On 7 and 8 April 2021, theEconomic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Youth Forumcelebrated its 10th anniversary in a historic event that welcomed over 20,000 young people around the world — marking a historic moment as the largest and most diverse gathering of young people at the UN ever.    

The ECOSOC Youth Forum is a unique platform for young people, Member States and partners to dialogue on the issues most important to young people today and for youth to share their vision and actions on implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.    

This year,  23 young people leading on resilient recovery in the Decade of Action and championing SDG implementation in their communities joined the conversation as part of the Forum’s plenary sessions. Let’s meet them and learn more about their work! 

Melati Wijsen

Co-founder of Bye Bye Plastic Bags , Founder of YOUTHTOPIA 

Isabel Wijsen

Co-founder of Bye Bye Plastic Bags

 

“We as youth, urge you to do your duty, urgently. And we are here to help because we can.

 

Melati Wijsen and Isabel Wijsen are sisters and co-founders of the youth-driven NGO Bye Bye Plastic BagsMelati and Isabel started Bye Bye Plastic Bags at the ages of 10 and 12 and have been leading the movement driven by youth since 2013. Bye Bye Plastic Bags is leading the implementation of the SDG’s by example. Their years of education and protesting efforts led to the official ban of plastic bags in their home island in Bali, Indonesia.CurrentlyMelati and Isabel are excited about their new youth empowerment project, Youthtopia, founded by Melati. The project focuses on empowering youth via meaningful and short peer-to-peer programs and by providing them with the tools needed to be young changemakers.

Melati also started the people-powered movement One Island One Voice and the social enterprise, Mountain MamasMelati has spoken on world stages such as the UN, TED, and has also been selected as FORBES’ top ten most inspiring women in the country. She graduated from high school one year early in 2018 and has since been honored by TIME as part of the most influential teens in the world along with being part of theCNN Young Wonders and FORBES 30 under 30