On April 16, 2025, Junior Chamber International (JCI) brought global youth leadership to the forefront during its official side event at the ECOSOC Youth Forum. Titled “RISE to the Challenge: Community-Driven Solutions for Economic Strengthening and Social Inclusion,” the event convened over 1,500 live participants from more than 90 countries, with thousands more watching on Facebook Live.
The session opened with words from JCI Interim Secretary General Elvin Teo, who set the tone for the event: “Our communities don’t need more problems highlighted; they need solutions led by people who care.” JCI President Keisuke Shimoyamada followed with a keynote that framed the RISE Initiative as both a response and a long-term vision: “RISE is more than a program. It is a call to action, a movement built on the belief that young people have the power to rebuild economies, invest in human capital, sustain local progress, and evolve systems to be more inclusive.
RISE Initiative Achievements
A core highlight came when Christel Youbi, Chairperson of the JCI RISE Committee, delivered an inspiring address that grounded the session in real-world impact: “Since 2020, JCI members have launched over 2,000+ RISE projects across more than 100 countries. These projects aren’t just initiatives; they are reopened businesses, trained youth, and restored livelihoods. They are proof that when young people lead, transformation follows. Christel detailed how RISE projects span a wide spectrum from youth employability and digital upskilling to mental health advocacy and post-crisis entrepreneurship. She emphasized regional momentum in Africa and the Middle East, where over 56% of RISE initiatives are being implemented. “We’re not designing change from the top down; we’re living it, creating it, and scaling it from the ground up,” she stated.
JCI ESG Chair Anirudh Sistla then contextualized RISE within the global development agenda: “RISE is ESG in action. It’s how young leaders accelerate inclusive growth, climate resilience, and mental well-being. It’s not just local; it’s structural.” He noted that JCI has carried out thousands of SDG-aligned projects in the last five years, making the organization a credible player in youth-led ESG innovation.
Powering Change Through Collaboration
A dynamic panel discussion, moderated by JCI Partnership Director Nathalia Cardenas, brought together four diverse voices: Monika Froehler (Ban Ki-Moon Centre) called for more intergenerational partnerships and urged youth to lead on climate adaptation.
Abbas Sadriwala (AIESEC) stressed the importance of leadership exchanges. Nina Thiel (Social Impact Award) championed co-creation with underserved communities. Lindsey Zuloaga (International Chamber of Commerce) urged the private sector to fund and follow youth initiatives. The panel offered bold, actionable perspectives on inclusive recovery, reminding the audience that youth engagement must be central, not symbolic.
Participants then moved into language-specific breakout rooms in English, French, Spanish, and Japanese, where they shared toolkits, forged new partnerships, and proposed future RISE collaborations in agriculture, digital literacy, entrepreneurship, and mental health.
A Call to Carry the Momentum Forward
The event concluded with closing reflections from JCI leaders, who encouraged participants to take their insights home and translate them into local action. “The real impact begins after this call ends,” one leader noted. “Every RISE project starts with a conversation just like this one.” Participants were invited to submit project ideas, join national RISE task forces, and strengthen inter-organizational collaborations beyond the Forum. As one attendee wrote in the chat, “This is not just a campaign. This is JCI. This is the future rising now.”
The 2025 ECOSOC Youth Forum side event didn’t just amplify youth voices; it elevated youth as co-architects of global resilience.
