The World Youth Education Forum at the UTS World Youth Festival Malaysia 2025 brought together young athletes, leaders and change-makers for a day centred on honesty, empowerment and collective growth. From the very beginning, hosts Bassam Murthasa from Sri Lanka and Parth Talwar from India signalled that this forum would be different. It was designed not as a lecture hall, but as an open space where young people could speak honestly, challenge assumptions and explore the realities shaping their lives today.
Bassam encouraged everyone to approach the day with openness and curiosity, promising sessions that would not only inform but also inspire. Parth added that in both sport and life, true strength comes not from perfection but from honesty. “What inspires others isn’t perfection, it’s honesty,” he reminded the audience, setting a tone rooted in vulnerability and courage.
Session 1: Young Leaders Unfiltered – Our Truth
The opening session, moderated by Germany’s champion minigolf athlete Sarah Schumacher, introduced a diverse lineup of young leaders: Husnah Kukundawe (Uganda), Leila Malki (Palestine), Stefan Dogaru (Romania) and Benjamin Lee Wei (Malaysia). Together, they explored themes of belonging, cultural identity, the pressures faced by young athletes and the courage required to show up authentically in a world that often demands perfection.
Reflecting on the session, Sarah described the Education Forum as “a very valuable experience.” She explained that “hearing the stories of all the young leaders was truly inspiring and once again gave me the opportunity to take on different perspectives.” She also highlighted the importance of the interactive format, noting that “the workshops about mobbing and sexual harassment were very interactive and provided a safe space to talk about very important yet heavy and difficult topics.”
The unfiltered nature of the discussion created an atmosphere of trust and openness, setting a strong foundation for the rest of the forum and reinforcing the idea that youth leadership is built on honesty, empathy and shared understanding.
Session 2: U-Nite Talks – Harassment
The forum then moved into one of its most necessary discussions: harassment. Delivered by members of the UTS team Belle Tucker and Cheyenne Sheard, the session tackled a topic that affects young people across all cultures and sporting disciplines.
Introduced by the hosts as an issue that touches identity, safety and confidence, Belle and Cheyenne unpacked the emotional and psychological reality of harassment. They explored how it appears in everyday interactions, the silence that often surrounds it, and the importance of recognising boundaries, speaking up and supporting peers who may be suffering quietly. Their open and relatable approach helped normalise conversations that are often avoided, making this session one of the most memorable of the day.
Presenters Chey Sheard and Belle Tucker
Session 3: Because You Can – Youth Entrepreneurship and Leadership Panel
After a short break, the focus shifted toward innovation and action. Moderated by UTS CEO Julia Govinden, the Because You Can panel brought together Heer Hitesh (Uganda), Aya Shata (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia), Vanessa Kujawiak (Poland), Kyra Seow (Singapore) and Sarah Schumacher (Germany).
For Heer, the forum experience was both energising and reflective. “The sessions were honestly super engaging, and I really appreciated how relaxed and supportive everything felt,” he shared. He explained that although speaking during the opening ceremony initially made him nervous, “looking back it was the perfect way to ease into everything and get myself mentally ready for the panel the next day.” Reflecting on the panel itself, Heer added, “speaking on the panel ended up feeling really meaningful and I loved being able to share my perspective while hearing so many others.”
Aya described the panel as an empowering moment in her journey. “It was the first time I shared my story not just as an athlete, but as someone who believes sport can build connection and cultural understanding,” she explained. She added that engaging with the audience reinforced the value of youth voices, saying that “hearing the questions and seeing the audience respond made me realise that youth voices matter.” Aya left the stage feeling “inspired, hopeful, and more motivated to continue this work.”
Kyra reflected on the session as a moment of growth and reflection. “Being part of the panel at the Education Forum was a meaningful experience for me,” she shared. Speaking about her journey encouraged her to reflect on the challenges and progress she has made, and she expressed hope that her story “was able to encourage or inspire someone in the room.” Kyra also highlighted the value of listening to fellow ambassadors, noting that discussions on bullying and Safe Sport were “especially eye-opening” and helped her understand these topics more deeply.
Together, the panel demonstrated that leadership does not begin with certainty or perfection, but with reflection, courage and a willingness to start. The session reinforced a central message of the forum: meaningful change is possible when young people believe in their voices and take action.
Session 4: U-Nite Talks – Bullying
The final education session of the day brought the audience into a deeply personal and emotional space. Presented by Aaliyan Khurram and Suni Allen, this U-Nite Talks segment focused solely on bullying; a reality faced by many young people yet rarely discussed with such openness.
What made this session stand out was the dual perspective both speakers brought to the stage. Rather than addressing bullying in a theoretical or distant way, Aaliyan and Suni shared personal stories from both the bullied and the bully perspective, offering the room a rare and honest look at the complexity behind these experiences.
They spoke about what it feels like to be on the receiving end of cruelty, the isolation, confusion and long-lasting impact it can have on confidence and self-worth. But they also bravely acknowledged times in their own lives where they had been the ones doing the teasing, reflecting on how those actions were shaped by insecurity, peer pressure or a lack of awareness. By presenting both sides, they highlighted that bullying is not always black and white. Sometimes the person causing harm is struggling just as deeply. Their message encouraged the audience to recognise signs early, approach peers with empathy and build environments where accountability and kindness work together.
This session resonated strongly with participants, sparking reflection, connection and a sense of collective responsibility. It reinforced the idea that every young person has the power to interrupt cycles of harm and create safer spaces for those around them.
Closing Reflections
The World Youth Education Forum closed with a strong sense of connection, openness and shared purpose. Across every session, a consistent message emerged: meaningful change begins when young people are given the space to speak honestly, listen to one another and grow together. From unfiltered conversations about identity and leadership, to discussions on harassment, bullying and youth-led action, the forum created an environment where difficult topics could be approached with empathy, courage and respect.
For hosts Bassam Murthasa and Parth Talwar, the day reflected the core values of United Through Sports. Parth described the Education Forums as symbolising “a community that is open to express personal struggles and willing to rise together against these problems,” capturing the supportive atmosphere that shaped the day. He reflected on how sharing experiences openly strengthened genuine connections and deepened the sense of belonging felt throughout the festival.
Bassam echoed this sentiment, describing the Education Forum as one of his most meaningful experiences at the festival. “The session on that day was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had,” he shared, highlighting the inspiration that came from being part of such an engaged and inclusive space.
Bassam and Parth closed with gratitude and encouragement, reminding the young leaders that they do not need a stage or microphone to make a difference. Their voices, choices and courage carry the power to shift communities. The message of the day was clear: “When young people unite, they don’t just talk about change – they create it.”
