The #2030NOW Twitter hashtag of this year's Social Good Summit, held in New York during the UN General Assembly week, was meant to be a rallying cry for the international community. It succinctly raised the critical question of how current technology can create lasting societal impact. And it reflected the UN's priorities of generating momentum for achieving the remaining Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) while simultaneously emphasizing the post-2015 development agenda.
Yet #2030NOW also represented the UN's new, more inclusive direction -- one that is engaging young people worldwide like never before. It is a task that Ahmad Alhendawi knows full well. Since May, Alhendawi has served as the first ever Envoy on Youth for the UN Secretary-General.
Although Alhendawi is himself under the age of 30, he has an extensive record of engaging youth in global affairs. He has served as the Youth Policy Advisor in the League of Arab States in Cairo, an officer in the Technical Secretariat of the Arab Youth and Sports Ministers Council, a Team Leader for the National Youth Policy Project in Iraq and a Youth Program Associate at the UN Population Fund's Iraq office. Hailing from Jordan, Alhendawi co-founded the All Jordan Youth Commission and the Youth for Democracy Network at the Jordanian Commission for Democratic Culture, as well as the International Youth Council in New York.
Alhendawi spoke with The InterDependent following his Social Good Summit panel discussion titled "Young, Global, and Connected: New Ideas in Technology, Diplomacy and Outreach."
For the complete interview, please visit The InterDependent.