By Siddhi Joshi
The heart of New York City lies not in its towering skyscrapers that slice through the clouds, nor in the iconic yellow taxis packed tightly along the streets; but in its people. In late September of 2024, the Concordia Summit, held alongside the sidelines of the 79th UN General Assembly, with its 14th edition theme, navigating a New Era, became an electrifying melting pot for conversations that would continue contributing to forging the future of the world with various individuals united in their shared mission to confront some of the world’s most pressing challenges.
Representing The Azadi Project and the Azadi Leadership Program in partnership with the Libra Philanthropies, at the summit, I was inspired by sessions that echoed the heart of our work. One of the highlights was the conversation “The Global Mental Health Crisis Among Young People” led by Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Dr. Tessy Ojo, CEO of The Diana Award. Their discussion reinforced the importance of structural change driven by youth voices, particularly in a world that often rewards compliance while neglecting the potential of young people to redefine society.
The program lineups of the summit grappled with a plethora of subjects that reverberated the need for global innovation, capacity development across sectors, collective resilience, and faith in our shared humanity against the unprecedented and testing times that stand ahead of us. The session on “Building Livable, Low-Emission Cities”, featuring voices like Cassie Sutherland from ‘C40 Cities’ and Gina McCarthy from ‘America Is All’ explored how climate change isn’t a planet problem but a people problem! It highlighted the need for stronger science communication to encourage more conversations on the topic as we either rise together or sink together against the giant. Cross-sectoral partnerships focused on creating more green jobs should be at the center of this transition. The session on “Media’s Critical Role in Preserving Democracy” with representatives from Foreign Policy, Freedom House, and The Washington Post reinforced the power of storytelling and the responsibility we hold to protect democratic values, especially for those most vulnerable to disinformation.
My experience at Concordia underscored the importance of cultural diplomacy and youth advocacy. The challenge before us is clear: How do we elevate young voices in the digital age, develop an inclusive and sustainable world, and create spaces and accessible entry points where youth-led bottom-up social impact can flourish in the mainstream discourse? With each conversation, I felt a surge of optimism, reinforced by the knowledge that a growing global network of leaders, NGOs, and young activists are pushing this agenda forward.In my work with The Azadi Project, through projects like Laal Lahar and Paint OurStories, I have seen firsthand how often youth voices—especially those of young women or queer individuals—are overlooked or dismissed. My presence at Concordia felt like a small revolution, affirming the vital importance of these voices. A standout highlight for me personally was being a panelist on the Libra Philathrophy’s first Learning Lab on “Empowering Youth: Breaking Barriers to Leadership in Civil Society” which refreshingly highlighted the importance of transgenerational initiatives for battling ageism, resource scarcity, and financial barriers. Young people today are creating movements that are rooted in empathy rather than echo chambers and finding an inner sense of freedom, a personal azadi, fueled by both hopelessness and hope, anger and love.
Throughout the week, each dialogue was a step toward challenging the status quo, and every handshake and shared smile was a reminder that we are part of a vast, supportive collective striving for a more equitable world. New York may be known
for its skyline and pace, but for me, it’s a place where the power of global collaboration shines brightest. I leave with profound hope and a personal commitment to keep these conversations alive.