By Dayron Escorcia 

Youth Advisory Group (YAG)
GOYN Barranquilla Barranquilla-Colombia

NAMASTE PUNE: The biggest dreams often take a long time to arrive, however, we must pave the way so that when they arrive we are ready to face them.s.

This journey began 4 months ago when I decided to apply to be one of the representatives of the Youth Advisory Group of Barranquilla at the fifth annual GOYN convention. At that time, everything seemed like a random event, a simple dream that I hoped to see come true. That dream goes back about 8 years when I told myself that the first time I left the country I wanted it to be an experience that would allow me to gain knowledge and grow as a person. At that time, I thought that this would be through a scholarship or something like that, but on Friday, July 12, I was notified that God had allowed me to make that wish come true; I remember those words: “Dayron, you were chosen to represent us in Pune.”

On November 15th we arrived in Pune, after more than 24 hours of travelling we reached the other side of the world. It was only at that moment that I realized that a great experience was beginning. Seeing how they drive on the right side, hearing Hindi in every meter I walked and entering directly into a culture so different from mine, was exciting, but at the same time it meant leaving my comfort zone and that was only the beginning.

From the 15th to the 16th we took advantage of the opportunity to visit some of the city’s tourist sites, such as the Agan Khan Palace and Sinhagad Fort. During these visits, I was forced to communicate in English for the first time, something that was difficult for me because I am one of those who uses the typical phrase “I know English, but I don’t speak it.” However, I had no other option since it was the only way to connect directly with new people. As I walked through the streets of Pune, I was increasingly surprised. It was incredible to see that they had good roads, a metro and, in general, a great public transport offer. I was surprised by the warmth with which we were received by the locals, who approached us to talk to us at the slightest opportunity, and clearly the photos were not long in coming; in their culture, asking tourists for photos is to show them how special it is for them that we were visiting them.

The convention began on Sunday the 17th. It was a very exciting moment, sharing with more than 3,000 local youth and having the opportunity to meet very important people worldwide, it was simply incredible. From that moment on, the contagion of energy was extreme. Seeing our flag open in the midst of euphoria and all the attendees' faces light up when they heard COLOMBIA, made my chest fill with pride.

The following days were the moments of greatest learning, we had the opportunity to understand the wonderful work that Lighthouse Communities Foundation does for youth, listening to panelists who shared their experiences it was impossible not to feel inspired. Every time I heard about a new project and how it has managed to transform so many lives, too many ideas came to my mind and the strong desire to ensure that many of these can be replicated in Barranquilla.

During those days, it wasn't all about learning, but something that transformed my life even more. It was being able to connect with young people from all over the world. Talking to them, listening to their life stories and realizing that our challenges are very similar, was something that inspired me and helped me understand that youth power is real.

One of the best moments was having the opportunity to connect with our brothers from Mexico and Brazil. We realized that as a region we must articulate ourselves even more, since our city contexts and in terms of our youth ecosystems are practically the same. It is wonderful to see how every time someone told something about their country, the rest of us identified with it. The great conclusion of this was that we have a challenge as young people and as a GOYN network to achieve what even governments have found so difficult: to consolidate a great Latin American alliance, something that was identified as a priority and on which we will get to work.

This convention shows us that it is possible to integrate youth into organizations and that it is possible to give ourselves the value we deserve. At any moment we could be eating or working together with the directors of the largest foundations in the world. These types of spaces that over the years seemed to be closed and sealed for a Young Woman with Potential, GOYN shows us that more than possible, they are necessary.

It was an honor for me to have the opportunity to participate in this convention. Without a doubt, I learned a lot from the life stories of all those with whom I was fortunate enough to interact. They left an indelible mark on me and are an impetus to continue working for youth. Thanks to this space, I was able to meet people with the same desire to make a positive change in the world.

As Alice Gugelev said at the closing of the Convention, now the real work begins, now the responsibility of imprinting in our communities all the ideas that emerged and everything we learned begins. Something that is absolutely true, since that is where the differentiator will be, moving from thought to action, something that will not be easy, but neither will it be impossible because one of the things I concluded after interacting with so many young people is that we are a generation that enjoys challenges and does not give up in the face of them.

Being young in our country is still synonymous with challenges and fighting against many barriers. I have experienced them firsthand and I can say how difficult they are. However, as young people we are at a time in life where we can dare, a stage in which a failure or a door that is closed to us cannot define us. We must dare and trust in who we are, in our talents and aspirations. Even if circumstances cloud our north, we cannot lose sight of it and if our eyes cannot see it because of the fog, we must try to make our mind remind us of it, because the day that does not happen, that day that we lose that desire and confidence in reaching our goals, that day everything will be lost.

Many thanks to GOYN and to the entire team that made this great event possible. I would also like to thank the global allies of the network because without them none of what we experienced would be possible. Many thanks to Fundación Corona for allowing a young person with potential from Barranquilla to have this great opportunity. I can assure you that with time you will see that it is important to invest and believe in youth.

YOUTH IS NOT THE FUTURE, IT IS THE PRESENT!