Fostering partnerships for sustainable change.
Anjum Sultana MPH (She/Her)
Director of Youth Leadership & Policy Advocacy at Plan International Canada | Determined Optimist | Fellow at Public Policy Forum | ?? 2020 NGO United Nations CSW Global Woman of Distinction
Dear friends + community,
As you may have figured out by now, I am very committed to supporting the next generation of leaders ?by building community ,?deepening mentorship , and?championing sponsorship ?in the workplace and beyond.
Every week, in my conversations with young people in Canada and around the world, I am inspired by their innovation, analysis, and dedication to advancing a more just and sustainable future.?
It’s not lost on me though that this is not an easy mindset to adopt in a world as complex and challenging as ours.
Especially, for young people who want to do good and earn a decent living.
For the young people I chat with and perhaps even yourself, it can sometimes feel like those two goals can be at odds with each other.
Because when it comes to navigating a career in social impact, the answers are not readily available, especially for young people from underrepresented communities. It can sometimes feel like you are on your own. I know I have certainly felt like that throughout my journey, especially after the community and resources found in a post-secondary environment.
That’s why I wanted to take a moment to give a shout-out to an incredible visionary and changemaker,? Candies Kotchapaw , the?Founder?and?Executive Director?of?DYLOTT (Developing the Young Leaders of Tomorrow, Today) .?
I had the opportunity to finally meet Candies in real life (IRL) last week after admiring her excellent work from a distance and connecting virtually last year. It was such a delight to learn more about DYLOTT and witness the wonderful youth leadership programming it delivers, including its flagship initiative, the?Black Diplomats Academy .?
It is such a thoughtfully curated experiential learning experience for Black youth in Canada and globally who want to pursue a career in diplomacy, public policy, and global affairs, bringing together a range of local and global partners. DYLOTT and the Black Diplomats Academy provides a platform for youth to engage with a community of peers and mentors, hone knowledge and skills related to pursuing a career in global diplomacy, and has created an effective pathway to influence international policymaking on multilateral topics such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Agenda and the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent.?
When I think about?Sustainable Development Goal 17, Partnerships for the Goals , we know to advance the pressing issues of our time, from racial justice to climate action to gender equity, we need all hands on deck.?
Fostering partnerships is key to creating sustainable change.?And creating space for young people to lead will be vital.?
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Now is a better time than any to be thinking about partnerships and sustainable change.?
In fact, 2023 marks the halfway point towards the 2030 deadline for achieving the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). To do a global stocktake of how far we have gotten to achieving the 2030 Agenda and renew the world’s commitment to achieving this ambition, the United Nations will be convening the SDG Summit next month from September 18-19 during the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).?
As I may have mentioned in a previous newsletter, I want to host a mini UNGA-like side event in Toronto right after the SDG Summit at the New York United Nations Headquarters to talk about what Toronto’s contribution can be to advancing the 2030 Agenda and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Stay tuned and let me know if you are interested in attending the event in Toronto (and even volunteering). Drop me a note so I can keep you in mind.?
That’s it for now! Hope to see you at the event in September, hosted in partnership with the good people at the?Toronto Global Impact Network . More details to come out in a few weeks!?
Sincerely,
Anjum
PS: FYI an event in collaboration with friends at the Toronto Global Impact Network is coming up in mid-September. Stay tuned! It will be all about Toronto on the world stage - how are we contributing to the 2030 Agenda and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, especially at its halfway point? There are only 7 more years left until 2030 and the world is not getting any less complex. We need to have all hands on deck - what can Canada’s biggest city do to be part of the solution?
PPS: If you haven’t yet, check out my Substack Newsletter - read, share and subscribe!
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Community Manager at Network for Business Sustainability | Musician
1 年Definitely interested in a parallel Toronto event for the Halfway to 30 SDG Summit!