“I lost my home. I lost my mother. But I never lost my voice.” Elihu Jos Benam still remembers when militia men entered his house in the Central African Republic, during a civil war which continues to this day. He was 16 years old. From this haunting experience, he realised the power of freedom of expression. At 23, he established the I YEKE TENE NI, “We Speak,” initiative, which empowers youth to express themselves. It has over 23,000 followers on Facebook - one of the largest followed accounts in the country. Elihu aims to use this platform to inspire a generation of young people into peacebuilding, bringing hope to the country’s youth. How else can social media be used to facilitate peacebuilding? Tell us in the comments 💭 #InternationalDayOfPeace and #GlobalGoals #OYWAmbassador #PeaceIsPossible (fb)

We’re thrilled to welcome Her Royal Highness Maria Teresa, The Grand Duchess of Luxembourg, to #OYW25! 🇩🇪🇱🇺 Her Royal Highness has devoted her life to defending women, children, and the most vulnerable. A UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador, UNICEF Eminent Advocate for Children, and UN Champion for the Fight Against Sexual Violence in Conflict, she has championed education, social protection, and justice across the globe since 1981 🌍 Joining her is Chékéba Hachemi, co-founder of Stand Speak Rise Up! From Kabul to Paris, Chékéba has fought tirelessly for the dignity and rights of Afghan women. As Afghanistan’s first female diplomat, founder of Afghanistan Libre (the country’s first women’s magazine, ROZ), and co-creator of Stand Speak Rise Up! alongside Her Royal Highness Maria Teresa, the Grand Duchess of Luxembourg and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Dr. Denis Mukwege, she has spent decades advocating for education, equality, and justice. We’re honoured to welcome them to our global community of young leaders and can’t wait to hear their insights at #OYW25. 🔔 Stay tuned as we reveal more iconic leaders joining the Summit! #OYW25 #OneYoungWorld #Leadership #Luxembourg (fb)