Dear friends,

Thank you for joining me today.  I am incredibly delighted to be among a diverse group of aspiring young leaders.  

I warmly welcome our friends from the Obama Foundation Scholars program to the United Nations Headquarters.

My friends, it is opportunities like these that remind me why I chose to embark on this journey. 

Throughout the course of my career, my meetings with ambitious youth, keen on making a difference, have remained among my most rewarding and enriching experiences. 

Each time, I learn something new, and impart an additional bit of wisdom. Hard-earned wisdom, I might add, that has cost me hours of sleep and most of my hair. I share some of it with you now for free, so that you can get some rest, and hopefully keep your hair. 

You see, two critical lessons I have learned over the years is that we cannot solve any of the challenges confronting us without multilateralism, and that youth-engagement and commitment is vital to secure the future of multilateralism.   

Upon assuming office as President of the General Assembly, those same lessons continue to guide me. 

By involving young women and men in the work of global multilateralism, I believe we can lay stronger groundwork for an inclusive, relevant, and sustainable future.

Our meeting today aims to build upon that groundwork. It is about hearing your stories, your ambitions, as well as your viewpoints on how we – at the UN can better deliver for the planet.

Beyond these exchanges, today is also about building networks between like-minded peers, to forge what I hope can become enduring friendships in our shared aspirations.

My friends,

The United Nations needs to live up to its commitment for the people we serve, especially in these complex and trying times.

When I chose ‘Hope’ as the underlying theme of my Presidency for the 76th session of the General Assembly, I realized it would be met with some skepticism. But I also realized that it was time that ‘we the people’, united to give hope to the people who so desperately needed it. 

Humanity is facing major global challenges that are transitional as well as transnational in nature. 

Challenges ranging from the COVID-19 pandemic to worsening climate impacts, the devastating humanitarian crises in ongoing conflict situations, trans-national terrorism, disinformation, and the continued unraveling of hard-won gains on everything from curbing poverty to closing the gender divide has demonstrated that none of these can be addressed by any single government or institution acting alone.

The pandemic and its consequent global impact has reminded us that if we do not work together as a united global family, the return to normalcy will continue to elude us.

In the same vein, the realization of development frameworks, such as the Sustainable Development Goals, calls for greater equality and inclusivity of every person, regardless of age, gender, color, ability, religion, or any other marker. 

My friends, 

It is the principles of equality and human rights that guide my five priority pillars or ‘five rays of hope’ as I call them, on recovering from COVID-19, rebuilding sustainably, responding to the needs of the planet, respecting the rights of all, and revitalizing the United Nations. 

Each of the five rays are seen through a gender equality-lens and with it a commitment for greater youth engagement. 

As part of this commitment, I have met with youth representatives throughout my meetings here in New York and travels abroad. This includes meeting with climate activists at COP26 who have, and continue to make, a vast impact on the climate discourse.

It is heartening to hear of their unwavering commitment, determination, and persistence for change on issues that shape their future.

I have always been a firm believer that empowering youth is empowering the grassroots, and the civil society. By doing so, we ensure policies are not only made FOR the people but WITH the people.

I am proud to have successfully launched my Fellowship of HOPE, which aims to build on the skills and capacity of the 8 young diplomats among us today. 

The Fellowship program seeks to broaden the knowledge and skills of young diplomats within the multilateral system, both here in the United Nations and through their respective missions.

Like the Obama Foundation Scholars, the HOPE fellows represent a diverse array of backgrounds. But most importantly, they come from under-represented member states of the United Nations, the Least Developing Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries, and the Small Island Developing States.

It is my hope that upon completion of this program, our HOPE Fellows will take home these lessons and experiences to benefit their respective national roles.  

I acknowledge the different fields, skillsets, interests, and ambitions each of you pursue and acquire. And I am confident that as you successfully harness these opportunities, as HOPE Fellows and Scholars of the Obama Foundation, that you will no doubt continue to make impactful changes.

As you do, know that you can always count on my support.

With those few words, I invite your views and thoughts on how the multilateral system can better work for and with youth.

I thank you.