Skip to main content
International Partnerships
News announcement14 July 2021Directorate-General for International Partnerships

Youth Sounding Board for International Partnerships kickstarts its work: 25 young people ready to influence EU decision-making

youth-sounding-board-members-webnews-v02.png

The Youth Sounding Board for International Partnerships has started its work, with the members meeting each other and the Commissioner for International Partnerships Jutta Urpilainen for the first time.

Commissioner Urpilainen said: “One of my guiding principles is trying to get everyone a seat at the table. The decisions we politicians are taking now – on climate change, economic recovery, education, and so on – will have long-lasting consequences for this planet and its people. It is therefore more than right that we consult those in the frontline – the young people of today.

Three months ago, we launched the call for participation for the first ever Youth Sounding Board, and the phenomenal response has been a testimony of the desire of young people to engage in decision-making. I want to thank all applicants, and I am delighted today to announce the composition of the Board and kickstart its work. This comes only weeks after appointing a Special Adviser on Youth. These talented bright young people will help us make the European Union’s external actions work better for their peers back home and across the world. I very much look forward to hearing from them.

The board will advise the Commissioner for International Partnerships on the relevance and effectiveness of EU external action when it comes to youth.

The members were selected through an open call that resulted in a staggering 4 000 applications from more than 150 countries.

The Youth Sounding Board is composed of fourteen women, nine men, and two members who did not identify as female or male. Fifteen are aged under 25, and ten are aged 26–30. Ten come from Africa, four from Asia, and six from Latin America. One of the members comes from the Pacific, and four are from the European Union.

They are:

  • Alda Soraya Asikin, Indonesia
  • Aneet Kumar, Fiji
  • Aomori Yoshimi Matsumoto Barbosa, Mexico/Argentina
  • Christina Williams, Jamaica
  • Clement Ngosong, Cameroon
  • David Karorero, Burundi/Denmark
  • Deepanshu Gupta, India
  • Ghislain Irakoze, Rwanda
  • Gilberto Morishaw, the Netherlands/Curaçao
  • Gusona Marvel Nyama, Cameroon/Sudan
  • Imrana Alhaji Buba, Nigeria
  • Itumeleng Indiphile Mothlabane, South Africa
  • Juliana Celidonio Degani, Brazil
  • Kouakou Jean-Desire Kouassi, Côte d’Ivoire
  • Leonardo Parraga, Colombia
  • Maria Aleksandrova, Bulgaria
  • Maria Azul Schvartzman, Argentina
  • Marian Abukayo Murunga, Kenya
  • Nandini Tanya Lallmon, Mauritius
  • Nayla Pariamachi, Peru
  • Omnia El Omrani, Egypt
  • Ozaal Muhammad Zesha Allah, Pakistan
  • Stacy Dina Adhiambo Owino, Kenya
  • Virginia Maria Barchiesi, Italy
  • Member from Philippines

Details

Publication date
14 July 2021
Author
Directorate-General for International Partnerships