Who we are
The UnitEd Youth Council is a global coalition of young leaders committed to breaking barriers in education, advocating for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and creating meaningful opportunities for youth worldwide. We represent a diverse network of changemakers who believe that every young person—regardless of background, geography, or circumstance—deserves access to quality education, a platform to be heard, and the tools to shape their own future. Through collaboration, advocacy, and action, we are building a world where youth leadership is not the exception, but the standard.
Our Mission
The UnitEd Youth Council exists to ensure that young people are not only heard—but empowered to lead. We believe youth deserve a “seat at the decision-making table”, especially when those decisions directly impact our lives and futures.
As the visionaries and changemakers of today and tomorrow, young people bring fresh perspectives, bold ideas, and shared experiences that are essential to building a more just and sustainable world.
Our mission is to open doors that have been historically closed to youth voices—whether in global policy spaces, local communities, or the boardrooms of powerful multilateral institutions. We create platforms for meaningful youth participation, push for structural change, and advocate for a future where every young person can thrive and shape the systems around them.
BEcause when youth lead, the world moves forward
Executive Director, Zoya Kalinsky speaking at the UN at CSW69 in March 2025