When I first heard about the UN Youth Delegate programme in secondary school, it felt far out of reach. It took years of youth advocacy – starting initially at my local Foróige club in Newcestown, then through SpunOut for the South-West region, and later at the Students’ Union and the Free Legal Advice Centre in UCC – to build the confidence, vision and skillset to feel confident in applying for the role.
There were three main highlights of my term. The first was traveling across Ireland with my co-delegate Jessica, meeting young people and listening to their hopes and frustrations. We actively sought out voices we felt needed to be heard, including young people from Northern Ireland reflecting on 25 years of the Good Friday Agreement, young people living in direct provision and seeking asylum, and climate activists demanding ambitious action at the National Youth Assembly on Climate. Bringing their concerns to national and international platforms was both a great privilege and a responsibility.
Another highlight was witnessing Ireland’s role on the UN Security Council (UNSC). Joining Ireland’s delegation as our representatives stood consistently for international human rights and humanitarian law made me proud to be Irish.
As the youth delegates, we were embraced and supported by the entire staff of Ireland’s mission to the UN, who not only encouraged us but empowered us to contribute substantively to statements and briefings. I don’t think I will ever forget the pride of watching (from the UCC library after flying back from New York), Ireland’s ambassador to the UN, Fergal Mythen, giving Jessica and I a ‘shoutout’ during Ireland’s final UNSC meeting on Youth, Peace and Security, thanking us for shaping Ireland’s stance on the topic.
And then there was the youth chapter of Ireland’s Voluntary National Review (VNR) on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Jessica and I led consultations across the country and authored the world’s first-ever ‘Youth Chapter’ to be formally included in a VNR. Since then, our work has set a global precedent, with many other countries drawing on this model and now including youth contributions in their own national SDG reviews.
The biggest challenge was balancing it all. I was in my final year of university, working part-time, and committed to give my best to the role. The young people we spoke to, quite rightly, expected us to bring their messages forward to those with the authority to act on them. But the support Jessica and I gave each other made it possible, as we shared the weight of responsibility together.
The experience had a profound impact on my life and worldview. It opened my eyes to the scale of global injustices and inspired me to dedicate my career to human rights and humanitarian action. After my term, I decided to change the trajectory of my career and I pursued a master’s in this field in Paris and learned French.
Today I work with the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation in Rome, uplifting youth voices in global food systems, where I am particularly interested in advancing the right to food. I can trace this path directly back to the lessons learned, inspiration gained and people I met during my term as a UN Youth Delegate.
My advice to young people is to begin at the local level. Get engaged in your community, identify the issues and causes you care about most, and connect with those already organizing and taking action. Every stage of activism, from the village Foróige club to international fora, can be a great learning opportunity and inspiration to keep pushing for ambitious change.
– David Gill, 2022-2023 UN Youth Delegate
