Students from the Institute of International Education gain confidence to speak up with guidance from Swedish expert

24/10/2024

In today’s world, young voices are often overlooked on critical social issues, despite their valuable perspectives. To affirm that the younger generation has the right to speak up and help shape the world, the Institute of International Education at Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (HUTECH) held a talk show, "Voices for Change: Empowering Youth to Shape the Future,” on October 23.

Students from the Institute of International Education gain confidence to speak up with guidance from Swedish expert 9

The event draws a large student audience

The guest speaker was Siri Ankarfors, a Political Science and Development Studies student at Lund University in Sweden. At 23, Siri has represented Swedish youth, bringing their voices to international forums such as the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) and as a speaker at the Green Economy Forum (GEFE) 2025.

Students from the Institute of International Education gain confidence to speak up with guidance from Swedish expert 24

Ms. Siri Ankarfors, guest speaker at the event

Ms. Siri shared that although politicians, officials, and large organizations are the usual attendees at climate summits like UNFCCC or COP, young people also have the right to speak up. She emphasized that this right gains value only when individuals empower themselves and boldly express their views. For her, change starts with the belief that even the smallest voice can make a meaningful difference.

Students from the Institute of International Education gain confidence to speak up with guidance from Swedish expert 39

Ms. Siri Ankarfors shares her experiences speaking at major international conferences

When asked why she wanted to empower young people to speak up, the young expert explained that society belongs to everyone, and each person has a responsibility to voice their concerns. She encouraged creating a community where young voices are respected, and their rights are protected.

Students from the Institute of International Education gain confidence to speak up with guidance from Swedish expert 56

Students from the Institute of International Education gain confidence to speak up with guidance from Swedish expert 58

Students from the Institute of International Education gain confidence to speak up with guidance from Swedish expert 63

Students from the Institute of International Education gain confidence to speak up with guidance from Swedish expert 65

Students from the Institute of International Education gain confidence to speak up with guidance from Swedish expert 66

Students engage in a Q&A session with Siri Ankarfors

Ms. Siri acknowledged that gaining recognition isn’t easy and that to achieve genuine rights, we need to act now. She highlighted three levels of action: individual (self-education and self-improvement), local (sharing knowledge with friends and family), and community (organizing initiatives, participating in activities). She concluded that when we develop ourselves well, others will listen and respect our opinions.

Students from the Institute of International Education gain confidence to speak up with guidance from Swedish expert 81

The talk show aims to encourage students to speak up on various issues

Emphasizing the theme of the talk show, “Voice for Change: Empowering Youth to Shape the Future,” Siri encouraged students to “be brave,” inspiring them to voice their beliefs and take action for positive change in society.

News: Quynh Anh
Photos: Hoang Nam
Communication Center

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