Young woman inspired by work with UN office

For Guo Shuo, over four years of volunteer service at the Office of the United Nations Secretary-General's Envoy on Youth (OSGEY) not only enhanced her expertise but also introduced her to a group of people with genuine passion, commitment and dedication. Her work at the office has become a steppingstone for her career on the global stage.

The 30-year-old was one of the first group of volunteers dispatched to work for UN agencies across the world in January 2020.

After her service ended a year later under the China Youth Volunteers Overseas Service Program, the office hired her as a specialist volunteer. Guo managed multiple social media accounts, including X, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, for OSGEY.

In September 2022, the UN General Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution to establish the UN Youth Office. The new office was established in December last year and integrated the office's activities.

"The resolution's adoption was largely attributed to the efforts of OSGEY," Guo said. "It feels like we are witnessing the birth of a child of the office. We feel honored and proud."

The youth office aims to strengthen engagement and advocacy to advance youth issues across the UN, and to support and amplify the representation, voices and actions of young people in creating solutions to global challenges.

During her first year with OSGEY, Guo was a novice when it came to managing Western social media platforms. She described herself as a "learner" who was devoted to completing the tasks assigned to her.

As she gradually became more proficient, she actively engaged in the strategizing of campaign ideas.

Moreover, she is responsible for visual branding, drawing on her background in architectural design.

Guo expressed pride in the significant increase in the number of followers of OSGEY's social media accounts during her management of them.

Over the past four years, the number of followers of the office's X account has increased by nearly 150 percent; by 162 percent on Facebook; and by 285 percent on Instagram.

In her role, Guo focused on coming up with innovative ways to promote UN youth events such as by using photo booths and designing photo frames to attract more youth participation.

During the COP28 UN Climate Change Conference in Dubai last year, Guo and her partners initiated an activity called "Heart to Heart", inviting UN officials and youth representatives from various institutions to exchange views on climate change.

Guo's experience at the UN has equipped her with valuable skills for future job opportunities with international organizations.

She said she will continue to work as a consultant to produce digital content for the UN Girls' Education Initiative, a global partnership hosted by the UN International Children's Emergency Fund.

Recalling her stay in the previous office, Guo said that she "was inspired and motivated by a group of brilliant people striving to address global challenges and making positive change".

She believes that engaging in international volunteer service offers young people a unique learning experience, broadening their views and enhancing their skills while contributing to sustainable development.

Youth volunteers also bring fresh perspectives, innovation and a passion for change to international organizations, she added.

Guo said she was impressed by the prowess of the Chinese youth representatives who attended the Economic and Social Council Youth Forum in April, where they displayed their dedication to tackling global problems and demonstrated good English communication skills.

The participation of Chinese youth on the international stage has become more extensive and profound, Guo said.

zhoujin@chinadaily.com.cn