Youth Representative to the United Nations & Global Citizenship in Action
- Dayoung Lee
- Aug 14, 2025
- 3 min read
Updated: Nov 26, 2025
From Voice to Change: My Journey as a UN DGC Youth Representative
I believe true change begins with action that bridges voices across borders.In January 2025, I was honored to be officially selected as the only high school student from Korea to serve as a Youth Representative to the UN Department of Global Communications (DGC).
Recognized as a “creative changemaker”, I received an annual UN Headquarters access pass and opportunities to present youth perspectives at briefings, conferences, and civil society events in New York.
Beyond representation, I have actively pursued projects that bring the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to life. Through the youth research platform BeeVive.org, my team explored the impact of climate change on food security and biodiversity, introducing smart beekeeping technology and engaging over 500 citizens through exhibitions and campaigns.
My commitment to global learning is rooted in more than 200 hours of UN Expert Training, where I studied international development, human rights, and environmental policy under UN professionals, earning top recognition for policy proposals presented on global stages.
Service has been equally central to my journey: I received a commendation from the Minister of Youth and Sports of South Sudan for five years of volunteer work supporting refugees, children with disabilities, and underprivileged youth—ranging from creating audiobooks for the visually impaired to donating books to libraries in low-income countries.
To break down language barriers, I translated two official UN publications into Korean, making UN values and initiatives more accessible to young people in my country. In parallel, I served as a youth journalist covering UN briefings in New York, and as Editor-in-Chief of my school’s Sustainability Magazine, mentoring younger peers to continue expanding the conversation on global citizenship.
For me, these experiences are not separate activities—they are interconnected steps toward building a world where youth voices, inclusive education, and sustainable solutions are not ideals but realities.
Turning youth voices into global change.
Highlights:
UN Youth Delegate–Department of Global Communications (DGC) – Appointed as Korea's sole UN Youth Delegate to represent youth voices at UN Headquarters in New York. Selected for long-term SDG advocacy, education equity leadership, and completion of 200+ hours of expert diplomacy and policy training.
200+ Hours in UN Expert Training – Advanced coursework in Human Rights, Development, and Environment
Editor-in-Chief – Sustainability Magazine (BHA) – Directed my school's SDG-focused magazine, shaping editorial strategy and leading 20+ student writers. My leadership focusedon mentoring peers, coordinating reporting, data-driven storytelling, and visual design across 17 UN SDGs. Helped buildcampus-wide awareness and sustained student-led advocacy by authoring features on climate equity.
UN Youth Journalism & Translation for Global Understanding – Covered 10+ UN briefi ngs and interviewed diplomats; reported complex global issues via accessible articles as a youthcorrespondent for World Citizen Magazine. Translated two UN children's books into Korean, improving access to global valuesfor local youth. This work taught me to bridge cultures and foster responsible communication.
BeeVive Project – Co-led climate & biodiversity research platform; organized exhibition with 500+ community participants
Global Journalism & Policy Advocacy – Reported from UN briefings, compared climate & food insecurity data with global conflicts
Community Engagement – 120+ hours supporting refugees, disabled students, and children’s libraries in low-income countries
Yale Model UN – Represented South Korea; engaged in multilateral diplomacy and policy negotiation
Youth Voices for SDGs Audiobook Project -Educational Resources for Visually Impaired Children
UN Youth Delegate–Department of Global Communications (DGC)
Sole Korean Youth representative; Addressed UN HQ forums on inequity. Co-led award-winning projects (2022, 2023) onKorean disarmament and Ukraine war impacts, presented resolutions to support policy proposals with data visualizations, andbridged the gap between high-level policy and youth action by organizing community-based SDG campaigns.
Educational Resources for Visually Impaired Children
Youth Voices for SDGs – Audiobook Project
Many books have been written to spread the message of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) — a shared agenda for the future of our planet.
Yet, nearly 253 million people worldwide and more than 252,000 people in South Korea live with visual impairments. For them, access to these texts is often limited.
Through the Youth Voices for SDGs audiobook project, I contributed my voice as a narrator to make SDG-related educational materials accessible to visually impaired children. This initiative reflects my belief that knowledge should not have barriers, and that inclusivity is at the heart of sustainable development.
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