The United Nations Association's Youth Platform - Trailblazer Hafiza Samath Shares Her Journey as a Youth Activist
“There will be a thousand people having different opinion than you but if you truly believe in your stance , you don’t have to be afraid to share it!” Today’s woman dreamer Hafiza Samath is named as one of the world’s top changemakers by the UN Foundation's UNITE 2030, and the recipient of the Outstanding Leadership Award from Education 2.0 Dubai for being a trailblazer in the field of education. Her dedicated journey as an activist took off in 2020 and she currently sits as the advisor for United Nations Association Youth Platform, United Kingdom (UNA-YP). Further, she is currently writing a book for a local women and migrant rights organisation where she writes on survivor stories and amplifying their struggles to catalyse a movement of solidarity.A young trailblazer to know, Hafiza reflects on her career to date, how she hopes to inspire other youth around the world, and her next big dream!
1. You are an advisor for the United Nations Association Youth Platform in the United Kingdom. Tell us about this organization and your career journey.
I joined the United Nations Association, Youth Platform, United Kingdom during the pandemic. I started off as a writer and then was voted to take up the Director role. During my tenure as a director of United Nations Association and Model United Nations, I lead the department in establishing connections with the United Nation Associations around the UK, I also worked with Non profit organisations and established connections with British schools. It is important to remember the main aspirations behind UNA YP which is to provide a platform for British youth and to eventually bring them to the UN. It’s a long journey that is still under way. When I started off as a writer the focal points of my articles were to showcase the youth about issues that were not spotlighted or covered by mass media / popular media. The articles I wrote are opinionated articles questioning and providing a solution for the problem at hand. With my nearly three years of commitment, I was then invited to sit as an advisor for UNA YP, UK. To touch about my career journey, I would say that starting off with UNA YP as a writer, I then proceeded to publish more of my work on different platforms. I don’t just write, I also appear as a speaker for different youth events and summits. I mentor students and teach them on the UN SDGs. I am also very keen on the non profit world. I work with non profits for so many different projects. Currently I’m working on a book for a refugee and migrant rights organisation.
2. You are passionate about providing opportunities and elevating the voice of the unheard and youth worldwide. How do you achieve this?
Elevating the youths voices are crucial. With background in project management I spent a huge amount of time establishing and leading educational workshops and events for the youths.
I am currently working with a Canadian friend on “Our Turn to Change”. It is a platform for global youth to convene and share their expertise in activism and volunteerism.
3. You are passionate about mentoring students. What advice do you have for others that are mentoring students?
Appearing as a mentor and also resource speaker for youth / educational events, I realise the importance of honesty and remaining true and genuine with your intentions. Many students have asked me this one question: “how do we begin to make a change” and my answer is always the same which is to ask yourself about your intentions , why do you want to make a change ? If you have a genuine and honest answer for that, then you’re already on the track to making an impact.
Genuineness and honesty is truly scarce these days. It is for the youths to bring this scarcity back and to showcase the world that with being real, and by checking your true intentions , you are not only kinder but wiser and more impactful in anything that you pursue. Therefore, an advice I have for someone who mentors students would be the same: remain honest and true. You will be able to impact so many lives with it
4. A lot of your work experience involves writing. How did you discover writing as a skill and passion of yours? What advice do you have for others looking to use their talents to help others?
I’ve always enjoyed writing. As a child , I wrote short stories in my class room . Especially during short breaks between lessons. My friends tend to enjoy reading them too. As time go by, I got involved with studies and work where I thought drained me. Eventually during the pandemic when we were all locked up in our houses , I thought it will be a good idea to start writing on world issues, especially those that were never reported by big / mainstream media.
My write ups were published on social activist platforms and garnered attention. I was over the moon. I then continued writing for the same cause, which is to write the truth and provide a voice for the unheard.
Few advice I have for budding writers are to believe in your opinions, your opinions and questions are valid. One will not be able to write if they do not believe in their thought process. I believed that my opinions are valid, i fact checked and do my research which in return help me to start writing! There will be a thousand people having different opinion than you but if you truly believe in your stance , you don’t have to be afraid to share it!
5. As the platform for women dreamers, what is your next big dream?
I truly my next big dream is to write a book and have it published. I’m working on it. It will not be easy, but it will surely will be worth it.
Thank you for sharing our story with us! We are excited to have you in our global women’s network!
Bio: Hafiza is named as one of the world’s top changemakers by the UN Foundation's UNITE 2030. She is also the recipient of the Outstanding Leadership Award from Education 2.0 Dubai for being a trailblazer in the field of education. She is recently featured in the 4th edition of “Successful People in Malaysia” Encyclopaedia. Her journey in activism took off in mid 2020 when she was invited by the UN Association of National Capital Area, Washington DC to mentor and teach Model United Nations where she introduced the works of the UN to 5-17 year old public school students around the Washington DC area. In late 2020, she led the UN Association Youth Platform, UK in bringing British youth to the UN. Here she worked closely with the UN Associations across the UK on establishing the UN Youth Delegate Programme. With her work and leadership catalysing Sustainable Development Goals, she now sits as the advisor for United Nations Association Youth Platform, United Kingdom (UNA-YP). Hafiza's involvement with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) has also resulted in her appearing as a speaker for UN Climate Change (UNCC), UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), UN Environment Programme (UNEP), Penang State Government and various universities and organisations. Hafiza recently also appeared in the Malaysian Parliament together with various global country ambassadors , academicians and government officials to discuss Economic resilience and recovery. Hafiza has co-drafted reports that were sent to the United Nations Headquarters, adding a multidimensional perspective through the lens of youth. She also writes for various global grassroot activist platforms. Hafiza's work in activism and writing was applauded by the Executive Chancellor of the city of Penang (Malaysia) at Women Impact Makers Conference last year. Hafiza has previously mentored top 100 changemakers under UN Foundations UNITE2030 last year, where she coached on grassroot activism advancement and techniques. Hafiza is currently writing a book for a local women and migrant rights organisation where she writes on survivor stories and amplifying their struggles to catalyse a movement of solidarity.