On 23 June 2021, the fourth webinar of a series of Youth Webinars on the Futures of Education took place, bringing together six Young Leaders for the Sustainable Development Goals to discuss youth-led initiatives and the futures of education. The discussion was moderated by Karen Mundy, Professor of International and Comparative Education at the University of Toronto, a leading expert on education in the developing world and former Chief Technical Officer at the Global Partnership for Education. The webinar involved stories from the speaker and panellists, discussions on hopes for the future of education and the importance of listening to youth and youth initiatives.
Addressing the gaps in support for neurodiverse youth
Siena Castellon, an 18-year-old neurodiversity advocate and author from Ireland based in the United Kingdom, shared her story during her keynote speech. She spoke about her difficulties during her childhood, her experiences with bullying and the lack of support and resources for young neurodiverse people. When she realized there were no adequate resources for people like her, she decided to create her own. At age 13, Siena created Quantum Leap Mentoring, a website that supports special educations needs students. Recently, Siena also launched Neurodiversity Celebration Week, an international campaign that aims to challenge negative perceptions and stereotypes about autism and learning differences. She drove home the message that young people should not hesitate to act and effect change, and that by working together and taking small steps, they can have a major impact. “You are never too young to make a difference,” she said.