Two Bahraini students reflect upon their visit to UN Headquarters 

From high school to university, 20-year-old Nafeesa Jahrami, a Bahraini Finance student at the American University of Bahrain (AUBH), has been involved in various Model United Nations (MUNs), honing her diplomacy and global affairs skills.  

"My journey through the world of Model United Nations (MUNs) ignited my desire to make a global impact, " she said. 

Nafeesa possesses an entrepreneurial and environmentally conscious mind. She is also a former student council president at AUBH. 

This summer, Nafeesa's long-held aspiration to visit the United Nations turned into reality when she got a unique opportunity to attend the 28th session of the AFS Youth Assembly in New York as part of a Bahraini delegation.  

The Youth Assembly is a platform that develops a network of young leaders and changemakers through interaction, instruction, impact, and action. 

Nafeesa's recollection of the "awe-inspiring grandeur of the UN building and the warm welcome of the iconic globe is an aspiring moment for all Bahrain's youth who share the same dream." 

"A symbol of international cooperation and diplomacy" 

Yasmeen Yusuf is 19 years old and in her second year of marketing studies. She also attended the Youth Assembly. Both students were part of a delegation of eight "youth ambassadors" representing Bahrain, each with unique backgrounds and aspirations. 

 

It was not Yasmeen's first time representing Bahrain in the US, a country she visited in 2019 with a student exchange program. In 2022, Yasmeen also visited the European Union's (EU) capital, Brussels, as part of a Bahraini delegation to better understand the functions of the EU.  

"My journey as an exchange student opened the world to me; it showed me the importance of being globally aware. The 28th Youth Assembly promised to be a new chapter in my life", said Yasmeen, who had a passion for sustainability and was, for a time, considering studying international relations before picking marketing as her university major. 

"The UN HQ is a symbol of international cooperation and diplomacy. Visiting it underscores our commitment to diplomacy and peaceful resolution of global issues. It's a visual representation of a country's engagement with the international community, and keeping the youth at the forefront helps promote interest for global diplomacy among tomorrow's leaders." 

A shared responsibility for a better future 

Both women found it symbolic to host the Youth Assembly in the UN Headquarters.  

"The event put us in a place where global leaders convene, showing us that we truly matter," said Yasmeen. 

 "We saw people who look like us and people who don't, but we were all from the same generation and share the same responsibility of making our future better, regardless of our background." 

When asked about the upcoming Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Summit and achieving Agenda 2030, Yasmeen and Nafeesa expressed optimism. "We are positive because we've experienced the impact of youth in their communities. We hope to be part of the change", they said. 

The 2023 SDG Summit will take place on 18-19 September 2023 in New York. Convened by the President of the General Assembly, the Summit will mark the halfway point to the deadline for achieving the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs.  It will mark the beginning of a new phase of accelerated progress towards the SDGs with high-level political guidance on transformative and accelerated actions leading up to 2030.

On 14 September, UN Headquarters will mark a youth observance event of the International Day of Peace. The event will provide a platform for young people to showcase their actions or commit to an activity they will take in their schools and communities to help accelerate progress towards achieving the SDGs, thereby fostering peace.