H.E. Csaba Kőrösi, President of the General Assembly
H.E. Dennis Francis, President-elect of the General Assembly
H.E. Marco Suazo, Head of UNITAR New York
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Let me begin by saying that this year personally for me, has been a gamechanger and a year of transformation.
There is a Samoan saying that goes, “o le ala I le pule o le tautua”, which translates, “the pathway to leadership is through service”.
This saying derives from the context of the chiefly system in Samoa. For you to become a chief, you as an untitled man or woman would have to serve your family, village, church and community with commitment and satisfaction before you are chosen to be a chief or leader of your family and community.
Mr. President, in this session, you were our chief and we were the untitled men and women that served you and your office in the hopes that we build the capacity and skills to become a chief like you in the years to come.
And I hope that we proved ourselves worthy.
The PGA Youth Fellowship programme offers a unique and special experience to learn about the work of the PGA and the UN system, and to work in a diverse office on diverse issues to equip us to become worthy chiefs’, whilst also making friends and networks to last beyond 2030.
In the past 7 months, I have had the opportunity to work on issues related to Sustainable Development, Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs, Communications and Media, Science, and more.
Each team and their respective work gave me a different perspective of just how diverse the issues are, but also just how mind boggling the UN system can be on this side of the isle. Furthermore, it broadened my knowledge of the UN system and the multi-faceted world issues we face.
Therefore, I consider this experience one of the best experiences thus far in my life’s journey as it has reminded me that I am still young and that I should be doing more for youth engagement and life in general. Also, because it has given me an opportunity to work under one of the Founding Fathers of the SDG’s.
The Fellowship enabled me to be a part of the first ever Water Conference in 40 years. It gave us an opportunity to contribute to the upcoming SDG Summit, the Summit of the Future, Future Generations, the 3 Health processes, CSO engagement, youth engagement, and the use of science to ensure we have the right data for sustainable policies and strategies, and so much more.
Buddha once said, “One day, you’ll just be a memory for some people. Do your best to be a good one”.
I have reached the finish line of this chapter of my life’s journey, but it is not about this moment, I believe it is rather the journey itself and the people that made this journey to the finish line possible; and those would be my colleagues, friends, and families, whom are all truly amazing people, and I will never forget this chapter of my life and I hope the memory of me I leave you with, is a good one.
A word of thanks.
Mr. President, I will never forget your leadership and your enthusiasm for change but especially my favorite memory, which would have been when we talked about rugby as we walked to one of your meetings as I never knew that Hungarians watched rugby. Thank you very much indeed!
Ambassador Suazo, thank you for your support and for making us a part of UNITAR’s celebration of its 60 years!
Thank you to the member states that contributed to the programme.
Thank you to CDC Laszlo and DCdC Fernando and to the team Leaders that guided me in their respective teams, Husniyya, Paulina, Fer, Johannes, Pete and Janina and my mentor Bogna. To all the OPGA colleagues (I can’t name you all) thank you for your friendship, collegiality, and support throughout some of the best and challenging times!
My appreciation and thanks also to my Government, my Ambassador and mission colleagues for their support and guidance.
A special thank you to Sho, Reem, Athena and Pelayo whom have been there even before we landed right until this very moment for the tremendous support and to colleagues in UNITAR.
To my dear Fellows, my brothers and sisters, thank you for your friendship and support throughout the year, we came together as strangers and are leaving as family. I am certain our bond and network will last for as long as we shall live!
Lastly, I dedicate this achievement to my late parents which my success and who I am, is credit to their hard work and dedication (it is also my mother’s birthday today so happy birthday in heaven mum – I hope you are both proud).
To my wife and children, thank you for the support and sacrifices made for me to be here!
This has truly been an amazing experience and I hope that when I become a chief like you Mr. President, that I will remember to pay it forward to other interns and Fellows we will work with as you have with us.
Excellencies, I leave you with a prayer and a hope that through our work, we continue striving to achieve “solutions through solidarity, sustainability and science”.
God bless you and God bless the United Nations.
I, Thank you!
