De Morais Barbosa Saraiva João Davi, began his unique journey of advocacy when he was invited to the 80^th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in 2025, where he would never have imagined his voice would be presented on such a globally prominent stage.

João Davi, with his work A Duty of Care in the newspaper The Education Issue at the UNGA exhibition.

Being the invited speaker and host of the event, he shared that his participation was both challenging and fulfilling. Alongside global leaders and representatives from big tech companies, he felt nervous about speaking English in a highly professional setting at first, but his genuine concern for social issues of early childhood development in Brazil kept him focused. What mattered most to him was the substantial impact of his actions - how more childcare centres were being built and thousands of children would benefit. Though the preparation required dedication and prioritisation, this made him realise that his efforts were actually making a difference.  

The UNGA has not only fostered João Davi’s personal growth, but also left a lasting impression on him, as he noticed that most people want to contribute, but lack clear directions. Through this experience, he gained confidence and improved his communication skills, and most importantly, he further developed a stronger desire to connect local community action with global governance. For other young people, he hopes his journey could demonstrate that age and background do not limit one’s ability to make changes. He encourages his peers to believe in themselves and grasp every opportunity when available.

João Davi (left) and other Global Youth Ambassadors of Theirworld with The Education Issue.

João Davi was presenting to Jerome Foster II, an environmental activist, at UNGA. 

Written by:
Hanson Ye
Year 1, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine
April 2026