Sindi Gjura, youth empowerment advocate: “My generation is online enough to feel the lack of peace at least once a day”

Date: Wednesday, 10 December 2025

Sindi Gjura, 25, young activist from Albania, empowers young people to lead social change through creativity, community organizing, and youth-driven advocacy. Photo: UN Women/ Ina Omuri — Sindi Gjura, 25, young activist from Albania, empowers young people to lead social change through creativity, community organizing, and youth-driven advocacy. Photo: UN Women/Ina Omuri

Born in 2000, the year the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 1325, Sindi Gjura is a youth empowerment advocate, community organizer, and creative visual storyteller from Tirana, Albania. Through her activism, she contributes to national and international initiatives that advance youth leadership, social change, and the Sustainable Development Goals. In this quick quiz, Gjur reflects on the role young people play in building peace, and why their voices must be heard in decisions on peace and security.

If “peace” were a person, what would they look like, sound like, or say to you today?

If peace were a person, I imagine her like Te Fiti from Moana cartoons - radiant, glowing green, and healing. She would smile softly, welcoming everyone to reflect, reminding them that peace is both powerful and gentle.

To Gjura, peace is radiant and restorative, glowing with a soft strength that invites people to pause, reflect, and feel welcomed. Photo: UN Women/ Ina Omuri — To Gjura, peace is radiant and restorative, glowing with a soft strength that invites people to pause, reflect, and feel welcomed. Photo: UN Women/Ina Omuri

Have you seen or felt the absence of peace? If yes, how did it feel?

I feel like my generation is online enough to feel the lack of peace at least once a day. There's always something happening somewhere, and you can choose not to inform yourself, but that doesn't stop it from happening. Ignorance never brought any good to light. We must advocate for what's right, whether it disturbs our own personal peace or not. If one branch of the tree is on fire, the rest will not come out unscathed.

Have you or your community ever experienced conflict or insecurity? If yes, how did it affect you?

I think I live in a place where conflict has never been far, yet never too evident. You experience insecurity without it being said out loud. It brings a silent fear and a will to flee this place.

Have you heard of Resolution 1325 on Women,Peaceand Security? What does it mean in your context?

Yes, finally adopted in 2000. It gave women an actual voice in decisions made for them. Albania, coming from a patriarchal society for generations, desperately needed and still needs advocacy for women’s voices to be heard and for women to participate in decision-making.

For Sindi Gjura, youth are central to peacebuilding, as they have the ability to advocate, create inclusive spaces, and shape the conversations that move communities forward. Photo: UN Women/ Ina Omuri — For Sindi Gjura, youth are central to peacebuilding, as they have the ability to advocate, create inclusive spaces, and shape the conversations that move communities forward. Photo: UN Women/Ina Omuri

What is missing for young women to fullyparticipatein peace and security decisions?

Although they are sometimes allowed into decision-making spaces, their voices are often not strong enough to advance women's best interests. And when they are, they are drowned out by other voices.

What role do young people play in building peace where you live?

I believe young people are a key factor in building peace. They advocate, participate and engage in conversations about it. I see more and more of them creating spaces where inclusion and peace are the priorities.

With experience in marketing, graphic design, and event coordination, Sindi Gjura has volunteered with the UN Association of Albania, co-founded youth empowerment platforms, and led educational and community programmes across Albania and beyond. Photo: UN Women/ Ina Omuri — With experience in marketing, graphic design, and event coordination, Sindi Gjura has volunteered with the UN Association of Albania, co-founded youth empowerment platforms, and led educational and community programmes across Albania and beyond. Photo: UN Women/Ina Omuri

Do you feel that youth voices are heard in decisions about peace and security?

Not yet. That’s why youth are more inclined to create spaces for themselves rather than appearing at the forefront of mainstream discussions on peace.

What would the world look like if we truly implemented Resolution 1325 everywhere?

If the needs of everyone - not just half the population - were reflected in decisions on peace and security, and if overlooked factors were finally taken into account, I believe the world would resolve its problems through diplomacy, without the need for conflict or physical confrontation, and without putting lives at risk for a false sense of peace.

What’syour message to world leaders about peace, security, and youth?

The inclusion of women directly affects the pace and success of the peacebuilding process - admit them into centers of decision-making.

What are you afraid of?

A world without truthfulness and without love. Very few things keep the world from crumbling, and caring for others is one of them. Indifference is scary and will never stop being so. I am lucky enough to have been raised in a way that I do not understand it.

Sindi Gjura is passionate about building inclusive communities and using visual storytelling to amplify young people’s voices on the issues that matter. Photo: UN Women/ Ina Omuri — Sindi Gjura is passionate about building inclusive communities and using visual storytelling to amplify young people’s voices on the issues that matter. Photo: UN Women/Ina Omuri

What do you dream about?

I dream of creating safe spaces - an actual physical environment, big and spacious - where people can come when the world is too much. Everyone deserves a safe haven. Although I believe each of us can work on becoming this safe haven for their friends, family and communities, we do not all know our capacities. Until humanity learns to care for every person, I would love for there to be a place where I can keep people safe.

Your happiest childhood memory is…

Probably my sister walking me to the park every other day, and on the way there, a tiny bookstore I always insisted on visiting. We could never leave without a book – soon enough, we had a whole library with children’s books at home.

Sindi is passionate about building inclusive communities and using creativity and visual storytelling to amplify young people’s voices on the issues that matter.

This story is part of the Born in 2000 storytelling project under the “Women Lead, Peace Follows” campaign, marking 25 years since the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 1325 on women, peace and security.