Furkan Yıldız, an international relations graduate and active volunteer from Türkiye was drawn to the Youth Policy Dialogue event by the prospect of direct interaction with policymakers.
He highlighted the role of young people in adapting to evolving global challenges, stressing the importance of providing them with resources and opportunities to contribute to crisis preparedness. Furkan also highlighted the need for transnational cooperation, particularly in leveraging new technologies for damage assessment, communication, and mapping.
When I received the invitation, I was excited by the idea of policymakers listening to young people in a meaningful way. The fact that the event brought together a small group of young people from different countries made it even more special.
Furkan sees young people as key to improving crisis preparedness. With technology constantly changing, he believes they can help create new and better ways to respond to emergencies.
“We are the generation that is growing up in an ever-changing world. As new technologies emerge and societies evolve, preparedness strategies must also keep up. Young people hold the key to innovative solutions, and we need to be trusted with the opportunities to shape them.”
He emphasised that youth engagement should not be limited to occasional discussions but supported by concrete opportunities, funding, and resources that allow them to take action.
If young people have the right resources and long-term support, they can bring fresh energy and creativity to crisis preparedness. But without meaningful investment, our potential will not be fully realised.
Challenges in crisis response
One of the biggest problems, according to Furkan, is that disasters do not impact all communities equally, and those who are already vulnerable—such as ethnic minorities, migrants, and people with disabilities—often face the highest risks.
“Disasters don’t just impact one group of people. We live in an interconnected world, and every crisis affects multiple communities. We need preparedness strategies that consider the needs of all communities, especially the most vulnerable.”
He also pointed out that new technology can help make crisis response faster and more effective. Mapping systems, better communication tools, and real-time data can all help emergency teams reach people more quickly.
We may come from different countries and experiences, but at the end of the day, we all want to make the world safer and more prepared. This event showed that solidarity and respect for different perspectives can lead to real change.
A shared goal
For Furkan, one of the best parts of the event was realising how much the participants had in common.
To Furkan, this dialogue was just the beginning. He hopes that in the future, young people will have more chances to play an active role in shaping crisis preparedness policies.