By Tania Belén Gayosso Domínguez

CDMX Youth Advisory Group/
Global Opportunity Youth Network (GOYN)

“Young people are the future of the world,” I’ve heard and read many times, but I believe that not only is the future young, the present is young too.

At the beginning of the year, my fellow volunteers gave their vote of confidence to Moisés García and me, Tania Gayosso, to represent the Youth Advisory Group of GOYN CDMX (Global Youth Opportunity Network) at the 5th Annual Convention, which took place from November 17 to 21 of this year in Pune, Maharashtra, India.

And first and foremost, I want to give a moment of gratitude, because it means a lot to me that my colleagues trust me to represent the hard work we've done this year, which has involved speaking up, demanding, and collaborating to make decent work a reality for all young people; creating spaces for decent and sustainable entrepreneurship; seeking partnerships for more educational options and comprehensive job training; and engaging in public policy, especially related to the care system.

So, months of preparation passed and with all the inspiration, I arrived at the 5th Annual GOYN Global Convening, whose theme was “Transforming Youth Livelihoods: Pathways to Full Potential” and my words do not do justice to how incredible it was to be part of a space full of inspiring people, learning, cultural exchanges, and above all, young leaders full of energy, charisma and desire to change the world through collaborative work.

During those four days, I learned about what all the GOYN communities around the world are doing to foster economic inclusion for young people, how to make the program models and initiatives that already work scalable and replicable, and how to open up more spaces for youth listening and participation.

GOYN Pune has the Lighthouse Communities Foundation as its anchor partner, and throughout the convention, we learned about its structure and way of working, which is possible thanks to the efforts of its directors, employees, and volunteers. Community building is a fundamental factor in transforming the lives of thousands of young people in India. I was truly amazed by everything they do and how they do it. Not only did they show us figures and reports, but we were also able to see firsthand the 2,000 young people who have benefited from this association's training programs.

I invite you to visit their website and social media channels to learn about the vital work Lighthouse is doing to promote economic inclusion for young people in India.

Throughout the panels, talks, community visits, and group exercises, I realized the immense value of diversity and how necessary it is to have more spaces like these where we can listen and exchange experiences to contribute to our communities. In particular, I heard Alice Gugelev speak about collaborative work and the pooling of efforts; John Powell speak about belonging and how it's necessary to understand and develop it without confusing it with inclusion; and Ovi Bhandalkar deliver a powerful speech about the representation of LGBT youth in all spaces. These were moments that shaped me, that opened my mind and heart, allowing me to reflect, question, and work on these aspects within myself and those around me.

On the other hand, how important it was to connect with our regions, to learn about the work in Bogotá, Barranquilla, São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, and Mexico City. This was a key space, facilitated by the brilliant and wonderful Mavi Lara and Giulianna Delgadillo, where we were able to share what we do in our communities. This helped us identify common challenges and also work on collective, flexible solutions applicable to our contexts.

The festivity, joy, colors, and energy that Indian celebrations emanate deserve a special mention, as this whole celebratory atmosphere, from the beginning, with the welcoming gala, and throughout the days, was what gave me the courage and energy to continue the arduous days of work and learning. Thanks to the Pune community for making everything feel special and solemn, yet still fun.

To conclude this account of my highlights from this Convention, a moment of gratitude is necessary, because in India I learned that they have this saying: "Guest is God," and this means, for them, giving us the warmest welcome and offering us their complete hospitality. A huge thank you to the Pune community for all their hospitality, to the entire GAJ and volunteers who made this gathering possible. But, above all, a special thanks to the people who made me feel welcome on the other side of the world: Kshitij, Prasad, Tanuja, Chaithanya, Anees, and Yash. Connecting and sharing with you, despite our different cultural backgrounds and languages, is incredible. Thank you for the lessons, the adventures, and the laughter.

2025 will bring new challenges and a lot of work, and I'm happy to know that there's a global network of young people who are taking part in all of this, seeking change, creating solutions, and believing that collaborative work and intersectoral coordination will take us far.

Let there be nothing for young people, without young people at the center!

The present and future are young!