Two Young Mauritians Amplify the Youth's Voice at Major UN Forums in Saudi Arabia and China

The Mauritian youth is increasingly asserting itself on the international stage. Members of the Grand River South East Youth Circle (GRSEYC) recently participated in two significant UN platforms dedicated to youth, organized across two continents, showcasing the emergence of a youth leadership rooted in local communities.

In a notable milestone for the organization, the GRSEYC represented Mauritian youth at the UNESCO International Youth Forum, held in Nanjing and Changsha, China, as well as at the UN Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) Global Forum, organized in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This marks a significant recognition of the growing role of youth from small island developing states in global decision-making spaces.

The president of GRSEYC, Chandraveer Lutchmun, was among the 40 international youth leaders selected and fully funded by UNESCO to participate in the International Youth Forum on Creativity and Heritage along the Silk Roads, held from November 17 to 22, 2025, in Nanjing and Changsha. Themed "Digital Innovation and Entrepreneurship: Youth in Service of Heritage Protection and Transmission," the event gathered young people from the Silk Roads and beyond to explore how technology, creativity, and youth leadership can contribute to the preservation of cultural heritage.

For Chandraveer Lutchmun, this participation represented a moment of great pride, both as a Mauritian youth leader and as a voice for the Indian Ocean islands located along the maritime Silk Roads. He highlighted the creativity, resilience, and leadership spirit of the Mauritian youth, while presenting the actions of GRSEYC aimed at empowering coastal and rural communities and preserving cultural identity through mural art, storytelling, community engagement, and innovation.

Simultaneously, Lidesh Jungly, responsible for culture, creative arts, and heritage within the GRSEYC, was selected — and also fully funded — to be part of a delegation of 71 young people from 47 countries at the 11th UNAOC Global Forum, held on December 14 and 15, 2025, in Riyadh. This meeting brought together global leaders, policymakers, civil society representatives, and young changemakers to discuss issues of dialogue, inclusion, and mutual understanding in an increasingly polarized global context.

On this occasion, Lidesh Jungly participated as a panelist in discussions highlighting the role of sports and community values as levers for social cohesion and peacebuilding. His participation underscored the contribution of local initiatives to international debates on intercultural dialogue, while enhancing the visibility of Mauritian and African youth perspectives.

These participations are part of GRSEYC's ongoing grassroots work, which manages to transform local engagement into international outreach. By contributing to major UN platforms in the Middle East and Asia, the organization reaffirms its commitment to empowering Mauritian youth to express themselves confidently on the global stage while remaining firmly rooted in local action and impact.