"The youth of a nation are the trustees of posterity." - Benjamin Disraeli.

During the first week of the holidays, I had the amazing opportunity to participate in the  Aotearoa Youth Declaration (AYD). I connected with a diverse group of rangatahi who share a passion for driving change in our communities and meeting new people also dedicated to combating social stigma.

Throughout the event, we were inspired by numerous opportunities to learn, particularly from a powerful panel discussion on tikanga that emphasised the essential principles of proper conduct and ethics in caring for our environment, underscoring the importance of guardianship and stewardship. We also engaged deeply with the crucial topic of advocating for civic education in schools, realising how essential it is for young people to grasp their rights and responsibilities as active citizens. Integrating civics education into the curriculum empowers our peers to engage meaningfully in their communities, raising awareness and participating in decision-making processes. Furthermore, we talked about creating youth hub spaces to raise awareness around the stigma of mental health/hauora. This advocacy is vital to ensuring that future generations are equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to create positive change.

I encourage anyone who wants to gain insight into making policies for our country and become our future change-makers in the community to attend this event.

 - Angelica Sabili, Year 13