“It is clear that the legacy of the past still plagues our society.”

After meeting the Elders last month to discuss the challenges facing young people in Northern Ireland today, 17-year old Fíachra Kelly-McElroy urges his country’s leaders to prioritise economic and social issues instead of sectarian politics.

“The Northern Ireland I live in falls short of what was originally envisaged and voted for back in 1998.”

A month after meeting the Elders to discuss the situation in Northern Ireland, campaigner Helen Flynn argues that a peaceful, prosperous future for her country requires politicians to implement all aspects of the Good Friday Agreement, particularly its provisions on human rights.

"There is no sustainable future without the participation of our generation."

Nigerian activist Esther Agbarakwe calls on governments to involve young people in debating the new global development goals agenda.

"Since the first sparks of the revolution, women have defied national stereotypes."

Emad Karim, a young Egyptian who took part in a debate with the Elders during their visit to Cairo in October 2012, blogs about the challenges facing women in Egypt's patriarchal society, arguing that men and boys should be actively involved in the campaign for equality.

"The promotion of sustainable development is perhaps the clearest contemporary manifestation of the human quest for freedom and dignity. And it all comes down to hard work and dedication."

After joining the Elders+Youngers intergenerational dialogue this summer to debate the issues surrounding the Rio+20 summit on sustainable development, Pedro Telles reflects on what he learned.