Youth Delegate Breakfast Series at the UN-DPI Advance Global Health conference in Melbourne, Australia.
Day Two
The morning commenced with a delegate who attened the World Youth Conference in Mexico, Ana Garcia. She discussed about her experience at the conference as well as conflicts of interests that often occur between youth and government organizations. While youth have a mentality of advocating rights to all people: marginalized, lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender, indigineous, rural, and other communities, many governmental organizations are often hesitant to accept these concepts. However, this is the opportunity for youth to work with their respective NGO's and take it into our own hands and bridge the gap. It is great that the speaker highlights conflicts that occur and focus on practical methods of overcoming obstacles.
A croissant and orange juice later, our breakfast then shifted over to discussions about what we have seen work towards achieving the MDG's personally, or through our organization. As our table discussed, we came to a consensus of how localizing efforts and having communities believe in the work that is done, produces longer lasting impacts.
In the past two days of the conference it has been interesting to compare the youth breakfast meetings and the general conference. While the general conference has been very informative, the excitement and energy towards achieving the MDGs is much more prevalent during these breakfasts. Youth delegates are continually excited to share ideas, listen to each other, and encourage each other to continue each other's work, and hopefully pool resources together to improve the lives of the global community. However, we also realized that the MDG's of the United Nations must be more emphasized through the media, and communities if we want a global awareness in how we can create peace on this earth.
Our session ended with Hamish from the Global Health Gateway sharing with us with a simple inspiring video that reminds us what work needs to be finished in achieving the MDGs. (I will find that link and post it up after the conference.)
Each community and country has it's own conflicts, and there are many situations that are difficult to overcome, but I really think that if NGO's can continually doing all the positive work that they can, and we raise more awareness throughout the global community, we can and will bring peace to this world.
With excitement,
Theresa Tsao =]
P.S. Did you know that ketchup is called "tomato sauce" here? (Prouncounced "toe-MAH-toe") And a very popular food item here is a "meat pie." I treated myself to a vegetarian one, but others have said that the meat ones are definitely good comfort food as well. We found a stand named "Pie Face" that is open 24/7.
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