By Yasmeen Yusuf (YES 2019-2020, Bahrain, placed by ASSE in Miamisburg, OH)

Three years after Yasmeen’s first experience representing Bahrain as a YES student in the U.S., she landed in New York City to fulfill that role again, this time at the AFS Youth Assembly. The AFS Youth Assembly is a global platform which cultivates an international network of young leaders.

The conference theme was “Break Through to a Better Future.” It brought together young leaders and changemakers from all over the world for a unique learning experience. Yasmeen represented Bahrain along with eight other outstanding Bahraini youth. It was so inspiring to hear the stories of the delegates’ impact on their communities.

The Youth Assembly opened with a celebration of International Youth Day at the United National headquarters in New York City. After that was a whirlwind three days of keynote talks, discussions, and skill building workshops. One of Yasmeen’s greatest takeaways from the conference was recognizing the need for youth involvement in decision-making. Youth are the writers of tomorrow, so it is necessary to have them at the front lines of building a better future.

After returning home to Bahrain, Yasmeen also had the fantastic opportunity to share her experience at the Youth Assembly in an interview with the United Nations Information Center.