Youth, Democracy, and the Power of Collaboration - A Bruneian Perspective 🇧🇳

One week in Tokyo for the Democracy Youth Summit hosted by Japan Youth Council from 13th August 2025-18th August 2025 was nothing short of eventful, unexpected in many ways, but exactly the journey I needed. Coming from a monarchy state, it was eye-opening to be part of a Democracy Youth Summit and to observe how different governance systems shape dialogue and action.

💡 3 Things I’m Taking Home:
1) Real impact matters. Summits are important, but what counts most is when discussions translate into real action on the ground.

2) SDGs require collective action. As highlighted by Kaoru Nemoto, UNIC Director in Tokyo during her closing remarks, only 18% of the SDGs are currently on track. It’s a reminder that localising global goals is crucial and that we cannot afford to lose hope.

3) Politics is a privilege. And with privilege comes responsibility: to use influence and opportunity for the benefit of others.

🎤 My Highlight
The panel on climate action and gender equality was especially meaningful. Listening to peers from different countries share their challenges and solutions gave me new perspectives, while also allowing me to contribute insights from Brunei. It was a powerful exchange of ideas grounded in our diverse realities.

🤝 Encounters That Inspired Me
The participants themselves. Their energy, encouragement, and genuine passion for strengthening their communities left a lasting impression. Seeing how young people from different corners of the world dedicate themselves to nation-building has motivated me to keep pushing forward in my own work and how young people can create impact regardless of political structures.

⚡ What Challenged Me?

Turning Dialogue into Action
Summits bring a lot of great ideas, but the real test is ensuring they don’t stay as conversations. The challenge I took to heart is figuring out how to convert collective inspiration into concrete, sustained initiatives.

🌍 My Biggest Takeaway
I’ve learned that collaboration is key. No matter how different our contexts, when youth come together to share ideas, struggles, and solutions, we create momentum that no one can achieve alone. Real change for the SDGs will only happen if we keep building on each other’s strengths and stay connected beyond the summit halls.