Youth

On March 9, 2022, the World Federation of United Nations Associations (WFUNA) organized the Peace Talk on Ukraine in Seoul, ROK. More than 30 participants including diplomats, international organization professionals, journalists, and WFUNA Peace Fellows joined the event, and around 20 College Leaders at the UN (CLUN) virtually attended the event through Zoom.

WFUNA is pleased to announce that Maisy Bentley of UNA New Zealand was selected as the WFUNA Young Leader of the Year 2021.

After a competitive selection process, Maisy was chosen for her outstanding contribution to her UNA, her active participation in efforts to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic and finding creative and innovative solutions to continue implementing youth programs amidst challenges posed by COVID-19.

After a competitive selection process, Kristi Cina, President of the United Nations Association of Albania, was chosen for his outstanding contribution to his UNA, support for the values and work of the UN in the context of its 75th Anniversary, active participation in efforts to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and finding creative and innovative solutions to continue implementing youth programs amidst challenges posed by COVID-19.

The nominations for WFUNA Young Leader of the Year award are officially open! WFUNA supports and encourages youth engagement and participation in the United Nations Associations and United Nations Youth Associations around the world through the WFUNA Youth Network. With this initiative, we want to highlight the contributions of thousands of young people to our organization and share their achievements with a wider audience. A WFUNA Young Leader of the Year has to be able to inspire other youth looking to get involved in global issues.

Friday, February 21, 2020 was UN Kids Day at the United Nations Headquarters. Kids from all over New York were invited to participate in activities, learn about the UN, and meet some important employees, like Chloe the therapy dog.

At the WFUNA table, kids colored, made flowers and popsicle people, folded origami, and learned about WFUNA activities.

Heidi Saarinen from UNYA Finland was announced as WFUNA’s Young Leader of the Year in December 2019 after a competitive selection process involving a panel of judges including several WFUNA staff and WFUNA Youth Advisory Council members. As the President of the United Nations Youth Association of Finland, she was chosen for her outstanding contribution to her UNYA and towards achieving SDG 4 on Quality Education through the promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence.

WFUNA and the United Nations Association of Italy hosted the WFUNA European UNA and Youth Meeting in Rome, Italy from 19-21 of May 2019. This meeting took place at the Italian Society for International Organization Headquarters (SIOI-UNA Italy) jointly with the European UNA Meeting. 

MONDAY, JULY 31, 2017

WFUNA had the chance to unite its youth network concluding the ESCOSOC Youth Forum in a Meet-and-Greet. This meeting took place on April 10th and consisted of representatives from UNA Canada, UNA USA, UNA Germany, UNYA Hungary, and UNYA Tanzania. The meeting served as a space for young people to learn about WFUNA’s programs, share their current projects and initiatives, and meet other young leaders working on similar youth topics.