From Dreams to Reality: My Unforgettable Journey at APFSD 2025 in UNCC Bangkok

 

One fine day, my conversations with people are often filled with dreams.

"I really want to work in a field related to the United Nations (UN) abroad," I said enthusiastically.

"That’s an incredibly tough dream. Forget about working there, just getting an internship at a UN office is extremely competitive," replied a young man who always wore short pants. 😆

Photo with my team on the road in front of the UN ESCAP building

Today, February 24, 2025, marks a historic moment in my life. For the first time, I stepped into the United Nations Conference Center (UNCC) in Bangkok, Thailand. Never in my wildest dreams did I expect to attend the 12th Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development (APFSD) as a delegate representing the International Movement of Catholic Students (IMCS) Pax Romana and the International Youth Training Centre (IYTC).

APFSD is an inclusive annual intergovernmental forum aimed at reviewing and supporting the progress of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the regional level. The forum is organized by the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP).

Standing in front of the UNCC building, I felt as if I were in New York, where the UN headquarters is located. However, entering this venue was not as easy as I had imagined. Security was extremely tight, requiring an official invitation with a unique barcode and passing through strict screenings similar to airport security. My team and I went through the first security checkpoint, only to face a second screening before reaching the registration desk to print our participant badges.

Unfortunately, I only had access to the Side Events, not the Main Event. Our organization was only allowed to send a maximum of four people to the Main Event, but we arrived as a group of eight. As a result, four of us were not granted full access. While the Main Event was taking place, we spent time outside, exploring the exhibition booths lining the terraces on each floor.

My name card and the souvenir, flashdisk

At the registration desk, we received our participant badges along with a small souvenir, a flash drive with the United Nations ESCAP logo. I felt both excited and nervous, unsure whether I could contribute effectively in this forum. However, with confidence, I took the escalator to the second floor to check the meeting rooms. Along the terrace, various exhibition booths from international organizations showcased fascinating information.

I didn't miss the chance to take photos at the photobooth and among the rows of world flags, an iconic UNCC feature.

"I really want to take a photo inside ESCAP Hall. Let me know when the Main Event is over or when the room is empty so I can enter," I asked my friend who had full access.

Finally got photo inside the ESCAP hall

Me and my friend tried to be focus on the Main Events inside the ESCAP Hall

Finally, on the second day, I managed to enter the ESCAP Hall. I quickly captured the moment inside. I was amazed by the grandeur of the hall. I also tried the translation device, but since there were no speakers at that moment, it was not working. I waited for the opportunity to use it when the Main Event started. It turned out that UNCC provided interpretation services in six official UN languages: Arabic, Mandarin, English, French, Russian, and Spanish.

The facilities at UNCC were excellent. Numerous workspaces were equipped with ergonomic desks and chairs, complete with multiple sockets in the center of each table. The WiFi was exceptionally fast. It was truly an incredible experience! However, the weather in Bangkok during February, as summer began, made the atmosphere a bit hot.

During the four days of this forum, my team and I not only participated in discussion sessions but also visited various NGO offices relevant to our organizations for exposure and networking.

Here are my reflections on each day of APFSD 2025:

📍 Day 1 at APFSD 2025! I felt honored to represent IMCS & IYTC at APFSD, a significant forum bringing together governments, UN agencies, civil society, and youth to review the progress of the 2030 Agenda and SDGs.

This year, the forum focused on five main goals:

✅ SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

✅ SDG 5: Gender Equality

✅ SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

✅ SDG 14: Life Below Water

✅ SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

I also had the opportunity to network with inspiring organizations such as Save the Children, INFID (Indonesia), WMAM (Malaysia), and the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative, which focuses on climate action and clean energy.

📍 Day 2 at APFSD 2025! The second day was filled with discussions on SDG implementation through Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) and private sector partnerships. I attended various discussion sessions and joined the Bangkok Consultation on the Global Agenda 2025, initiated by APSD, ADA, GCAP, and GS WATCH.

📍 Day 3 at APFSD 2025! We examined regional progress in achieving the SDGs. Some of the challenges still faced include:

🔹 SDG 3: Mental health issues and road safety remain major concerns.

🔹 SDG 5: Women's representation in decision-making is still low.

🔹 SDG 8: Youth unemployment and gender pay gaps continue to be critical issues.

🔹 SDG 14: Stronger cooperation is needed to protect marine ecosystems.

🔹 SDG 17: Financial challenges and rising costs of food and fuel slow down progress.

I also attended a discussion on gender equality and social inclusion in climate and energy policies with the Center for Women’s Resources.

📍 Day 4 at APFSD 2025! On the final day, we consolidated the insights gained throughout the forum. We also visited several NGO offices to explore potential collaborations.

This experience has been incredibly valuable. It reinforced my belief that working for the UN or an international organization is not an impossible dream. I will continue to learn, grow, and contribute to the world!

✨ Dream big, work hard, and make it happen! ✨

Exhibition Booth Area

 -------------------------------(BAHASA INDONESIA VERSION)---------------------------------------

Perjalanan di APFSD 2025!

Saban hari, percakapan singkatku dengan seseorang selalu dipenuhi dengan impian.

"Aku pengen sekali kerja yang ada hubungannya dengan UN (United Nations) di luar negeri," ucapku penuh semangat.

"Mimpimu itu berat sekali. Jangankan bekerja, untuk magang di kantor UN saja persaingannya sangat ketat," jawab pria muda yang hobi memakai celana pendek.

Hari ini, 24 Februari 2025, adalah momen bersejarah dalam hidupku. Untuk pertama kalinya, aku menginjakkan kaki di United Nations Conference Center (UNCC) di Bangkok, Thailand. Tak pernah kusangka, aku berkesempatan menjadi delegasi di 12th Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development (APFSD), mewakili International Movement of Catholic Students (IMCS) Pax Romana dan Indigenous Youth Training Centre (IYTC).

APFSD merupakan forum tahunan yang berskala antar-pemerintah guna mendukung tindak lanjut dan peninjauan kemajuan Agenda 2030 serta Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) di tingkat regional. Forum ini diselenggarakan oleh Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) dan menjadi wadah bagi berbagai pemangku kepentingan untuk berkolaborasi dalam mencapai tujuan pembangunan berkelanjutan.

Saat berdiri di depan gedung UNCC, aku merasa seperti sedang berada di New York, tempat kantor pusat PBB berada. Namun, memasuki area ini tidaklah semudah yang kubayangkan. Keamanan di sini sangat ketat, dimulai dari pemeriksaan izin masuk dengan barcode khusus hingga pemeriksaan ketat layaknya di bandara. Aku bersama timku berjalan melewati pemeriksaan pertama, namun ternyata masih ada pemeriksaan kedua sebelum akhirnya kami sampai di meja registrasi untuk mencetak kartu identitas peserta.

Sayangnya, aku hanya mendapatkan akses untuk Side Event, bukan Main Event. Organisasi kami hanya diperbolehkan mengirimkan maksimal empat orang ke Main Event, sementara kami datang dengan jumlah delapan orang. Empat di antara kami tidak mendapatkan akses penuh. Saat Main Event berlangsung, kami hanya bisa menunggu di luar sambil mengunjungi berbagai exhibition booth yang berdiri megah di sepanjang teras setiap lantai.

Di meja registrasi, kami mendapatkan kartu peserta beserta suvenir kecil berupa flashdisk dengan logo United Nations ESCAP. Aku merasa senang sekaligus gugup. Aku khawatir apakah aku bisa memberikan yang terbaik dalam forum ini. Namun, dengan penuh keyakinan, aku melangkah ke lantai dua menggunakan eskalator untuk mengecek lokasi ruangan. Di sepanjang teras, berbagai exhibition booth dari lembaga dan organisasi internasional berdiri dengan informasi yang sangat menarik.

Aku tidak melewatkan kesempatan untuk berfoto di photobooth dan di antara deretan bendera dunia yang menjadi ikon UNCC.

"Aku ingin sekali berfoto di ESCAP Hall. Tolong kabari kalau Main Event sudah selesai atau kosong, biar aku bisa masuk," pintaku kepada temanku yang memiliki akses ke Main Event.

Akhirnya, di hari kedua, aku berhasil masuk ke dalam ruangan ESCAP Hall. Dengan cepat, aku mengabadikan momen di dalamnya. Aku sungguh terpana dengan besarnya hall tersebut. Aku pun mencoba alat translator, namun karena tidak ada pembicara yang berbicara saat itu, alat tersebut tidak berfungsi. Aku menunggu kesempatan hingga akhirnya bisa menggunakannya saat Main Event berlangsung. Ternyata, UNCC menyediakan layanan interpretasi untuk enam bahasa resmi PBB: Arab, Mandarin, Inggris, Prancis, Rusia, dan Spanyol.

Fasilitas di UNCC sangat nyaman. Ada banyak ruang kerja dengan meja dan kursi ergonomis, lengkap dengan multiple socket di tengah-tengah meja. WiFi di sini juga sangat cepat. Sungguh pengalaman yang luar biasa! Namun, cuaca Bangkok di bulan Februari yang mulai memasuki musim panas membuat suasana sedikit gerah.

Selama empat hari di forum ini, aku dan tim tidak hanya mengikuti sesi diskusi, tetapi juga mengunjungi berbagai kantor NGO yang relevan dengan organisasi kami untuk melakukan exposure.

Berikut adalah refleksiku setiap harinya selama APFSD 2025:

📍 Day 1 at APFSD 2025! Aku merasa terhormat bisa mewakili IMCS & IYTC dalam APFSD, sebuah forum penting yang mempertemukan pemerintah, PBB, masyarakat sipil, dan pemuda untuk meninjau kemajuan Agenda 2030 dan SDGs.

Tahun ini, forum berfokus pada lima tujuan utama:

✅ SDG 3: Kesehatan dan Kesejahteraan yang Baik

✅ SDG 5: Kesetaraan Gender

✅ SDG 8: Pekerjaan Layak dan Pertumbuhan Ekonomi

✅ SDG 14: Kehidupan di Bawah Air

✅ SDG 17: Kemitraan untuk Mencapai Tujuan

Aku juga berkesempatan untuk berjejaring dengan organisasi inspiratif seperti Save the Children, INFID (Indonesia), WMAM (Malaysia), dan Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty yang bergerak di bidang aksi iklim dan energi bersih.

📍 Day 2 at APFSD 2025! Hari kedua dipenuhi dengan diskusi tentang implementasi SDGs melalui Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) dan kemitraan sektor swasta. Aku menghadiri berbagai sesi diskusi serta bergabung dalam Bangkok Consultation on the Global Agenda 2025 yang diinisiasi oleh APSD, ADA, GCAP, dan GS WATCH.

📍 Day 3 at APFSD 2025! Kami melacak kemajuan regional dalam pencapaian SDGs. Beberapa tantangan yang masih dihadapi di antaranya:

🔹 SDG 3: Masalah kesehatan mental dan keselamatan jalan masih menjadi perhatian utama. 🔹 SDG 5: Representasi perempuan dalam pengambilan keputusan masih rendah.

🔹 SDG 8: Pengangguran pemuda dan kesenjangan upah gender masih menjadi isu utama. 🔹 SDG 14: Perlindungan ekosistem laut memerlukan kerja sama yang lebih kuat.

🔹 SDG 17: Tantangan keuangan dan kenaikan harga pangan serta bahan bakar memperlambat kemajuan.

Aku juga menghadiri sesi diskusi tentang kesetaraan gender dan inklusi sosial dalam kebijakan iklim dan energi bersama Center for Women’s Resources.

📍 Day 4 at APFSD 2025! Di hari terakhir, kami menyimpulkan berbagai insight yang didapat selama forum. Kami juga mengunjungi kantor beberapa NGO untuk menjajaki kerja sama lebih lanjut.

Pengalaman ini sangat berharga bagiku. Aku semakin yakin bahwa impian untuk bekerja di UN atau organisasi internasional bukanlah sesuatu yang mustahil. Aku akan terus belajar, berkembang, dan berkontribusi bagi dunia!

✨ Dream big, work hard, and make it happen! ✨

During the Side Event in the meeting room

With Indonesian Delegates

With Ms. Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana (Indonesian), Executive Secretary of the UN ESCAP

With friend from Japan, Lin

With Prim Rajasurang Wongkrasaemongkol, 16 years old, Youth Representative UN Forum

Office work space in UNCC

Thank you for visiting my blog! Have a good day!