young people.

Thailand

Chindapat Sinthawat, aged 22, is one of four Youth Delegates from Thailand. She is a senior majoring in Business Law at Chulalongkorn University. Currently, Chindapat works for the Harvard College in Asia Program (HCAP), which aims to foster international understanding between Thai and Harvard students to cultivate the next generation of leaders.

In elementary school, Chindapat received the national Royal Thai Student Award of His Majesty the Late King Bhumibol Adulyadej for her academic distinction and charitable extracurricular activities. Furthermore, she was selected as a youth representative for the Tourism Authority of Thailand and CISV International. When she was a Rotary Exchange student in France, Chindapat was the first student to receive “Paul Harris Fellow” from Rotary International for her continuous efforts in creating better understanding and promoting relationships between people throughout the world.

As Youth Delegate, Chindapat’s mandate focuses on advocating for the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy (SEP). She strongly believes that the implementation of SEP would help the international community achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Chindapat believes that the inclusion of youth and the cooperation of all delegates are key to building sustainable Global Partnerships.

Jarida Chittrawat, aged 20, is one of four Youth Delegates from Thailand. She is currently majoring in international relations and minoring in public administration at Thammasat University. In her studies Jarida focuses on issues relating to human development and plans to pursue a future in women and children’s empowerment. Jarida strongly believes that every women and child should have full access to education and opportunities to reach their highest potential.

Outside of university, Jarida is a member of Thailand’s Education Reform Assembly, a group dedicated to advocating for more inclusive education in Thailand, as many Thai children still struggle to access equal education. Furthermore, Jarida volunteers with the Guide Light Project, teaching English to students with visual disabilities in order to help them find employment.  As a Youth Delegate, Jarida looks forward to discussing solutions to world problems with other youth delegates, as she believes that the ideas and power of youth can truly make a difference in the world.

Prachaya Sriwatcharodom is one of four United Nations Youth Delegates from Thailand. He is currently pursuing a law degree at the Faculty of Law at Chulalongkorn University in Thailand. Prachaya is interested in public international law, international development, and education. He believes that the effective participation of youth in the decision-making processes is necessary for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

Prachaya participated in several exchange programmes in France where he had the opportunity to live with a welcoming host-family. These valuable experiences taught him that communication is the key to overcoming cultural and inter-generational differences, improving mutual understanding and respect, and maintaining sustainable peace. Prachaya believes in the merits of a multicultural society and that people’s differences are what bring richness to the world.

Worawit Dumklang, aged 20, is one of four United Nations Youth Delegates from Thailand. He is a student at the Ubon Ratchathani Rajabhat University where he studies English Education and serves as the Vice President of Academic Affairs of the Student Union. Worawit is involved in various youth programs such as the NACC Youth Ambassadors 2017, the English Access Microscholarship Program, and the YSEALI Tech Camp Thailand on Promoting Peace and Dialogue through Technology. Additionally, Worawit is a Thai representative in the ASEAN-EU Youth Camp for Sustainable Development, where he focuses on how Thailand applies Sufficiency Economy Philosophy (SEP) in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

In Thailand, Worawit initiated useful projects and engaged with youth leaders in combating corruption. Worawit passionately dedicates himself to youth work and hopes that he can make positive changes in Thailand.

Ukraine 

Maryna Mykhaylenko is one of two United Nations Youth Delegates from Ukraine. She is a fourth-year student majoring in international relations at the Institute of International Relations at Taras Shevchenko University, Kyiv. Her interests include the representation of youth in politics, environmental problems and gender equality. Maryna leads youth campaigns which raise awareness among youth about social problems in Ukraine. She is a former intern at the Ministry of Infrastructure and Kyiv City State Administration, and has coordinated major charity and educational projects. Maryna is also a founder of an English language club for elementary and middle school students and an alumna of international exchange programs.

Olha Ruda is one of two Ukrainian Youth Delegates to the United Nations. Olha has a bachelor’s degree in international relations from the Institute of International Relations, Taras Shevcheko National University of Kyiv. She also studied as an Erasmus exchange student at the University of Warsaw where she learned to speak Polish fluently.  Olha is a former Team Leader of the Global Entrepreneur Shape Ukraine project at AIESEC in Kyiv. During her tenure, she launched an entrepreneurship program for 123 young people in 20 countries, advancing Sustainable Development Goal 8. Olha has interned at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine in the Asia-Pacific region department and was a co-organizer of the “Problems and Prospects of the EU-Ukraine Cooperation” conference devoted to the 20th anniversary of EU-Ukraine relations. She is also an alumna of the FLEX program, a Civic education workshop held in Washington DC.

United Arab Emirates

Mr. Omar A. AlMutawa

Ms. Sara Al Suwaidi

United States of America

Munira Khalif is the United States Youth Observer to the United Nations. Munira is currently an undergraduate student at Harvard University, majoring in economics and minoring in government. She is a dedicated advocate for universal access to education and women’s and girls’ rights. Munira previously served as Teen Advisor for the United Nations Foundation’s Girl Up campaign and attended the first inaugural Malala Day at the UN Headquarters in New York. She also represented Girl Up on a UN panel to discuss ways to increase lawmakers’ involvement in youth issues. Munira, alongside other youth advocates, successfully lobbied US Congress to ensure that girls in developing countries are registered at birth.

Munira is a co-founder and leader of Lighting the Way, a youth-run non-profit organization working to make education more accessible and equitable for girls in East Africa. Munira was awarded the UN Special Envoy for Global Education’s Youth Courage Award, which honours young people fighting for universal education. Munira was invited twice to attend the annual White House Iftar dinner, which celebrates Muslim-American trailblazers both in the public and private sector.