The 43rd WFUNA – (World Federation of United Nations Associations) Plenary Assembly focused on “Boosting Partnership for a Better United Nations” was held from November 7-10, 2023 in Tbilisi Georgia.
The assembly elected Sri Lankan Rakeeb Mohamed Zawahir to the Youth Advisory Council for Asia from 2023-26. He is currently serving as President of UNA-Sri Lanka’s Youth Forum leading and directing the executive committee and its members.
Through this role, he engages the youth of the association in projects related to the SDGs, as well as directing members and conducting training to ensure the projects are executed effectively. Once a month, Rakeeb presents the activities of UNA-Sri Lanka’s youth division to the National Executive Committee. He is a life member of the association.
A notable project organised by the UNA youth forum was headed by Rakeeb includes a beach cleaning project, through which he selected a committee to develop a project proposal to submit to the Government municipality council for approval and to raise funds for its implementation.
The project was approved. Rakeeb and members of UNA-Sri Lanka gathered with friends and young members of the community for a day of listening to music while everyone helped to clean the beach.
Rakeeb saw this as an example of how youth can gather to enjoy working hard and together to create a clean and safe environment for the community. Among other projects are book donation drives and blood donation camps that were successfully implemented in various parts of the country.
Rakeeb Zawahir is a student at S. Thomas College, Mount Lavinia and pursuing his Advanced level examination. He also plays rugby for the school’s 1st XV while captains the 2 XV team. One of the highlights of his journey was being awarded the prestigious President’s Scout Award in 2022. With this appointment Rakeeb will be working with the global team of youth leaders
