Young Leadership in Decision-Making Spaces: What It’s Like to Represent Brazilian Youth at the United Nations
When I first learned about the “Governments of the Future: Youth Expectations” event, organized by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Brasília, through LALA’s Instagram and its Opportunities Blast Newsletter, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. It only took the first few minutes, however, for me to realize that my expectations would be completely exceeded.
Even before the event officially began, I already felt welcomed. UNDP provided incredible support with transportation and meals, making the event much more accessible for all of us to participate.
What left the biggest impression on me, however, was the experience of taking part in the discussions. In just two days, the way I view youth participation in politics changed completely. One thing became very clear to me: we, as young people, face remarkably similar challenges, regardless of which region of Brazil (or even Latin America) we come from. Being surrounded by nearly 100 young people, all committed to finding solutions to strengthen democracy, made me realize that there is an entire generation ready to turn concerns into concrete proposals and frustration into action.
Day One: Youth Dialogues
On the very first day, I met Alan Rodrigues, the LALíder who served as our main connection to the event and who currently works as a Project Management professional at UNDP. He was incredibly supportive throughout the experience. Beyond helping all the LALíderes attending the event, he constantly encouraged me to actively participate in the discussion forums and to connect with the UNDP team responsible for organizing the conference.
The day officially began with a presentation of the Latin American Youth Survey, followed by the Policy Labs, three discussion groups where participants were divided to debate key issues shaping the future of Brazil and Latin America.
In my group, we explored youth participation in politics and the role of political education in schools, while the other groups discussed geopolitics and Latin American integration, as well as the impact of artificial intelligence and social media on democracy.
The day concluded with a guided visit to one of Brazil’s main government institutions: the Palácio do Planalto (Presidential Palace), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Itamaraty), the Supreme Federal Court, or the National Congress. I visited the Palácio do Planalto, which made everything we had discussed throughout the day feel much more tangible. More than simply visiting an important institution, it was an opportunity to reflect on how democracy works in practice and on the role young people play in strengthening it.
Day Two: Drafting the Declaration
If the first day was defined by the exchange of experiences, the second put into practice something I had learned during my V-Camp at LALA: meaningful exchanges require both taking up space and making room for others. And, above all, using those opportunities wisely.
One of the most memorable moments of the event took place that day: the panel discussion “Youth, Time, and Opportunities: How Can We Ensure Quality Education, Retention, and Democratic Participation?” The conversation brought together young participants and public officials, creating a space for dialogue that is often missing from our daily lives.
During the discussion, I had the opportunity to raise a question that had been on my mind for quite some time: with so much technology, research, and knowledge available today, why do public policies still attempt to solve problems in isolation instead of building integrated solutions? I also asked how elected representatives intend to create permanent channels for dialogue with young people.
Being able to ask these questions directly to those in positions of decision-making was an incredibly meaningful experience.
Throughout the day, we also explored the main findings of UNDP’s report “Democracies Under Pressure” and took part in the “América Habla” panel, which broadened our understanding of the challenges facing democracies across Latin America and the Caribbean.
Finally, we concluded the event by bringing together the ideas discussed over the two days to draft and vote on the Youth Declaration for the Future of Democracy, a document that captures our concerns, priorities, and proposals for strengthening democracy in Brazil.
The Unexpected Invitation
When the event came to an end, I thought the experience ended there. I was still trying to process everything I had experienced—the conversations, the lessons, and the connections I had built—when I received a call from Aline, one of the event organizers.
To my surprise, she told me that, because of my participation throughout the two days, I had been selected by the United Nations to symbolically represent Brazilian youth during the official presentation of the Youth Declaration for the Future of Democracy at an event held at the UN House in Brasília.
Alongside another young participant, I had the honor of presenting the document to ministers and representatives of the federal government in a space that is usually reserved for invited guests.
Read the full declaration here:
In that moment, I realized that I was not only representing my own voice, but also the voices of the hundreds of young people who had taken part in the discussions and, in many ways, an entire generation that wants to play a leading role in shaping public policy in Brazil.
I left the event feeling far more hopeful. Hopeful because I met people who are genuinely committed to bringing young people closer to public institutions; because I saw that international organizations like UNDP are investing in listening to the next generation; and because I witnessed firsthand that our ideas can reach the tables where important decisions are made.
At the end of the day, I can only express my deepest gratitude to LALA for making experiences like this possible for us as LALíderes. I’m also especially thankful to Alan Rodrigues, LALíder (and Project Management at UNDP) who thoughtfully coordinated everything for our group and was my greatest source of encouragement throughout the event. His support gave me the confidence to engage in discussions, connect with new people, and make the most of every opportunity.
Article by Yago Romão (LALíder)
