Bratislava, 20.10.2010. My UN year is not over yet.

The 3rd phase has started: reporting and thinking about how to pass this experience further to fellow young people. This article is about my follow-up activities.

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Talking in the morning's broadcast of the radio on 20 October 2010.

On Friday 22.10., finally I got to see the development education in practice. I visited 1st year class at the University of Vienna, the topic was Afghanistan. See Internationale Entwicklung.

On Saturday 23.10., Meeting with Gita Hulmanova, YD Slovakia 2009.

Weekend 6-7.11. I wrote 2 articles, first for a Slovak newspaper's special issue on development aid and second for Polemics, the Diplomatic Academy's paper. I am especially glad for that one: many possible future diplomats may get to read about the program. I was interviewed by a classmate, for Swedish paper.

On Monday 8.11., Lunch with the Youth Council and my report has been written.

25-28.11., I attended the Europe-Africa Youth Summit in Libya. Here is my article, with some photos (in Slovak).

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In December and January, things get usually pretty busy at the university and this year it was no exception. However, I currently enjoy a class called "International Organizations and Multilateral Diplomacy" where we mostly deal with the UN and "Development Economics". Fantastic classes!

On 24.1.2011, we had a meeting in the Youth Council, about the YD 2011. In mid February, the competition will be launched. I am already curious about my successor.

Scheduled and surprising meetings of the Week 2

This is my second week at the UN and here come my impressions.

Monday 11.10. at UNESCO



During this meeting, topics such as higher education, intercultural dialoge were discussed. "What can UNESCO do so that higher education is free" was question of the Belgian YD. "Culture is not part of MDGs but without culture no goal can be achieved" is what we heard, stressing the importance of taking cultural background always into consideration.

Tuesday 12.10. morning working breakfast at Swiss mission “Successful Environmental Policy; Youth participation in decision making processes”

Meeting of the day Not planned, yet a great luck on being on the right place in the right moment: I ran into Kofi Annan!
lunch time a photo exhibition at the Bulgarian consulate

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Kofi Annan____________________________________________Velislava Ivanova, Bulgarian YD

evening Something that particularly stuck in my mind; an evening screening of a documentary by UNICEF, dealing with the plight of Children of war giving an insight into to Uganda’s Lord Resistance Army.

Wednesday 13.10.
morning Reporting from the plenary of the 3rd Committee. On the agenda we had Advancement of women and Children's rights. Earlier I had chance to hear Michele Bachelet, the newly appointed Under Secretary General for UN Women. The discussion has been great today, with a special regard to the question time, there was a lively discussion between representatives of Korea and Japan.

lunch time a side event at the Dominican Rep. mission
Mostly discussing organizational things like how to hand information we collected to the next delegates, our coordination after we are back from NY, website etc.

afternoon At 5pm, we met Mr. Joseph Deiss, the President of the 65th General Assembly. After a short introduction (and photoshooting), we asked questions. Our very enthusiastic Belgian delegate Matthieu asked about future of the UN, if UN Parliamentary Assembly would not be a solution for solving the global problems and would not better represent real people. A question from Dominican Rep. followed, asking about the role of NGOs. Germany asked whether he could support us and call upon the member states to implement the youth delegate program.



Mr. Joseph Deiss and Youth Delegates 2010



Thursday 14.10. morning working breakfast at Thai mission “Sufficiency Economy: the Role and Participation of Youth in Sustainable Development”
10am I am meeting our ambassador
lunch time WFUNA (World Federation of United Nations Associations) event "Handbook for Establishing a National Youth Delegate Programme to the UN"

Weekend. Saturday 16.10., Boston. Dambisa Moyo, the author of the Dead Aid (Why the aid is not working and how there is a better way for Africa) was speaking at the Boston Book Festival. Not only that her book was impressive, she is impressive! The way she spoke - you could really know she means it. Indian Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen and famous Harvard Professor Michael Sandel were also present.
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Dambisa Moyo signing my issue of her Dead Aid. D. Moyo, Amartya Sen, M. Sandel

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She wrote: Dana, make the cycle stop.

New York Week 1: My speech and meeting the SG

In my speech in the 3rd Committee of the General Assembly on Oct 5, I advocated for youth everywhere to get a basic knowledge of development. This, I emphasized, would lead to every young person forming their own opinion on global issues. I am concerned about the fact that there are too many young people in developed countries who misunderstand the concept of development, as well as humanitarian aid and carry a negative attitude, most of the times without having sufficient background information.

Monday 4.10. Meeting Slovak Permanent mission and first day in the UN HQ, precisely in the 3rd committee's plenary. Most of the youth delegates delivered their speeches today, but mine initially on 44place (eventually moved up to 32) was cut off and planned for Tuesday. Exciting day, many people present and the young deleagtes' speeches very refreshing; one could notice choice of stronger words, concrete references and rarely repeating cliche -like phrases. The speeches are uploaded here. It is worth to click on this link, I was very impressed by my colleagues and friends.

Tuesday 5.10. Highlight of the morning - I delivered my statement on development education. Et voila, it was not so bad. Here is the text, a short video is to come.

Highlight of the afternoon;
We, the youth delegates had the chance to meet the Secretary General, his excellency Mr. Ban Ki Moon. He spoke to us shortly and overwhelmed me with his incredible charisma. Photos are on the UN webiste, too. Ufff a day to remember.

I used a free moment in the afternoon to see a plenary on International terrorism. What happened afterwards? A break at Vienna café, having a huge chocolate muffin with Gitte, the Belgian (Flemish) youth delegate. Carlos, who sells so needed coffee and cookies remarked that it was the 3rd time we went there today. Yes and we deserved it each time.

Me and Gitte Briffa, the biggest fans of American cousine among the Youth delegates

Thursday 7.10. Workshop on Dialogue Initiatives for the International Year on Youth. We'll be brainstorming about possible joint actions for the rest of the IYY.

Divided in groups at the Saudi Arabian mission, an intense dialogue was held and some ideas of concrete actions on promotion of mutual understanding and tolerance among young people were born. Now it is time for follow up and make them happen..


Photo 1 on the right: Abdulaziz Tarazbouni, the YD Saudi Arabia. Photo 2: One group brainstorming

Friday 8.10. morning Meeting Alliance of Civilizations in Chrysler Building
lunch time side event on Youth unemployment at the German mission "Save the date"


Alliance of Civilizations. ______________________German side event

From the Big Apple

Dear all, I arrived safely in NYC on Sat 2 Oct. Let's get started!


Rodaina El Batnigi, the Austrian YD and me at JFK The United Nations Headquarters

On Sunday 3.10., a coordination youth delegates meeting took place. New and familiar faces from Utrecht, expectations and enthusiasm... and a lot on our agenda!