Grover Cleveland High School, Los Angeles July 2006

July 20-31st, 2006

Grover Cleveland High School, Los Angeles, CA Irmas International Youth Media Summit Andrew participated in the Irmas Int'l Youth Media Summit in Reseda, CA, just north of Los Angeles. During the summit, teenagers from 26 countries worked together to do something about the seven issues that they believe most impact their future: Racism, Poverty, Violence, Health, Environment, Women's Rights and Youth Empowerment. They discussed and found ways to inspire others in their generation to shape the future through media and action. During the 10 day summit, the teen delegates: Worked with dynamic leaders who are making a difference in non-profits and organizations around the world Developed resolutions of action to present to the United Nations and their own governments Created powerful public service announcements with the help of Hollywood filmmakers and celebrities Learned how to organize international teen media exchange projects and find partners from other countries Were part of the IIYMS one hour television special. Celebrated a united world with art, music, film, dance and food from other cultures

In the summer of 2006, I had the opportunity to participate in the Irmas International Youth Media Summit at Grover Cleveland High School in Reseda, just north of Los Angeles, California. It was an experience that brought together young people from different cultures and backgrounds around a shared conviction: the future should not simply be something we inherit; it is something we have a responsibility to shape.

Over the course of the summit, we explored seven issues that profoundly affect the lives and futures of young people: racism, poverty, violence, health, the environment, women's rights, and youth empowerment.

These were not distant or abstract concerns. They were challenges that crossed national boundaries, shaped communities, and influenced the opportunities available to millions of young people around the world.

What made the summit particularly meaningful was its emphasis on moving beyond discussion to action.

From conversation to action

Article content

We worked with leaders from nonprofit organizations and other initiatives committed to making a difference in communities around the world. Together, we developed resolutions for action intended for presentation to the United Nations and our respective governments.

We also explored how media could become an instrument for social change. With the assistance of Hollywood filmmakers and celebrities, young delegates created public service announcements designed to communicate urgent messages and inspire action among their peers.

The program introduced us to the possibilities of international youth media exchanges, helping us understand how young people in different countries could work together, share experiences, and develop projects that transcended geographical and cultural barriers.

The summit also became a celebration of our diversity. Through art, music, film, dance, and food, we shared aspects of our cultures and discovered how much could unite us despite our different nationalities and experiences. Our participation in a television special further offered an opportunity to bring the summit's message to a wider audience.

In those ten days, media was not simply a tool for entertainment or communication. It became a means of education, advocacy, understanding, and collective action.

A lesson in development and youth empowerment

For me, this experience held particular significance.

Article content

Coming from Sierra Leone, where conflict had profoundly affected the lives of children and young people, I understood why youth empowerment had to mean more than inviting young people to participate in conversations. It had to mean giving them the skills, platforms, and opportunities to influence the world around them.

My commitment to peacebuilding and connecting young people through education and technology had already shown me the value of creating spaces where youth could communicate across borders. The Los Angeles summit reinforced that conviction in an international setting.

Whether addressing violence, poverty, racism, environmental challenges, or women's rights, we were confronting issues that demanded cooperation across generations and societies.

I came away with a renewed appreciation for the role that young people could play as advocates, communicators, innovators, and partners in development.

The possibility of a more connected world

Article content

Perhaps one of the most important lessons of the summit was that meaningful change does not always begin in the corridors of power. Sometimes it begins when young people are given the opportunity to listen to one another, challenge assumptions, exchange ideas, and work toward a common purpose.

A teenager in one country might experience a challenge that another young person elsewhere has also confronted. Through communication and collaboration, those experiences can become the starting point for shared solutions.

That is the promise of international youth engagement: not that our differences disappear, but that we learn to work constructively across them.

Looking back, my time in Reseda, California, was more than a visit to another American city. It was an encounter with a global community of young people determined to make their voices count.

The summit strengthened my belief that development must include young people not merely as beneficiaries of programs, but as active participants in shaping solutions. It also demonstrated the potential of media to connect communities, amplify overlooked voices, and turn shared concerns into collective action.

The lesson I carried forward

My experience in Los Angeles remains part of a larger American journey through which I encountered people, institutions, ideas, and opportunities that broadened my understanding of development and international cooperation.