SECTION A
Name: Aurelian Dragoș Mohan
DOB: 11/09/1995
Place of Birth: Brașov, Romania
Education:
- a) Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science, graduated summa cum laude from the Faculty of Political Science from the University of Bucharest; currently attending the Comparative Politics Master’s program of the same institution;
- b) Various courses: International Business Environment and Global Strategy course with the Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore; Data Analysis for Social Scientists course with MIT University; Solving Public Policy Problems: UC Berkeley’s Eightfold Path course with University of California, Berkeley.
Aspired Occupation: Romanian ambassador/diplomat in the Permanent Mission of Romania at the United Nations
Favorite Book: Thus Spoke Zarathustra, Friedrich Nietzsche, and Ispita de a exista, Emil Cioran
Favorite Movie: 12 angry men (1957)
Zodiacal Sign: Virgo
Hobbies: Fencing, chess, philosophy, statistics
Describe yourself in 2 sentences: Constant progress is the basic tenet of my life. Hence, my main goal as a political scientist and UNYD of Romania is to create a milieu that fosters progress for as many people as possible.
SECTION B
Question #1: How would you explain the UNYDP to those who have not heard about it?
The United Nations Youth Delegate Program is one of the most powerful tools a state has at its disposal in order to empower youth. In other words, a government or the national youth council can select Youth Delegates that will represent the young people pertaining to that specific country at the United Nations; during their mandate, they will not only deliver speeches at the aforementioned intergovernmental organization, but they will also work with national and international youth stakeholders for the purpose of improving the standard of living of the targeted group. Moreover, the UNYDs will travel across their country with the aim of disseminating the Agenda 2030 and of raising awareness regarding the most important issues related to youth.
Question #2: What are some of the qualities that the UN Youth Delegate should possess?
Firstly, a UN Youth Delegate must be cognizant about the status quo, the Agenda 2030, all national and international, youth-related mechanisms or strategies, and possess a comprehensively developed network of youth stakeholders. Secondly, he/she should be ambitious and capable to design, organize, and implement multiple projects aimed at solving the issues of young people. Thirdly, the Delegate must have prior experience in the field, be conscientious and meticulous in his endeavors, and exhibit good communication and leadership skills. Finally, he/she should have the capability to (a) readily adapt to new circumstances, (b) work in multicultural environments, and (c) sympathize with young people from different backgrounds.
Question #3: What is the most challenging aspect of being a UN Youth Delegate?
Challenges vary from one country to another and from the mandate to mandate. In my case, time management and the level of inclusiveness were of paramount importance and proved to be the most challenging aspects. In extenso, as a UN Youth Delegate, if you are not able to efficiently manage your time, you won’t succeed in implementing all scheduled projects. Exempli Gratia, conscientiousness is vital in the aforementioned process due to the fact that only a certain rigor in action or judgment can help you plan according to your priorities. Moreover, the reach and impact of your mandate are a function of the level of inclusiveness. In concreto, one must strive to include as many disadvantaged groups as possible and to get in touch with young people not only from urban environments but also from rural areas. This above-mentioned task is extremely laborious and requires a myriad of resources.
Question #4: How has this experience affected your life and the lives of the young people of your community?
Although I had prior knowledge regarding the status quo of youth, my experience related to the UNYD Program helped me to gain even more information on the most vital mechanisms, laws, and strategies that affect the lives of young people both at the national and international level. Furthermore, the per se representation of Romanian youth at the United Nations was one of the most beautiful and empowering endeavors in my whole life. The impact was generated mainly by the opportunity to work with UN policymakers, to deliver a speech at the UNGA or CSoCD, and to observe the dynamics of the United Nations.
The Romanian young people were interested in attending our events and in providing their feedback. Moreover, they demonstrated an eagerness to apply for the UNYDs of Romania Volunteering Program, to offer support in order to organize even more events in their cities or villages, to share their ideas with us, and to identify the main issues they face in their own communities. In other words, I argue that the efforts of the UNYD Program were crucial in fostering youth participation in the policymaking process, in gaining better assistance from local political leaders, in raising awareness about the Agenda 2030, and in outlining a plan for the creation of a nation-wide milieu conducive to progress.
Question #5: Can you share an amusing story with us and our followers?
Question #6: What advice would you give to young people like yourself looking to apply to this programme?
In order to succeed in becoming the next UN Youth Delegate, you must (1) have a plan for your future mandate, (2) be well-informed about the national and international mechanisms and strategies pertaining to youth, (3) be familiar with the main problems of young people, and (4) possess the capability to proficiently promote your previous activities from the field. In other words, be prepared for everything and the probability to be selected will increase.
