Together We Lead – Young Women Partnering for Equality and SDG Action

Together We Lead – Young Women Partnering for Equality and SDG Action

At the LeadHerShip Young Professional Summit 2025, held on October 11–12 at SIHUB Ho Chi Minh City, Ms. Đinh Thị Ngọc Quý, alumna of the University for Peace and a long-standing international development professional, delivered an inspiring keynote titled “Together We Lead – Young Women Partnering for Equality and SDG Action.”

With nearly two decades of experience in child protection, education, and community development, Ms. Quý shared her vision of youth—especially young women—as powerful agents of change in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

🌍 Where We Are and How We Can Localize the SDGs

Ms. Quý began by presenting the current global and Vietnamese SDG progress, referencing the UN Gender Snapshot 2025 and SDG Index Dashboard for Vietnam. She emphasized that while Vietnam has made steady progress, challenges remain in gender equality, climate action, and sustainable cities.

Her message was clear:

“Localizing the SDGs means connecting global commitments with the realities of our communities—through everyday actions, learning, and collaboration.”

🧭 Toolkits and Skillsets for Local Action

Ms. Quý introduced a practical set of SDG localization toolkits tailored for youth engagement, covering:

  • SDG 4 – Quality Education: UNESCO’s Methodological Toolkit for education and awareness-raising.
  • SDG 5 – Gender Equality: UNDP’s Gender and Recovery Toolkit for integrating gender perspectives.
  • SDG 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities: Rapid Planning Toolkit for participatory urban design.
  • SDG 13 – Climate Action: UNDP’s Climate Box for youth climate education.
  • SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals: UNDP’s Guide to Partnership Building to strengthen networks.

Each toolkit, she explained, provides actionable methods for young leaders to bridge knowledge and practice—turning awareness into measurable impact

💪 Empowering Youth Through Skills and Collaboration

Her presentation also highlighted key skillsets essential for localizing the SDGs:

  • Leadership and Collaboration: Strategic thinking, teamwork, and innovation.
  • Expression and Communication: Storytelling, public speaking, and digital literacy.
  • Social Connection and Adaptive Thinking: Emotional intelligence, gender sensitivity, and intercultural understanding.

Through real-life youth initiatives, Ms. Quý showcased how students can turn learning into action—such as founding “HeForShe Clubs,” running tutoring sessions for underprivileged children, organizing urban gardening campaigns, or launching green campus challenges

🌿 Youth as Partners in Sustainable Development

Closing her talk, Ms. Quý called on all participants to see themselves as partners, not bystanders, in achieving the SDGs.

“Each young person can be a changemaker. The SDGs are not distant targets—they begin with our voice, our actions, and our communities.”

Her keynote perfectly captured the spirit of the LeadHerShip Summit 2025 — empowering women and youth to work together toward a sustainable and equitable future.

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