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The SDG4 Youth & Student Network hosted a vibrant online event #LeadingSDG4 Together: Realizing the Fortaleza Declaration as part of the Learning Planet Festival.  

Youth and students from all over the world engaged in meaningful dialogue on implementing the , which was adopted at the 2024 Global Education Meeting in Brazil, and which emphasizes equity, inclusion, and financing as cornerstones of education transformation. For young people, these are not abstract priorities—they are urgent realities that directly shape their lives and futures. 

Youth and student voices are indispensable in shaping educational policies and holding stakeholders accountable: they must not be seen as passive participants but as equal partners with an urgent and rightful seat at the decision-making table, driving the transformative change needed to achieve SDG 4. 

This event was more than a celebration—it was a resounding call to action. Over 150 participants joined the discussion, including youth leaders, education experts and representatives from international organizations. As Olga Devic, SDG4 Youth & Student Network member recalled, “Nothing for us, without us!”, was the motto of the event.  

Moving forward, young people call for “Innovation and inclusivity in classrooms to leave no student behind”, as Fatma Taha, Junior Professional Officer in UNESCO Multi-sectoral Regional Office in Beirut, emphasized.  

A major highlight of the event was the interactive regional breakout discussions, where youth participants from Africa, the Arab States, Asia and the Pacific, Europe and North America, and Latin America and the Caribbean discussed region-specific challenges and co-developed recommendations for implementing the Fortaleza Declaration. The insights and recommendations from this event will inform a Youth and Students Recommendation Document (Call for Action), which will be released soon. 

This event reaffirmed the transformative power of youth and student leadership in shaping education policy and implementation strategies. As young change-makers lead the way, their collective efforts will ensure the commitments made in the Fortaleza Declaration translate into meaningful action. 

SDG4 Youth & Student Network members, Le Dolino and Alejandra Molina, attended the International Day of Education 2025 event at UN Headquarters in New York, focusing on “Artificial Intelligence and Education: Challenges and Opportunities”. 

“The landscape of opinions about AI is very turbulent, and some attitudes can be quite strong and pointed. It is important to work towards a collective AI literacy to comprehend AI and its impacts for teaching and learning, but there is also an aspect on how teachers and learners often feel very strongly about AI in the first place,” stated Le Dolino.  

The session highlighted that when envisioning the integration of AI in education, it is crucial that the approach remains human-centered. Navigating diverse perspectives is essential, as learners can be significantly impacted. Worldwide, educators, researchers and students across various countries and contexts commonly express concerns and some sort of resistance – such as being skeptic and opposed to integrating AI into educational systems - and uncertainty, which includes doubts about the effectiveness, reliability, and ethical implications of using AI in education. Young learners, who are already navigating an AI-rich world, face the additional challenge of understanding potentially conflicting narratives from teachers, schools, family members, and education boards about AI and its role in their learning. 

“My experience at the International Day of Education makes me optimistic about the future as I hear representatives from multiple sectors sharing the promise of having AI work for learners and not against them. I look forward to seeing young people continually have a more active stake in making sure this happens,” concluded Le Dolino.

Arlinda Ramqaj, SDG4 Youth & Student Network member, was invited to the UNESCO International Bureau of Education (UNESCO-IBE) roundtable discussion .The world is changing rapidly, and our education systems need to adapt accordingly.  

During the roundtable discussion, A�������Ի岹 Ramqaj emphasized that “now, more than ever, it is essential to invest in education and support all actors involved in the field. Teachers are under increasing pressure to address a wide range of global issues in the classroom, often without adequate support or training. Meanwhile, students are being prepared for an uncertain future - one that can feel overwhelming and unpredictable. Investing in education is one of the most important commitments societies can make, as we must continue to equip students with the right tools and knowledge to navigate an evolving world.” 

Indeed, inadequate financing for education threatens sustainable development. Prioritizing education as a long-term investment will not only accelerate progress towards achieving the SDG 2030 targets for education but will also be foundational in driving progress towards all other Sustainable Development Goals. 

Despite the uncertainties, education remains a primordial lever for positive change. By fostering values of peace, equality, and sustainability in classrooms around the world, we are shaping empowered generations that can hopefully lead to a brighter future.