I am very very very excited and proud to share that I have just got back from One Young World 2024, in Montreal, Canada!!!
I didn’t say before as I wasn’t sure if physically I’d be able to go, but I received a fully funded scholarship from the Zurich Foundation to go, based on my charity/volunteer roles and advocacy work over the last few years. One Young World, over three days, celebrates efforts by young leaders across the globe to make change, and I honestly was so nervous to go, feeling inadequate and like the things I have done so far were not deserving of such an opportunity. I still am in awe of everyone I have met, but cannot begin to express how incredible it has been.

The One Young World Summit (which this year took place from September 18-21, in Montréal) is an internationally recognised event that gathers over 2,000 young leaders from more than 190 countries. The event focuses on global issues like climate change, gender inequality, Indigenous representation, and the ethical use of AI. It was held at the Palais des congrès, in Montreal, this year, between Septembr 18-21, and, as a celebration of young changemakers, it was a chance to network, learn from some amazing individuals, and collaborate on solutions for societal challenges​. That all sounds very ‘businessy’ – but it’s truly impossible to capture in words the whole experience. Some of the speakers this year included David Suzuki of the Suzuki Foundation, singer/songwriter political activist Bob Geldof, singer/actress and activist Cher, author Margaret Atwood, former president of Costa Rica Laura Chinchilla, and journalist and Univision anchor Ilia Calderon, among many others, and they shared their insight, passion, and knowledge through presentations, discussion panels, and smaller talks. Over the three days there were numerous workshops and action sessions, where I could learn from ambassadors and more individuals making change, and brainstorm ideas and solutions towards the UN’s 2030 sustainable development goals and tackling some of these really, really big issues, like access to healthcare, and gender violence.

I recieved a scholarship to attend the event from Z Zurich Foundation, based on my advocacy and volunteering efforts towards supporting autistic persons and tackling mental health and gender inequality, and attending as a delegate was absolutely transformative. We began the first day with an incredible opening ceremony, setting the stage for the rest of the summit and bringing together all the delegates, from all across the world, all driven by our shared passion for social impact. The jam packed schedule for the rest of the summit really challenged my perspectives on a number of key topics, and opened my eyes to others. One of my highlights was a ‘braindate’ (smaller discussion and networking session) on “Advancing a More Equitable Healthcare System” – together with other delegates, we explored strategies to tackle the challenges facing marginalised groups, and I had so many thoughts and ideas around community engagement and how to somehow utilise collaboration, from a local level to globally, to drive systemic change. I was also incredibly inspired by the presentation from Thai feminist and activist Matcha Phornin. Her messages about gender and social justice were powerful reminders of often-forgotten intersectionality, and spoke to me about the importance of sharing your story, standing up, and not being afraid to challenge. She was also joined by Lina Khalifeh of SheFighter, and political gender violence activist and author Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, in speaking to Ilia Calderon about reconciliation and recovery from gender-based violence. This resonated a lot for me, personally.

So, what now? I am coming away from the summit with a much clearer vision of my dreams, and much greater insight into some of the issues I am so passionate about, and I think, overall, I just feel so driven and determined to make change myself. Before the conference I had ideas, I had beliefs, but I don’t think I believed in myself enough, and I felt like I wasn’t professinal or qualified enough to have a big impact. But I won’t let it rest anymore. My life has been through a lot of twists and turns, and each part of my journey has been one of self growth, as well as sometimes wider learning, and I feel like it’s all lead up to this. Nothing feels more important to me than tackling gender and health inequalities for autistic women, globally. My own health is a barrier, but it’s one I’ll overcome. I have to.

I’m going to make a difference for autistic women worldwide. I’m going to speak out for those voices that need hearing, and show them their power, their light – their sun.
I can’t thank the Zurich Foundation enough for the scholarship, nor my fellow delegates for helping make some wonderful memories.

And of course, most importantly – thank you One Young World!