New York students rise to task of being ‘PGA for a Day’

This marks just one of many meetings the two young New Yorkers took, as part of the long to-do list that constitutes the Assembly President's day.

The concept of being PGA for a Day is simple: two students from the public school system come to UN Headquarters to shadow President Francis in his role as leader of the General Assembly.

They will engage in the meetings he has planned, participate in the same interviews, and even take lunch when he does.

The day will be long, but the students are up to the task - both excited at the prospect of being right at the centre of world diplomacy.

Mr. Ponomarev and Ms. Akter are both incoming 10th graders involved with the Global Leader's Academy, a programme that focuses on bringing together multilingual immigrant students to build their leadership capacity while also encouraging them to involve themselves with the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Passion for progress

They were chosen after participating in a six-week workshop, impressing their teachers with passionate essays on SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions, and SDG5: Gender Equality, respectively.

"The next generation has our own ideas," Mr. Ponomarev states confidently. "We are ambitious and with our ambition, we can make a lot of progress."

To start their day, the students meet UN Assistant Secretary-General for Youth Affairs, Felipe Paullier, to discuss their ambitions, concerns, and questions regarding the role of younger people in shaping policy.

"It's great to hear about how they are bringing this into their own perspectives," Mr. Paullier said. "I'm happy that young people have access and opportunities to be part of the SDGs, as their participation is crucial."

The students then made another stop to bounce more youth engagement ideas off Daniel del Valle Blanco, Deputy Permanent Observer of the Central American Integration System (SICA), Chair of the Youth Advisory to UN Habitat and former Ambassador of the International Youth Organization to the UN, before heading to the President of the General Assembly's Office.

Presidential trio

Right before meeting Mr. Francis for the first time, their excitement is palpable.

Not only is this a big moment for their personal development, but it's also a first for the Office with the launch of the new programme.

The first thing the three "presidents" do together is conduct an impromptu press conference in the Press Briefing Room where spokesperson Monica Grayley is currently preparing to speak with the press.

Mr. Ponomarev and Ms. Akter sit with President Francis on the podium, fielding questions from correspondents on future suggestions for the Presidency, what they will tell their friends about the UN and more.

Throughout the day, the students will continue to gain other important insights, including the chance to speak to Dezhi Xu of CGTN America (off the record, of course) after his interview with President Francis. They also get to sit in on a meeting with the new Permanent Representative of Kenya, Ambassador Ekitela Lokaale.

The UN has long acknowledged and respected the rights of young people to participate effectively in social change, economic growth and technological innovation.

Focus on youth - and the future

The current PGA is no different - he has worked hard to centre youth as indispensable changemakers throughout the course of this year's 78th session.

He notably conducted a #AskPGA: Conversation with Youth event during the General Assembly's first-ever Sustainability Week in April, praised young business leaders from West and Central Africa at the ECOSOC Youth Forum and attended a Networking Night in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, for environmentally conscious young people.

President Francis says that he not only found the experience gratifying, but hopes that his successors will be able to continue this programme in the years ahead after he leaves his post next month.

He also wants Mr. Ponomarev and Ms. Akter to have walked away from the day more illuminated and excited about the work of the United Nations.

As for the students? They will be working hard on some summer homework - a reflection on what they took away from their day at the UN, personally assigned to them by President Francis - and likely dreaming about a future back at the UN on a more permanent basis.