Ashraf AboArafe
New York – In a powerful display of youth leadership and innovation, Dr. Sandy Salem, a third-year medical student at Ain Shams University and Youth Ambassador for Peace at the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), delivered a moving speech to world leaders during her participation in the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Youth Forum on 14/18/2025, held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.
https://youtu.be/vkx6TxV-ufM?si=4XpLcWQqxJWUo7hq
Representing the voices of Arab and African youth, Dr. Sandy Salem spoke during a high-level session, calling on decision-makers to abandon symbolic representation and work diligently to engage youth as effective partners in shaping the world’s future.
The ECOSOC Youth Forum is the primary platform provided by the United Nations to engage youth in discussions on the Sustainable Development Goals and the 2030 Agenda. Held annually under the patronage of the President of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), with support from the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), the Office of the Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth, and several international youth organizations, the Forum aims this year to highlight the role of youth in preparing for the upcoming “Summit for the Future.”
Dr. Sandy Salem delivered her remarks at a ministerial roundtable attended by prominent UN figures, including the President of the Economic and Social Council, His Excellency Ambassador Bob Rae, the UN Assistant Secretary-General for Youth, Dr. Philippe Boullère, and the session’s moderator, Dr. Sameh Kamel, Secretary-General of the Major Group for Children and Youth.
Dr. Sandy began her remarks by saying: “I don’t just represent youth; I am part of a generation that is already building the future. Involving youth in high-level decision-making is not a luxury, it’s an urgent necessity.”
She recounted the story of her innovation, which began at the age of 12 when she met a deaf and mute person. This encounter led her to develop SIMON, an AI-powered smartwatch that helps people with hearing and speech disabilities communicate instantly with others.
“When I first gave this device to a user, he cried and said, ‘Why did you think of us?’ That moment changed my entire life,” she said with emotion.
Dr. Sandy emphasized that compassion and determination are the true drivers of change, not necessarily expertise or resources. She added, “We young people don’t wait for the future—we create it. But we need guidance, confidence, and real support to expand the impact of the solutions we create.”
Dr. Sandy participated in several side events of the forum, most notably “Youth at the Forefront: Harnessing Science and Social Inclusion for Sustainable Development,” as well as the launch of the “Qatar Youth Delegates to the United Nations” program, which was organized in collaboration between the Ministry of Sports and Youth and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Qatar, in coordination with the Permanent Mission of Qatar to the United Nations and UNICEF.
The event was attended by prominent figures, including Her Excellency Ambassador Alya Ahmed bin Saif Al Thani, Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations; His Excellency Engineer Yasser bin Abdullah Al Jamal, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Sports and Youth; and Dr. Philippe Boullère, Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations. Dr. Sandy also took a group photo with the Qatari delegation, as part of her ongoing commitment to strengthening youth diplomatic presence in international forums.
Her participation also received widespread media attention, as she was interviewed on UN TV Arabic, where she spoke about her journey in medicine and technology and the importance of designing innovative tools that serve the most vulnerable groups in society.
In the interview, she said: “My study of medicine stemmed from my deep desire to understand the human body so that I can develop technologies that address gaps in access to healthcare.”
Dr. Sandy Salem concluded her talk with an inspiring message to the world’s youth: “Don’t wait for permission to lead, or for the perfect time to make a difference. Act now. Be brave, creative, and compassionate. Your communities need your energy, your ideas, and your courage—now more than ever.”
“One world, one humanity.”
to all.. 
