On Saturday morning, 21 September, just before the UN General Assembly’s High-Level Week, I had an experience I never expected—I spoke with Her Majesty Queen Mathilde of Belgium. As a UN Partnerships intern, I knew she would meet with four Youth Leaders for the SDGs, but I didn’t anticipate being part of the conversation myself.
That morning, I was called to the office to help welcome the Queen and the youth participants and to take notes during their discussion. As the meeting began, Assistant Secretary-General for Youth Affairs, Felipe Paullier, noticed an empty seat and suggested I join the conversation as a youth participant. Nervous but excited, I found myself introducing myself to the Queen.
The discussion was inspiring. Queen Mathilde was deeply engaged and asked us what priorities we wanted her to advocate for as an SDG Advocate, as well as the invisible issues we thought needed more attention. Each Youth Leader shared their perspectives: Ines Costa Louro from Portugal highlighted the overlooked importance of health, and Melissa El Feghali from Lebanon raised concerns about the lack of awareness of the SDGs among young people as we near 2030.
When it was my turn, I shared my perspective. I explained how all the SDGs are interconnected - progress on one depends on progress on others. Reflecting on my rural hometown, I emphasized the disparities between opportunities in rural and urban areas. Many young people in my village are unaware of the SDGs and social inequalities because they lack access to the same education and opportunities.
Other participants, like Isidora Uribe Silva from Chile, spoke about youth disengagement and the need to show young people concrete actions and partnerships to drive change. The conversation also touched on critical issues like peace, inclusion, and climate change. Ines spoke powerfully about the loss of hope among youth living in conflict zones, where advocating for anything beyond peace and survival can feel impossible.
The session reminded us of the importance of education in advancing the SDGs. Education enables people to make informed choices about engaging in global issues. It’s a cornerstone for ensuring every voice has the chance to be heard. Meeting and speaking with Queen Mathilde was a once-in-a-lifetime moment that I will always cherish. Her genuine interest and the powerful exchange of ideas left me inspired and grateful for the opportunity.
Marie Garcia
Intern at the UN Office for Partnerships