Penang Youth Takes Malaysia’s Voice To Un Youth Forum

By Siti Azila Alias

GEORGE TOWN, April 29 (Bernama) — For Shameera Nasreen Ahamed Noordeen, stepping onto the global stage was more than an achievement, it was the fulfilment of a long-held dream.

The 27-year-old master’s student in Marine Science at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) represented the Malaysian Indian Youth Council (MIYC) at the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Youth Forum 2026, held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York from April 14 to 16.

 She was among three Malaysian youths selected to participate in the forum themed ‘Asia and the Pacific | Youth Perspectives on Regional Development – Challenges, Priorities and Actions for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)’, which gathered more than 500 young participants from over 50 countries.

Also serving as a liaison officer at the Penang Youth Development Corporation (PYDC), Shameera said her journey to the forum was far from easy, but the result of two years of sustained effort and determination.

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“I began by actively studying the UN system, particularly programmes under Youth Affairs, while participating in webinars, forums and engagement platforms such as the ECOSOC Youth Forum and other youth-centred initiatives. I built networks, stayed engaged through official channels and continuously followed global youth developments.

“At the same time, I strengthened my profile locally and internationally through my involvement with MIYC, consistently seeking opportunities to grow and contribute,” she told Bernama recently.

Sharing more about her journey, the Penang-born youth, who was raised by Chinese guardians said   she first applied for the programme in January and underwent two rounds of follow-ups before receiving her offer letter on March 18.

“I cried when I received the news. I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude, excitement and fulfilment. It was truly a dream come true and one of the most meaningful milestones in my journey so far,” she said.

She also expressed appreciation for the support she received, including funding from Malaysia’s Ministry of Youth and Sports and contributions from sponsors that made her participation possible.

At the forum, Shameera, who has been active with MIYC since 2020 and currently leads its Bukit Mertajam branch, delivered an intervention highlighting Malaysia’s model of youth engagement.

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She also participated in a series of high-level engagements, interacting with global leaders and stakeholders, including Lok Bahadur Thapa, Nur Azura Abd Karim and Jennifer Stanzl.

Reflecting on the experience, Shameera said the engagements enabled meaningful exchanges on critical global priorities while opening avenues for   future collaboration.

“The discussions went beyond the SDGs, focusing on strengthening cross-sector partnerships, advancing inclusive development and amplifying youth participation in addressing increasingly complex global challenges,” she said.

She stressed that stronger collaboration between governments, youth institutions and international bodies is essential to ensure young people are recognised as active stakeholders in decision-making processes.

--BERNAMA