'It does legitimise your voice'

The Unicef Youth Ambassadors comprise a group of committed teenagers, aged between 14 and 19, who champion the rights of children and teenagers in Luxembourg and globally.

For Joy and Franklin, participation in this programme has significantly enhanced their lives. They have grown more confident and have honed their public speaking skills. "We bring topics forward that are important to us to raise awareness but also to represent the voice of Luxembourgish youth and it does legitimise your voice," they shared.

This year, being a major election year in Luxembourg, residents will be called to the ballots twice. In light of this, Unicef Luxembourg has initiated a campaign urging politicians to also consider issues that are important to individuals under the age of 18, even though they are not yet eligible to vote.

Read their full manifesto here.

In an online survey, 436 young individuals aged between 13 and 17 highlighted the topics that were of particular importance to them. The top four subjects were the environment, mental health, protection, and education.

In March 2023, the Youth Ambassadors had the opportunity to discuss these subjects with six politicians from all the major political parties. "It ended up being a very fruitful exchange," they reflected.

© unicef.lu

Listen to the full interview to get the girl's full account fn this unique opportunity.

Paul Heber emphasised the importance of bridging the gap between the upcoming generation and the elected politicians. "They are building our future so I think that they should base their political work on kids and under 18 year olds.”

Unicef is currently seeking new members to join their Youth Ambassadors programme. If you are interested in shaping the future of the country and would like to meet other politically engaged teenagers, you are encouraged to sign up now through their website.