Attending the 2026 ECOSOC Youth Forum at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City was honestly one of the most eye-opening experiences I’ve had. Being surrounded by young people, leaders, and organizations from all over the world made me realize how connected we all are when it comes to tackling global challenges and creating a more sustainable future.

Throughout the Forum, I learned so much about the importance of collaboration and how meaningful change happens when governments, organizations, and young people work together. The conversations around how youth partnerships and collaborations can create so much impact and meaningful change made me realize the power of collective action and how important youth voices are in shaping a more sustainable future.

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One thing that especially stood out to me was hearing how people from different countries are finding creative solutions within their own communities. During the session focused on Asia and the Pacific, I was especially inspired by a youth leader from Guangzhou who shared how they were working to address pollution along the Pearl River through greener transportation and environmental initiatives. Listening to how passionate they were about creating change within their own city made me realize how powerful local action can be and reminded me that even small community efforts can lead to meaningful impact.

 

As the founder of MyConsciousCart, these discussions inspired me to think more deeply about how conscious consumer choices and youth-led innovation can help make sustainability feel more accessible and achievable in everyday life.

More than anything, the Forum showed me how powerful youth voices truly are. I left feeling inspired, motivated, and grateful to have been part of conversations with people who genuinely care about building a better future. The experience pushed me to continue growing MyConsciousCart and to keep finding ways to turn awareness into action.