Chloe Reynaldo (16) educates young people in the Philippines about sexual and reproductive health and rights. In recognition of her work, she was one of a select few young leaders from around the world invited to speak and participate at the first ever World Humanitarian Summit. Here's her impressions from Day 2.
Remember what I said about day two being even busier than the first day? Technically, I was wrong, as I didn’t have side events to attend or a lunch with the Secretary-General (yep, totally bringing that up). But what today may have lacked in activity for me, it more than made up for by taking the nerves I had yesterday and pushing it way up to eleven. Today is the big day - the day I speak in the special (high-level) session on Transforming Humanitarian Action with and for Young People. My topic is natural disasters, by virtue of the fact that my country, the Philippines, is prone to typhoons, earthquakes, and all manner of natural disasters.
I’m one of three youth speakers – one is Victoria, a girl from El Salvador, speaking on urban violence in her country. The other is Ehab Badwi, a Syrian refugee, talking of the situation faced by his fellow refugees. It is not an understatement for me to declare that in the short moments that I shared with them, both have gained my sincere admiration. Both are strong individuals who rose and continue to rise above the challenges in their countries. Both live inspiring lives that inspired me and should reach others as well. Really. I respect them so much that I can’t even talk (write?) lightly about them. I was honored to share the same stage as them, as well as the other expert panelists, who represent some of the best people in the field.
Chloe Reynaldo with the signed compact on young people in humanitarian action.
The event was both an uplifting and humbling experience. Uplifting in the sense that you see all these accomplished, talented and dedicated people, who share a goal and a passion, and you realize that there’s hope in the world with all of these people working together to benefit people in humanitarian crises. It’s humbling, because you remember that no matter how long you’ve been doing what you do, or how well you do it, there’s always something to be learned from someone else. No matter if they’ve only been at their jobs for a year, a month, a day… it’s refreshing and exciting to know that everybody has a different view and experience. And yet, despite all the differences, you all come together in order to share this one goal. I can’t believe I’m quoting Pokemon of all things, but as Meowth once said; “We do have a lot in common. The same air, the same Earth, the same sky. Maybe if we started looking at what's the same instead of always looking at what's different...well, who knows?”
I’m extremely thankful for the opportunities this has given me, and it will forever be one of my most important memories. This has been a learning experience of epic proportions, and I’m sure I’m not the only one who feels this way. The World Humanitarian Summit was a step in the right direction, along a path that I hope we – the world – continue to walk on.
Outside the World Humanitarian Summit in Istanbul, Turkey.
