Young Activists Summit 2021 takes place in Geneva
/
5:10
/
MP4
/
745.3 MB

Edited News | UNITED NATIONS

Young Activists Summit 2021 takes place in Geneva

Young Activists Summit 2021 takes place in Geneva

In Geneva the Young Activists Summit is taking place. Six young people with inspirational plans for our world have come to the United Nations to share their hopes and dreams, and to show other young people what can be achieved when a vision of making the world a better place becomes reality.

Titouan Bernicot has come all the way from French Polynesia, to tell the summit about his work restoring coral reefs.

“I’m so glad today because I can do what I love, working with corals, fighting for climate change, and coral ecosystems, and I want to tell other people with big dreams that it’s not about the academic background you have, the places you come from. If you work hard you can connect with the right people and achieve your dreams.

The summit, the third of its kind, also provides the young activists with a chance to discuss their work with experienced UN professionals. This is especially helpful for Louise Mabulo, who has created a sustainable agriculture project in her native Philippines.

“The Young Activists Summit has been extremely supportive in organising bilateral meetings and workshops as well that help train us on how to further develop our project in a way that’s more meaningful, and I know that all of the things that I’ve learned here I can take back, including networks and opportunities, that will benefit hundreds of farmers in my home town.”

For Lual Mayen, a refugee from South Sudan who has created a video game which raises awareness of what it is like to flee violence and persecution, the summit was a great chance to connect with the home of the UN Refugee Agency.

“My message is that you know, refugees can be able to contribute to the economy of the world. People do not have to look at them in a way that they are part of the burden. We can become who we are, we can become entrepreneurs, we can become developers, we can make the world a better place.”

Having a global platform to show off her work is also very important to Stacy Dina Adhiambo, who has created an innovative way to support women and girls at risk of female genital mutilation.

“Us being at the Young Activists Summit is such a reaffirmation not only for us, i-cut creators but for every other female genital mutilation campaigner out there, that our work is important and that the world is listening to our cries.”

And the activists even got a special message straight from Hollywood, when Angelina Jolie appeared with her own words of encouragement for them.

“This is where your strength lies, find each other, grow together, hold on to what you know to be true and right and insist on solutions. And then, I believe your generation may really be able to pull our world back from the brink and set us on a better path. We’re listening, so speak up, and speak loudly.”

That’s the kind of boost any young activist needs! Jose Quisocala was delighted to hear Angelina Jolie’s words. For him, the big win from the summit is the chance to spread the message about recycling, and how the environment benefits from projects like his green bank.

“The best thing about the summit is that it shows that what I am doing is important, that means a lot. And it means more people in the world get a chance to learn about what I do.”

So what’s the message for young people around the world, who may already have ideas about how our planet can be improved? Don’t hesitate, go for it, suggests Gitanjali Rao, and she’s still only 15 herself.

“The worst answer you’re going to get is no, the worst thing that’s going to happen is that you fail, and at the end of the day the reward is always more than the risk. So don’t be afraid to dream big.”

Shot list Young Activists Summit

Location: Geneva

TIME DESCRIPTION LOCATION/SOURCE

0:00 – 0:07

Exteriors UN Geneva

UN, Geneva

0:07 – 0:12

Various activists arriving at summit

0:12 – 0:21

Various activists

0:21 – 0:26

Summit venue interior

0:26 – 0:39

Various Titouan Bernicot

0:39 – 1:00

Soundbite Titouan Bernicot “I’m so glad today because I can do what I love, working with corals, fighting for climate change, and coral ecosystems, and I want to tell other people with big dreams that it’s not about the academic background you have, the places you come from. If you work hard you can connect with the right people and achieve your dreams.”

1:00 – 1:19

Various Louise Mabulo

1:19 - 1:36

Soundbite Louise Mabulo “The Young Activists Summit has been extremely supportive in organising bilateral meetings and workshops as well that help train us on how to further develop our project in a way that’s more meaningful, and I know that all of the things that I’ve learned here I can take back, including networks and opportunities, that will benefit hundreds of farmers in my home town.”

1:36 – 2:04

Various Lual Mayen

2:04 – 2:24

Soundbite Lual Mayen

“My message is that you know, refugees can be able to contribute to the economy of the world. People do not have to look at them in a way that they are part of the burden. We can become who we are, we can become entrepreneurs, we can become developers, we can make the world a better place.”

2:24 - 2:42

Various Stacy Adhiambo

2:42 – 2:59

Soundbite Stacy Adhimabo “Us being at the Young Activists Summit is such a reaffirmation not only for us, i-cut creators but for every other female genital mutilation campaigner out there, that our work is important and that the world is listening to our cries.”

2:59 – 3:12

Various Angelina Jolie

3:12 – 3:46

Soundbite Angelina Jolie “This is where your strength lies, find each other, grow together, hold on to what you know to be true and right and insist on solutions. And then, I believe your generation may really be able to pull our world back from the brink and set us on a better path. We’re listening, so speak up, and speak loudly.”

3:46 – 4:06

Various Jose Quisocala

4:06 – 4:31

Soundbite Jose Quisocala (Spanish original)

“The best thing about the summit is that it shows that what I am doing is important, that means a lot. And it means more people in the world get a chance to learn about what I do.”

4:31 – 4:51

Various Gitanjali Rao

4:51 – 5:00

Soundbite Gitanjali Rao “The worst answer you’re going to get is no, the worst thing that’s going to happen is that you fail, and at the end of the day the reward is always more than the risk. So don’t be afraid to dream big.”

5:00 – 5:09

Various summit, activists together

Similar Stories

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights presents report on Sri Lanka to 60th HRC

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights presents report on Sri Lanka to 60th HRC ENG FRA

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk on Monday delivered his report on Sri Lanka to the 60th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva.

HRC 60 HC Volker Türk Global update speech

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

HRC 60 HC Volker Türk Global update speech ENG FRA

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk on Monday delivered his global update to the 60th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva.

DRC: UN report raises spectre of war crimes and crimes against humanity

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR

DRC: UN report raises spectre of war crimes and crimes against humanity ENG FRA

A UN report on the Democratic Republic of Congo raises specter of war crimes and crimes against humanity in North and South Kivu, according to UN Human Rights Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani.

Global air pollution update - WMO 04 September 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | WMO

Global air pollution update - WMO 04 September 2025 ENG FRA

As billions of people continue to breathe polluted air that causes more than 4.5 million premature deaths every year, UN climate experts on Friday highlighted how damaging microscopic smoke particles from wildfires play their part, travelling half-way across the world.

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Jeremy Laurence on Cameroon

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Jeremy Laurence on Cameroon ENG FRA

UN Human Rights Office Spokesperson Jeremy Laurence made the following comment on the on-going presidential election process in Cameroon at the bi-weekly press briefing in Geneva. 

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Jeremy Laurence on Myanmar

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Jeremy Laurence on Myanmar ENG FRA

The UN Human Rights Office released a new report on Myanmar, describing death, destruction and desperation which reflect atrocities committed in 2017. 

Afghanistan earthquake update OCHA - IFRC - UNHCR

1

1

1

Edited News | OCHA , IFRC , UNHCR

Afghanistan earthquake update OCHA - IFRC - UNHCR ENG FRA

Afghanistan: Humanitarians scramble to reach survivors of deadly quake; response at ‘breaking point’

In remote eastern Afghanistan, aid workers are racing to assist survivors of Sunday’s devastating earthquake as the death toll continues to climb, UN humanitarians said on Tuesday.

Gaza - Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA

1

1

1

Edited News | UNRWA

Gaza - Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA ENG FRA

The head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, repeated his urgent call for a ceasefire in Gaza on Friday, amid increased military Israeli activity in the enclave’s largest city.

Gaza update - OCHA WHO 29 August 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | OCHA , WHO

Gaza update - OCHA WHO 29 August 2025 ENG FRA

Amid reports of increased Israeli military operations across Gaza City on Friday, UN aid agencies repeated urgent warnings of ongoing famine and a likely rise in preventable disease, linked to the dire living conditions in the war-shattered enclave.

OHCHR-Ravina Shamdasani: increasing executions in Iran

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR

OHCHR-Ravina Shamdasani: increasing executions in Iran ENG FRA

UN calls for Iran to halt executions and move towards ending the death penalty.

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Thameen Al Kheetan on Killing of Journalists in Gaza

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Thameen Al Kheetan on Killing of Journalists in Gaza ENG FRA

The UN Human Rights spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheetan made the following comment on the killing of journalists in Gaza at the bi-weekly press briefing.

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheetan on “rotation” practice by Egyptian Government

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheetan on “rotation” practice by Egyptian Government ENG FRA

The UN Human Rights Office on Tuesday called on Egyptian authorities to end the practice known as “rotation”, which allows Government critics to be held arbitrarily and for prolonged periods.