UN Youth National Conference 2017

                                 UN Youth National Conference 

During the school holidays, Connor Watson and Zach Dalton travelled to Perth for the UN Youth National Conference. This is an event which brings together over 150 of the very best UN Youth participants from all over Australia and the Asia-Pacific to discuss a diverse range of international and local issues. This year’s theme was the Innovation Revolution.

Connor and Zach have been active participants in a range of UN Youth activities over the course of the year including the State Conference, Young Diplomats Forums and were Grand Finalists in the prestigious Evatt Diplomacy Competition.

Their breadth of knowledge about National and International Politics was recognised by the organisers of the National Conference and were offered two of the ten spots available to the South Australian contingent.

This is indeed a great honour for the boys.

The conference was packed with stimulating talks and a mock UN General Assembly debate. The delegates also met with diplomats and local leaders at the Leadership Breakfast.

Connor Watson’s reflection on this event is below:

The UN Youth National Conference will live on in my memory for all my life. It was a privilege to spend time with over 140 amazing people from every corner of Australia as well as from Taiwan and New Zealand. We had fun but also dealt with quite heady content about the innovation revolution with the strong message for all youth to drive innovation and change in our society and world for the better. The conference left me pondering what I could do to change not necessarily the world but at least my community. Even the smallest idea can change the course of history - you just have to ask yourself “what is my idea.”

Zach Dalton’s reflection on this event is below:

In addition to being given the opportunity to listen to knowledgeable speakers talk about threats to our future, we were gifted with the opportunity to talk with like-minded individuals from across Australia, New Zealand and Taiwan. To be able to experience the sort of passion that these individuals expressed for making a change for the better in our world was truly inspiring and refreshing. To have been selected to be a part of National Conference was a great experience, one that we will pride ourselves on for many years to come as we too strive to innovate.

Mr Bob Becker

UN Youth Coordinator