By JC Montenegro Ph.D.

The ECOSOC Youth Forum, held annually by the United Nations, is an event that gathers young people from all over the world to discuss and propose solutions to the most pressing issues of our time. This year, the Salesian Family was represented by two young ladies, Victoria Figueroa from St. Dominic Savio and Jennifer Gomez from the Salesian Family Youth Center, who were accompanied by JC Montenegro, PhD, the Executive Director at the SFYC and invited by Fr. Thomas Pallithanam, SDB, the Salesian Missions representative.

As Salesians, we are committed to empowering young people and promoting social transformation. The ECOSOC Youth Forum aligns with our mission and provides an opportunity to share our Salesian approach to youth ministry, which emphasizes the importance of working with youth and fostering their leadership skills and agency.

At the forum, our Salesian representatives had the chance to share some of their initiatives and best practices in providing quality education, vocational training, and socio-economic opportunities to marginalized youth in Los Angeles. They were also able to learn from other organizations and initiatives and exchange ideas, best practices, and recommendations on how to address some of the most pressing issues facing our communities.

One of the key takeaways from the forum was the importance of intergenerational leadership and collaboration. Young people have a crucial role to play in shaping our future, but they need the support and guidance of older generations to make their voices heard and achieve their goals. As Salesians, we have a responsibility to provide this support and guidance and to work in partnership with the youth to create a more just, equitable, and sustainable world.

The ECOSOC Youth Forum was a transformative experience that reinforced our commitment to youth empowerment and social transformation. It provided an opportunity to connect with other organizations, stakeholders, and experts in various fields, and to learn from their experiences and perspectives. It also highlighted the importance of the Sustainable Development Goals and the role that youth can play in achieving them.

As a Salesian Family, let us continue to work towards empowering young people and promoting social transformation. Let us foster their leadership skills and agency and provide them with the support and guidance they need to make a positive impact on the world.

Let us also continue to participate in events like the ECOSOC Youth Forum, where we can exchange ideas, best practices, and recommendations with other organizations and initiatives, and work towards a more just, equitable, and sustainable world together.