As countries across the globe met at the United Nations (UN) General Assembly for the Summit of the Future, a young Monicah Malith was among those speaking at the opening ceremony.
Monicah Malith, who is a former University of Nairobi (UoN) students’ association President and a refugee advocate, addressed an eager audience in New York. She represented African youth and refugees, standing alongside the president of the General Assembly and two other youth representatives.
An elated Monicah was thrilled to share her story with world leaders at a global stage, expressing what an honor it was and her hopes for future engagements.
“Honored to have had the privilege to speak at the opening ceremony of the United Nations General Assembly Summit of the Future, sharing my story in a unique way before global leaders. Grateful for the overwhelming engagement from participants and leaders who are ready to join hands in forging a better future for all. This is just the beginning of a collaborative journey toward positive change!” she said in a statement.
In a speech titled “The Future We Forge”, she highlighted the challenges of generational leadership, inequality in access to resources, and the widening gaps in youth opportunities, calling for bold, courageous action from young people and leaders to build a fair and more inclusive future.
“This moment is supposed to be a bridge to mend the fractures in our trust, to build a future where cooperation thrives…The gaps grow wider still, the structures are rusting. While they talk of reform, our future deliberations must not be rehearsed platitudes, but revolutions of thought,” she said.
Who is Monicah Malith?
Monicah Malith was born on June 26, 1998. She was refugee from South Sudan who came to Kenya and joined the University of Nairobi through the DAFI scholarship.
She fled conflict in South Sudan at the age of 12 with her aunt, travelling in a lorry before arriving in Kenya at Kakuma refugee camp on July 13, 2008.
She enrolled in primary school, a year after arriving in Kenya. She could not read and only spoke her mother tongue Dinka. However, a determined Monicah quickly caught up with her classmates. By the end of her first year in school, she was top of her class and was awarded the title of “most improved pupil” across all classes.
He mother operated a small restaurant at the time back in South Sudan and would motivate her to keep going.
“I will always remember what she told me: I’m sending you to Kenya, and I will suffer for you. I’ll do anything to make sure that you study,” she said in a past interview.
Unfortunately, Monicah lost her father in the final year of high school. That did not stop her striving character. She applied for and received the DAFI (Albert Einstein German Academic Refugee Initiative) scholarship, which got her through university education.
She enrolled in the University of Nairobi to study law, aspiring improve the justice system in South Sudan. She also vied for the presidency of the University of Nairobi Students Association. She won the seat and became the first refugee, female, and international student president of the association.
Her role as a student leader at university reinforced her advocacy efforts, giving her access to various speaking engagements, especially on behalf of the marginalized.
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She has represented young people at various events, including the Ghana Youth Conference, the African Union Summit in Ethiopia, the Global Refugee Forum in Geneva, and the High-Level Political Forum on Africa Day in July in New York before her recent appearance at the UN General Assembly Summit of the Future.
Beyond her role in the student association, she founded the Youth Uplift Network and the Gender Inclusive Community following her passion to champion for the betterment of the lives of refugee students.
“These initiatives aim to support and mentor other students, particularly refugee girls because I am a passionate advocate for increased financial support for refugee students and promoting kindness towards them,” she said in a past interview.
What Is the UN General Assembly Summit of the Future?
The 79th UN General Assembly Summit of the Future was held from September 22 to September 23, 2024, bringing together delegates from countries around the world to foster cooperation on critical challenges and address gaps in global governance.
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The summit also sought to reaffirm existing commitments including to the sustainable development goals (SDGs) and the United Nations Charter and move towards a reinvigorated multilateral system that is better positioned to positively impact people’s lives.
President Wiliam Ruto attended the summit where he called for a drastic change in how countries operate. He said the current multilateralism system has proven inadequate in addressing crises such as climate change, inequality and debt, calling for immediate action to mitigate the situation.
“Today, we have no choice but to reject outdated systems and re-imagine a framework of international cooperation that works for all 8 billion people,” Ruto said.
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