Over 400 delegates from 85 countries convened at the third Global NCD Alliance Forum 2020 in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. Among those were many young leaders of NCD Child as well as youth advocates from around the world with one common goal, to put youth participation and young people living with NCDs on the global agenda.
Kicking off the proceedings was a youth-focused pre-Forum workshop led by NCD Child, which identified specific advocacy and policy needs of children, adolescents and young people to prevent and control NCDs. Youth participants were then asked to construct a concise, evidence-based ‘elevator pitch’ focusing on a topic relevant to their own work. The purpose of the exercise was to support young leaders to start conversations and elevate the youth NCD agenda to high-level stakeholders during and after the Forum.
“The workshop not only prepared me and other youths on developing a standard elevator pitch but also empowered me to think critically of the tremendous solutions towards the NCD challenges. It also enabled me to understand the partners and policy makers that can support the NCD cause,” Proscovia Nabatte, youth delegate, East African NCD Alliance.
The workshop also served as a platform for young people to meet youth peers working in related fields and to further strengthen networks of youth NCD advocates around the world.
“This was an amazing forum … I got to know the practical engagement to youths in NCD agenda where all workshops were very interactive … everyone was involved in all activities and there was a chance to meet other young delegates and high-level stakeholders to improve our networking,” Dr. Moh Musa Shukoor, young leader, NCD Child, Afghanistan.
“It was and will be one of the defining moments for the year 2020 and a highlight to meet with a diverse group of youth advocates from different background working over all areas of NCD prevention and to learn about the amazing work we are doing separately but all in for the future of our generation,” Mohamed Nimal, young leader, NCD Child, Maldives.
“Well, the future is now and best of all, the youth are a hugely untapped, yet capable and passionate resource that can truly turn the tide on the ever increasing threat of NCDs,” says Edith Mukantwari, youth delegate, NCD Child, Uganda. “Seeing so many passionate and active youth at the forum use their voices, experiences and limited resources to make a difference in their communities really woke me up to our potential and value in this fight and I am sharing these insights with more youth in my country to inspire more advocates.“
Hear what some of the young leaders of NCD Child had to say about their experience at the Forum and why they believe youth voices are important on the global NCD agenda.
