Every academic year, a student from the University has the opportunity to become the UN Youth Representative of Close the Gap, as part of their master degree. The Youth Representative will attend conferences at the UN, acting as a bridge between Close the Gap and the UN. Two major topics of this partnership are ICT4Development (ICT4D) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which closely fit Close the Gap's mission to bridge the digital divide.

Abdul-Aziz Abdul-Rahman, Close the Gap's Youth Representative for 2018-2019

This academic year, we have the pleasure to welcome Abdul-Aziz Abdul-Rahman, originally from Ghana, as our Youth Representative. Abdul is a master student of Social Work at Fordham University, who is also working at the New York City Administration for Children Service. In this organisation, he is a Child Protective Specialist whose work contributes to the general safety and well-being of children in New York.

Dean of Fordham University, Elaine P. Congress

The partnership between Close the Gap en the UN Youth Representative is also moderated by the Dean of Fordham University, Dr Elaine P. Congress. At the United Nations she represents the International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW) that includes professional associations from over 120 countries with over 2 million social workers from around the world. Each year she also oversees a group of graduate students in their work at the United Nations.

We are looking forward to working with Abdul and we are also grateful for his future contributions at UN conferences and meetings in name of Close the Gap.