A special event on youth and multilingualism, co-organized by the United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI), Department of Public Information (DPI) and ELS Educational Services, was held at the United Nations Headquarters today. The event was held to celebrate the power of languages to connect people around the world by bridging divides and enriching our understanding of the human experience.

Sixty highly-talented students from twenty-six countries representing all regions of the world, were selected through an essay writing competition, and honored with the opportunity to make presentations on the UNAI principles relating to education and global citizenship.

Mr. Launsky-Tieffenthal congratulated the students for their highly commendable linguistic skills as they were asked to write essays on global citizenship in a language that is neither their mother tongue nor their usual medium of instruction. Mr. Launsky-Tieffenthal emphasised on the ability of the youth to address complex global issues and articulate a vision for an interdependent world by bringing creative energy, fresh ideas and new paradigms for the future. He further added that the students embodied the spirit of the United Nations Charter, which lays out the outline for a more peaceful, balanced and a harmonious global community.

Students highlighted the importance of global citizenship and proposed ways of achieving it. The proposals extensively focused on the purpose of equal education, which is to make every child gain access to more opportunities through education. Investment in quality education will foster interest in the minds of the youth to know, understand and experience other languages and cultures. Students also laid stress on the importance of solidarity for achieving peace. The world needs to be united to resolve global problems and the key for discussing and advancing ideas for global citizenship is education. Thus, educational institutions should aim to promote global oriented programs for their students in order to prepare them for the future.

Meeting Title:Global Youth Forum on Multilingualism: Many Languages, One World
Chair: Mr. Peter Launsky-Tieffenthal, Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information
Location: General Assembly Hall, North Lawn Building, United Nations Headquarters, New York
Date: 27 June 2014
Written by WIT Representative: Nusrat Laskar
Edited by WIT Representative: Sophia Griffiths-Mark