Remarks by the SDGs Youth Panel at the ECOSOC Youth Forum’s Ministerial Roundtable 2021

My name is Nantaporn Thirapongphaiboon or ‘Ploy’ from Thailand. I am truly honored to be here today with all the talented young people from different countries around the world who are leading to make a difference.

For the past year, I have been working with Thailand’s Food Rescue Foundation building a resilient and sustainable food system as part of sustainable development. In this work, I have witnessed the UN’s continuous support for young change-makers through many collaborations.

I have seen how they have greatly empowered and engaged young people to be brave and bold in solving complex issues. As the UN states, “Young people are the positive and active drivers of change”, showing that our presence deserves recognition in the national and regional policy development. Our powerful voices must and should be heard – I believe this is the best action to help youth fulfill their roles in society.

Inclusiveness is the key to accelerate change and contribute to the 2030 Agenda effectively. The Covid-19 pandemic has brought us closer to a more serious reality – we must not go back to that old “normal”, where different generations were separated in working towards a sustainable future. Today, a significant number of great grassroots initiatives and social movements have been established by young people to support this urgent recovery.

In my work at Thailand’s Food Rescue Foundation, the majority of staff are younger people who are passionate about resolving hunger and food waste issues in the country. We are partnering with the private sector to distribute food to the most needy families affected by the pandemic. Within a year, we doubled our impact and volunteer networks by engaging with more high school, college students, and young people in communities who have fresh eyes and minds ready for change.

We have also bravely participated in the policy dialogue with government agencies to raise our voices on the national level about food security concerns, even as we know that our voices will not always be as loud as others. But we have courageously made our voices heard anyway.

This is the youth of today. More aware, more passionate, more driven, and more outspoken. We need to amplify the voices of our youth, not tomorrow, but NOW.

Thank you for hearing my voice today, as I look forward to hearing yours, and seeing positive, sustainable change led by young people in the future.