By Joel Miranda
Senior Manager, Leadership and Partnership
of Youth with Opportunities GOYN-USA
The “Collaboration Across Places: Building Better Futures with Opportunity Youth” gathering, organized by the Conrad Hilton Foundation and held from July 30 to August 1, 2024, in the vibrant heart of Mexico City, was a resounding success. As a member of the Global Opportunity Youth Network (GOYN) global team, I was honored to participate in this event, and was deeply moved by the depth of the conversations, the visibility of the young leaders, and the spirit of collaboration that defined the week.
A Platform for Youth Leadership and Participation
From the outset, the Conrad Hilton Foundation set the tone for an inclusive and impactful gathering. The agenda was meticulously designed to ensure that community partners, experts, and most importantly, young people were not only present, but prominently involved. Whether in plenary sessions, small group discussions, or even during the more informal networking moments, the voices and perspectives of young people were at the center.
Youth-led Day (Monday 31 July) was a highlight. Organised with exceptional skill and dedication, this event showcased youth leadership and commitment in a way that was both inspiring and moving. These young leaders gave their all to the event, sharing not only their challenges, but also their solutions, dreams and their unwavering commitment to their communities.
Commitment to Community and Sustainability
One of the highlights of the meeting was how young entrepreneurs are not only focusing on creating sustainable livelihoods for themselves and their families, but are also deeply committed to giving back to their communities. Their initiatives are not just about making financial gains; they are geared towards fostering a sense of responsibility towards the environment and creating a positive impact that goes far beyond their immediate surroundings.
The event organized by the youth was a vivid demonstration of this spirit. The young leaders presented their projects, many of which are deeply rooted in environmental sustainability. Their dedication to their communities and the planet was evident in every presentation, discussion and interaction. It was clear that these young people are not just leaders of the future; they are already making a significant impact today.
Celebrating Culture and Community Pride
The vibrant culture of Mexico City was beautifully integrated into the fabric of the gathering. The young leaders were not just participants; they were cultural ambassadors, proudly sharing the richness of their heritage with all of us. From traditional music and dance to stories about the history and resilience of their communities, the event was a celebration of the beauty and strength of Mexican culture.
This cultural pride was also evident in the way the young entrepreneurs approach their work. They are deeply connected to their roots, and this connection informs and enriches everything they do. Their projects are not just business ventures; they are expressions of their love for their culture and their desire to preserve and promote it for future generations.
GOYN Youth Exchange Mexico-Mombasa
An extraordinary moment following the week’s event took place on the Saturday after the meeting, where members of the GOYN Mexico City and GOYN Mombasa Youth Advisory Groups participated in a powerful exchange. This one-day exchange provided a unique opportunity for these young leaders to come together and share their learnings from the recent capacity building sessions on advocacy and GOYN’s Equity Leadership Program (ELP).
During this exchange, young people discussed how they are contextualizing youth-led advocacy and focusing on equity as a central, youth-led theme to engage their peers and strengthen their capacities. They shared strategies on how to identify, discuss, and make equity-related recommendations, both within their communities and when engaging with adult-led institutions in their local ecosystems. This global dialogue highlighted the shared challenges and opportunities that young people face in different contexts, and how they are innovating and leading efforts to ensure that equity remains a central focus in their advocacy work.
A Heartfelt Thank You
I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the Conrad Hilton Foundation for their unwavering support and leadership in organizing this gathering. Their commitment to elevating the voices of young people and fostering meaningful connections between community partners is truly commendable.
I am also immensely grateful to my colleagues at GOYN Mexico and YouthBuild Mexico, whose hard work and dedication made this event possible. Their efforts in organizing Youth Day, in particular, were extraordinary, and the impact of this event will be felt for years to come.
Finally, I want to extend my sincere thanks to the young leaders of the Youth Advisory Groups and the young entrepreneurs who participated in the meeting. Your leadership, your commitment to your communities, and your passion for making the world a better place are simply inspiring. It was an honor to share this experience with you, and I look forward to continuing our work together to create pathways to full potential for all young people.
Celebrating Leadership and Community Commitment at the “Collaboration Across Place: Building Better Futures with Opportunity Youth” Meeting Organized by the Conrad Hilton Foundation in Mexico City
By Joel Miranda
Senior Manager, Leadership and Partnership
for Youth with Opportunities GOYN-USA
The “Collaboration Across Place: Building Better Futures with Opportunity Youth” convention, organized by the Conrad Hilton Foundation and held from July 30 to August 1, 2024, in the vibrant heart of Mexico City, was a resounding success. As a member of the Global Opportunity Youth Network (GOYN) global team, I had the honor of participating in this event, and I was deeply moved by the depth of the conversations, the visibility of young leaders, and the spirit of collaboration that defined the week.
A Platform for Youth Leadership and Participation
From the outset, the Conrad Hilton Foundation set the tone for an inclusive and impactful convention. The agenda was meticulously designed to ensure that community partners, experts, and most importantly, young people were not only present but prominently engaged. Whether in plenary sessions, small group discussions, or even during the more informal networking moments, the voices and perspectives of young people were front and center.
The Youth-led Day on Monday was a particular highlight. This event, organized with exceptional skill and dedication, showcased the leadership and commitment of young people in a way that was both inspiring and touching. These young leaders brought their full selves to the event, sharing not only their challenges but also their solutions, dreams, and unwavering commitment to their communities.
Commitment to Community and Sustainability
One of the standout aspects of the convention was how young entrepreneurs are not only focusing on creating sustainable livelihoods for themselves and their families, but they are also deeply committed to giving back to their communities. Their initiatives are not just about economic gain; they are about fostering a sense of responsibility toward the environment and creating a positive impact that extends far beyond their immediate surroundings.
The Youth Day event was a vivid demonstration of this spirit. The young leaders showcased their projects, many of which are deeply rooted in environmental sustainability. Their dedication to their communities and the planet was evident in every presentation, discussion, and interaction. It was clear that these young people are not just future leaders; they are already making a significant impact today.
Celebrating Culture and Community Pride
The vibrant culture of Mexico City was beautifully woven into the fabric of the convention. The young leaders were not just participants; They were cultural ambassadors, proudly sharing the richness of their heritage with all of us. From traditional music and dance to stories about the history and resilience of their communities, the event was a celebration of the beauty and strength of Mexican culture.
This cultural pride was also evident in how the young entrepreneurs approached their work. They are deeply connected to their roots, and this connection informs and enriches everything they do. Their projects are not just business ventures; they are expressions of their love for their culture and their desire to preserve and promote it for future generations.
GOYN Mexico-Mombasa Youth Exchange
An extraordinary moment following the week's event took place on the Saturday after the convening, where members of the Youth Advisory Groups from GOYN Mexico City and GOYN Mombasa participated in a powerful exchange. This day-long exchange provided a unique opportunity for these young leaders to come together and share their learnings from recent advocacy capacity-building sessions and the GOYN Equity Leadership Program.
During this exchange, the young people discussed how they are contextualizing youth-led advocacy and focusing on equity as a central theme, led by youth to engage their peers and strengthen their capacities. They shared strategies on how to identify, discuss, and make recommendations related to equity, both within their communities and when interacting with adult-led institutions in their local ecosystems. This global dialogue highlighted the shared challenges and opportunities that young people face in different contexts, and how they are innovating and leading efforts to ensure that equity remains a central focus in their advocacy work.
A Heartfelt Thank You
I want to express my deepest gratitude to the Conrad Hilton Foundation for their unwavering support and leadership in organizing this convention. Their commitment to elevating youth voices and fostering meaningful connections between community partners is truly commendable.
I am also immensely grateful to my colleagues at GOYN Mexico and YouthBuild Mexico, whose hard work and dedication made this event possible. Their efforts in organizing the Youth Day, in particular, were extraordinary, and the impact of this event will be felt for years to come.
Finally, I want to extend my sincere thanks to the young leaders of the Youth Advisory Groups and the young entrepreneurs who participated in the convention. Your leadership, your commitment to your communities, and your passion for making the world a better place are nothing short of inspiring. It was an honor to share this experience with you, and I look forward to continuing our work together to create pathways to full potential for all young people.