UN Delegates at age 17

This year, becoming a United Nations delegate at 17 was unexpected—but it has become an experience we will never forget. We were honored to participate in the United Nations High-Level Meeting commemorating 30 years of the World Programme of Action for Youth, carrying with us the voices and visions of young leaders from around the globe.

Read the our full statements and country remarks from the UN General Assembly here.

Our Statement:

We measure youth by the years we’ve lived. That is a lie. Youth are not waiting. Youth are alive. Youth are necessary. Every day, we are told their voices do not count, their futures can wait. Yet only 16% of young people are invited to make real decisions, while 75% are eager to shape the world—on issues like climate, mental health, and inclusion—and we often shut them out.

We are not the leaders of tomorrow. We are the leaders of now. Empowering youth means trusting us, giving us resources, and letting us lead today.

At The Perception Foundation, we refuse to stay silent. Entirely youth-led, with over 90 branches across 20 countries, we empower thousands of young people—especially the 25% who often feel invisible. We provide mentorship, teach youth how to launch initiatives, gain funding, advocate, and engage communities.

We pioneer solutions: cost-efficient sensory rooms under $500, mobile sensory carts, and a national curriculum on emotional regulation, inclusion, and neurodiversity. We even discovered a novel biomarker for neurodevelopmental disorders—all while being told our futures could wait.

Meaningful youth participation is not optional. It is survival. It is about giving every young person, even those who doubt themselves, the mentorship, tools, and platforms to lead. You must not just invite us to the table. You must make space for us to build our own. Deny our voices, our spaces, our right to lead, and history will remember it.

We are here. We are bold. We will not be ignored. It is time to recognize the potential of youth and act. Together, we can expand access to sensory-friendly spaces globally, lead advocacy as the largest youth-led nonprofit in this field, and ensure individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders thrive.

Reflecting on our UN experience, we know the future is now. We are not waiting for permission to lead. We are taking action. We are here to stay.

Join us in this movement. Together, we can empower youth and create a brighter, more inclusive future for all.