WEBVTT

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
I now will give the floor to Milena Dudasova,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
also Youth representative

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
from Slovakia.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
Madam, you have the floor...

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
10 seconds.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
10 seconds is what it took to Thomas Edison

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
to invent the lightbulb.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
In exactly the same amount of time we´re sitting here

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
brilliant man changed the history.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
Short while, but preceeded by years of preparations

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
and thousands of mistakes.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
This is just one example,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
but my main question for you today is:

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
Is youth getting prepared and being supported

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
for unique stories and discovery moments like that?

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
Dear Mr. Chairman,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
ladies and gentlemen,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
Distinguished delegates,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
it´s really an honor for me to speak here

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
at the United Nations General Assembly today

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
on behalf of young people from Slovakia.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
What I would like to emphasize today is

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
the problem of general phenomenon of low expectations towards young people.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
Edison started developing his laboratory when he was 10,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
founder of American Red Cross, Clara Barton,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
started nursing at the age of 14.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
George Washington, at the age of 16, became a great land surveyor.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
Historian Friedrich Heer made a following comment in this regard:

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
"At their time period, young men and women like that

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
were nothing unique."

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
Today, however, people in their age are only considered being teenagers

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
and majority of adults would be pretty sceptical

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
about credibility of their work.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
My question is WHY?

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
Approximately 50% of the world population is YOUTH.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
Can we see that in our economies

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
that half of the population is in their most productive years?

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
Being young is currently perceived as not being capable enough,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
so let me give you a question:

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
How old do you think the word teenager is?

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
Most of the people would say 500 years or 200...

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
The answer is

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
that the 1st documented usage of the word teenager is

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
from 1941.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
That´s not even 100 years ago.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
For me that was pretty unbelievable,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
but more unbelievable is the radical change in usage of young years in general.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
Until 20th century there were only 2 categories:

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
kids or adults.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
The dividing line between those 2 groups was determined

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
by one´s responsibility and independence.