How One Young World shaped my vision for my community and generation

When my World Pulse sister, friend, working partner and colleague Sunita Basnet first suggested that I register to represent my country and generation at One Young World inaugural summit last year I wondered for days and weeks g if it was worth the effort. The process was different from what I was used to. This one involved filling out an application form, using social media to gather votes from other young people who believe and trust that you can represent them well and finally getting sponsorship to cover your travel expenses. After several weeks of thinking and dragging my feet, I finally decided to give it a shot. At least I would get the opportunity to meet Sunita in person and hug her! But One Young World turned out to be DIFFERENT and made a difference.

One Young World changed my life in another way! It was more than another youth summit. This one called the attention of the world-world leaders gathered, listened, reasoned with and counselled young leaders who questioned, challenged and provoked adults who had the power and resources to solve global difficulties such as poverty, global warming, conflicts, injustices etc.
The end was simple- one people representing different countries resolved to team up and take concrete actions in their communities to implement resolutions that they had drafted, debated on and voted for
1) The Changing Power of the Media
2) Global Business
3) Global Health
4) Political Leadership
5) Interfaith Dialogue
6) The Environment and its protection

Sunita and I were all speaking on the same resolution- The Changing Power of the Media. After our training, exposure and experience with World Pulse Voices Of Our Future Training and publishing important yet unreported stories of girls and women in our communities we knew this resolution was the one we would speak on.

As I listened, networked and conversed with other young people who were implementing projects and programs in their communities to solve global challenges I was motivated, inspired and challenged as never before to wake up and act; in other words to walk my talk as a young person in my community. As many young leaders showed to the world how they were engaged in making things happen in their communities I was inspired.
Lauren Bush’s FEED Bag project provided meals for School children around the world. Karuna Rana’s project was protecting the environment, Erin Schrode was launching a project in Haiti to help children get education and rebuild their country.

After participating Sunita and I started working on training, coaching and mentoring girls from difficult backgrounds in our community and communities around the world.The six resolutions of One Young World-The Changing Power of the Media, The Environment and its protection, Global Health, Political Leadership, Interfaith Dialogue and Global Business shaped my vision of empowering girls and young women to engage in Social Change Initiatives that can bring change to their lives and communities.
This year’s conference brought together about 1,200 young people representing different countries. Returning ambassadors like Sunita were there report on projects undertaken under each of the resolutions. Convening ambassadors like myself were there to speak about our project and the impact we are making in our communities after One Young World inaugural summit last year.

One Young World is just different. Young leaders of today and tomorrow tell the world what they want and work at making this change happen with global counsellors and leaders through One Young World resolutions. The young people who are selected to attend One Young World do not just speak they act as well.
Young people inspire, motivate and challenge one another, dialogue with world leaders and global counselors to implement the resolutions through community projects and programs.