Editor: Juan Carlos Ocampo (Juan Carlos Ocampo is an Erasmus Mundus Excellence scholar working on mosquito-borne diseases at the Institut Pasteur. Previously, he researched harm reduction during the opioid crisis in Canada, racism in UK universities, inpatients’ sexual rights in Ecuadorean psychiatric hospitals, and prison violence in Mexico-US border states. He aims to understand the effect of social institutions on the health of structurally vulnerable people. Outside of academia, he held leadership roles in international and local NGOs focused on youth empowerment. In his free time, he reads Latin-American horror fiction, especially novels by Mónica Ojeda and Mariana Enríquez. Juan Carlos is from Ecuador)
Events like the Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD) are typically accompanied by one criticism: is it all talk? I asked myself that question on my way to Geneva. I soon found out it wasn’t just me. Other young delegates had similar worries. Although we came from different places and walks of life, our thoughts aligned. Wearing suits won’t solve our communities’ humanitarian crises. People on the move don’t need words; they need concrete and sustained support. We didn’t come all the way here for participation trophies; we are here to get answers for the people we care about. My doubts —better called fears —remained, but now I felt in good company.
On the first day, introductions came and went. The Migration Youth Forum was the perfect space to learn about each other, share our experiences, and collaboratively work out an action plan for the following days. For youth, by youth in every sense. Contagious energy kept us discussing the ins and outs of migration in different contexts and brainstorming avenues to boost youth engagement. Quick back-and-forths turned into thought-provoking conversations where I learnt about countries, issues, and projects far different from mine. Behind every name and handshake, there was a breadth of invaluable experience and knowledge. I felt awestruck.
Resolute or stunned, composed or unnerved —I had a hard time recognizing how I felt on the first day of the GFMD. But as soon as a youth delegate took the podium for the first time, it cleared up. I felt committed. Even though this was the largest youth delegation at a GFMD yet, we knew that not all youth voices were represented. Some were refused their visas. Others couldn’t work out the time, financial, or language requirements. Whatever the reason, it gave us at the GFMD a sense of duty. Abraham Lincoln said commitment is what transforms a promise into reality. But he did not mention that transformation takes effort, resilience, and an unwavering conviction: the non-negotiable certainty that change is within our power.
My first day was a whirl of sentiments. Now it gets personal. I remember anxiously doubting myself, my experience, and my place at the GFMD. If I wasn’t there, someone else would and perhaps that would be for the best. My self-confidence was competing with the fear of falling short: what I do today can open doors for future youth. Mistakes closes doors for us. Young people worked for years so I could get a GFMD badge with my name on it now. It was easy to envision success, but even easier to envision obstacles and setbacks. Thankfully, when self-talk wasn’t helpful, I looked outside. This should’ve been in the news. Young people had taken the International Conference Center Geneva (and they weren’t planning on giving it back anytime soon).
I felt protected, supported, and cheered for. As I walked from room to room, other youth delegates —now my friends —would share complicit smiles, subtle hellos, and hasty thumbs-up with me as if we were covertly checking up on each other. We all had our own missions, goals, and objectives to tackle before sundown but felt connected through the Migration Youth and Children Platform. We’re part of a team. Truth is that the sentiment of inadequacy and self-doubt never fully went away. Nonetheless, I made peace with my badge realizing that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. In the GFMD, I was part of something bigger than myself; I was there for youth. As long as I can rely on my friends and they can rely on me, we’re golden. Meaningful projects are never a me task, they’re a we task.
Things rapidly changed when I started thinking in terms of teamwork. During the second day, I made sure to keep my friends in sight. I didn’t blink when one of my them took the microphone and delivered the interventions they worked on for days. I crossed my fingers when I saw them make a move on a stakeholder, strike up a chat with an ambassador, or connect with another delegate. Every conversation could be a door, window, or peephole to exciting projects, new advocacy venues, or more resources for youth. In the eyes of passionate youth, opportunity is always just around the corner.
It was the last day of the conference and I was feeling proud. Thoughts on youth involvement vary across Geneva, but youth were clearly seen and heard during the GFMD. As it should be. Youth are systematically underrepresented in policy discussions and politics worldwide. Getting a ‘seat at the table’ is long overdue, just like passing humane migration laws, curbing climate change, and ending the Palestinian genocide. We are not waiting for a seat anymore, we are taking a table because what was important is now urgent.
Thankfully, youth have committed allies in high places. One is IOM’s Deputy Director General Ugochi Daniels, who met with the youth delegation after the closing ceremony. Emboldened by the last few days, I told her what I wish I could tell every decision maker at the GFMD. Please, double down on youth. Trust our experience. Bet on our work. I knew from the first smile that Director Daniels was on our ringside. I couldn’t help but wonder how many people in that conference centre had been rooting for us the whole time.
If you are young and crave change, here are a few words for you. Young people before us worked day and night to open spaces for us. It didn’t happen overnight, but we’ve come a long way. One day you will be in places where decisions are made. Prepare yourself. Be bold. Always keep in mind the people who are not allowed there (and do your best to include them). Never negotiate your values and principles. You have worked hard, and you will do great! One last thing: wherever you are, don’t forget to be unapologetically young.
GFMD 2025 is coming. Save the date.
