Originally published on the CGS blog on July 17, 2014.
I never would have imagined that my 2010 summer in Egypt would change the trajectory of my life. However, my time there gave me critical exposure to social inequities in “Pre-Arab Spring” Cairo. It was there that I discovered my passion for social justice and the strength of global cooperation.
Six months later, it was at that same Tahrir Square that I passed every day in which thousands mobilized to demand change in what began the 25 January 2011 Revolution and Arab Spring of Egypt.
The truth is that young people around the world are becoming larger players in their societies. When we speak about global issues that we urge our international communities to address– such as poverty alleviation, women’s empowerment, access to education, and health equity–we cannot deny the role of young people in seeking change.
One of the biggest root issues that plague our global community is the lack of outlets that young people have to make their voice heard and create those changes. Local governments are not always doing the best job and aren’t holding themselves accountable.
As a country and government, we can help create outlets for young people to raise their voices globally. We must invest in local NGOs and help develop civic society so that young people have channels to properly voice their concerns and demand systemic reforms from their local institutions.
The Arab Spring is a prime example of how active our youth is; oftentimes youth will take to the streets if they feel that they are not being heard. Young people are interconnected, multilingual, and globalized. Before our global community can tackle any issue on a larger level, we must look at ourselves and ensure that we are investing in local, youth-driven initiatives for change towards issues related to health, education, and economic opportunity. Young people have answers, and they can be part of the solution.
I believe that the United States government can serve as an institution that supports the aspirations of people around the world who recognize the rights to a government and freedom of speech. This is one of the most sustainable ways to maximize prosperity and opportunity for people in the future. Creating partnerships with multilateral organizations will establish a new norm when combating issues on a global scale. Local initiatives that are already doing effective grassroots work must continue to invest in it.
History shows that political participation does exist, whether positive or negative, and youth are acting. If we can maximize their potential in a positive way by investing in local NGOs and civil society, then we are establishing channels for young people to be heard.
As a Pakistani Muslim woman, I am extremely passionate about girls’ education and access to reproductive and sexual health. However, I think that the most sustainable way to address these issues is to invest in locally driven initiatives to create systemic change.
As US citizens, we can act foremost by informing ourselves. We must strive to be religiously and culturally competent before we can advocate for any cause or change.
We, as an international community, must create a global ethic in which we all hold ourselves accountable to a standard. The world is suffering from injustices related to war; famine; genocide; and inequities in health, education, and the economy. We must invest in local communities and work alongside individuals to cultivate our shared values.
Building off of those shared values is the only sustainable way to create a peaceful and just global community. Only when we rise together in solidarity will our advocacy efforts take effect. Something as simple as a phone call to a legislator, signing an online petition, attending a Lobby Day on the Hill, or organizing a social justice initiative in our community can make a world of a difference.
