Behind the Curtain: Walking Away from International Advocacy and What Youth Power Really Means

Calling out leaders! Fighting for change! Saving the world! But are we? International advocacy has this allure of altruistic prestige, but when we pull back the curtain, the realities of diplomacy, bureaucracy, and desensitization become clear. The slow grind of global politics takes a heavy toll, leading to burnout and questioning the true impact of it all.

Are we actually making change? Can youth fix the system? Is there any hope? We find out in this powerful episode where  Naomi gets real about her decision to step back from the world of international advocacy, sharing the untold struggles behind the scenes and exploring how youth can still drive meaningful change.

Quote of the day: "you tell me to give you a little bit more benefit of the doubt to angle my face in front of the camera and give you the perfect sound bite of hope and forgiveness… in your charity you make profit… and you tell me about a new UN proposition some politicians lie that you keep cradling between your mouth and your ear… and still 100 dead 200 dead 1500 dead and no negotiation no negotiation no negotiation will bring them back to life"  - Ayisha Siddiqa

Ayisha's Speech: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dp-9szu4Oo
If you're interested in where I worked: https://www.theashleylashleyfoundation.org

Chapters

• 0:00 Intro and confession
• 0:55 Backstory on me
• 2:43 Inspiration and quote for today
• 7:26 Inside of international advocacy
• 9:13 My observations and the lack of urgency
• 11:54 The weight of diplomacy and bureaucracy
• 14:16 The mental toll for youth advocates
• 16:18 Realizing the power of youth in international advocacy
• 17:40 The inevitable desensitisation
• 19:48 Spreading hope and losing hope
• 22:15 The ultimate reason why I have taken a step back
• 23:52 Important reminder
• 26:30 Closing