Youth Leadership in Action: Highlights from GEEF 2025

On March 13th, Cherry Sung and Kyla Kim took the stage at the Global Engagement & Empowerment Forum (GEEF) on Sustainable Development, hosted by Yonsei University. As the moderator (Cherry) and a panelist (Kyla) for the session, “Balancing Passion and Practicality: Youth-Led Solutions for a Sustainable Future,” they joined a dynamic conversation about what it means to be a young activist in today’s world.

A Conversation on Activism, Policy, and STEM

The panel featured three inspiring young changemakers: Kyla Kim (16) Jaehyun Han (16) Jeah Han (12)

Together, they explored topics that often define youth-led sustainability efforts:

• Finding their voice in activism

• The intersection of policy, advocacy, and STEM in sustainability

• How youth can drive meaningful, authentic change

The discussion wasn’t just about the successes but also the struggles—how to balance idealism with real-world limitations and how to stay resilient in the face of challenges.

A Special Moment with Former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon

After the session, the panelists received words of encouragement from Former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon himself. It was a powerful reminder that young voices matter and that their efforts are being recognized on a global stage. Cherry also had the opportunity to briefly introduce Greener is Cleaner, sharing how youth-led initiatives can create tangible environmental impact.

Stay tuned for more updates on how we’re continuing to push for action, innovation, and change!