6th. International Youth Conference, 2022

Serve, Lead, Innovate – 6th International al Youth Conference; September 22-25, 2022

The world’s youth population is about 2.2 billion, and a sustainable future is possible through the collective and organized action of all, including the youth. The world faces various challenges for sustainable development that can no longer be ignored. Our responsibility is to move toward building sustainable communities with the guiding principle of Serve, Lead, and Innovate. The International Youth Conference (IYC6) aims for a sustainable future for the world with the help of the “NATION OF YOUTH.”

During the four days of the hybrid conference, BK Maria Paula Cervera, Brahma Kumaris Youth representative at the UN, was attending in person (New York City) and online to experience and listen to different points of view on youth for a sustainable world, regarding different issues, such as: gender and climate, peace, engaging with the UN Department of Global Communications, Youth Projects. Additionally, the scene where youth themselves talk about inner peace to create outer peace in the world was astounding. It lets us realise that more and more all generations are rising above chaos to find a way towards true peace. Here are some keynotes from the whole conference that will enhance our solution-based-consciousness for a better world.

– Youth Leadership is necessary to create peace;

– Peace needs to be from the inside out;

– Youth are agents of impact, partners of the world and co-creators of peace;

– Enabling bridges of hope: with good education, peaceful state of mind, step out of comfort zones to listen more and learn from other individuals;

– You live as an extension of what you practice;

– Change need to be reflected from a holistic perspective;

– We have more than our ancestors;

– Youth is able to break the tech barrier, that’s their biggest advantage;

– Youth energy is like a plant, it needs to be nurtured, we need to make it grow, put it into the light;

– Youth engagement is belonging;

– We need to protect the mental health of the young generation;

– Equalizing the value of young expertise. Climate change could be minimized by youth empowerment. Youth can play an important role in saving our environment;

– Resources are tools to empower, education of climate change, connect to community and connect with nature;

– Digital equality: Technology as key tool of peace and justice;

– Engage youth to be leaders not followers;

– Access to physical spaces is a very powerful tool.

We can appreciate the powerful energy the youth is trying to convey, within the dimension of serving, leading and innovating. Giving love and regard for the work of others creates an energy of service. Becoming the example of impacting behavioral changes creates an atmosphere of leadership. Sustaining an awareness that empowers the attitude towards the self and the world creates a stable mind and a peaceful heart, enabling change-makers to step forward in the path of transformation.

To conclude, let’s join the youth energy as a massive and powerful energy capable of achieving the impossible, as Dadi Janki once said:

“All human beings have one thing in common – their feelings. The colour of skin may be different but the blood is the same. The tears are the same. Someone may be old or young but the experience of sorrow is clearly visible on their faces. Every human being wants love, peace and happiness. In peace there is happiness and the result is love. One needs to have peace inside first – if this is missing then the intellect wanders. There is no security or support experienced. Without security one feels weak. In relationships, we need honesty. From honesty we can have faith.”

(written by 𝑀𝒶𝓇𝒾𝒶 𝒫𝒶𝓊𝓁𝒶 𝒞𝑒𝓇𝓋𝑒𝓇𝒶, NGO Youth Representative to the Brahma Kumaris)