ONE activists are presented many opportunities — from the chance to meet with local lawmakers to enact change, to helping you further your activism, and more. And being a part of ONE can help individuals grow both professionally and personally when it comes to their futures.
Preslav Mitranov, a 2016-2017 alumnus of our ONE Youth Ambassador program in Belgium, is weighing in on just that. Here‘s how being a part of ONE helped him.
What are you doing now?
Currently, I am working at the finance department of the European Parliament where I am providing assistance to Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) for the management of their parliamentary assistance budget. My job includes financial responsibilities, reviewing contracts and agreements across the 27 Member States, and of course, a lot of communication and coordination with different stakeholders.
What did you do as ONE Youth Ambassador?
I had the pleasure to be a ONE Youth Ambassador in Belgium for two years, in 2016 and 2017. Apart from meeting a great bunch of friends, I am proud of the small contribution my fellow Youth Ambassadors and I made to the fight against extreme poverty. I took part in many exciting actions, but the one I enjoyed the most was the cooking session with the former European Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development, Neven Mimica. Together, we learned from a professional chef how to cook two nutritious African dishes, while discussing the importance of nutrition, especially in the poorest countries, and what the EU could do to fight hunger and malnutrition. That was a lot of fun!
Throughout my experience at ONE, I was also involved in a campaign for more transparency through the Anti-Money Laundering Directive (AMLD) and advocated for an ambitious EU international development budget that would leave no one behind. I participated in lobby days, stunts, met EU policymakers, and made my voice heard through media and social media networks!
How has this experience contributed to getting you to where you are now?
All of these experiences expanded my research and analytical skills on development topics and contributed to my professional development. My work as a Youth Ambassador with ONE has taught me a lot about the importance of holding political leaders accountable for their words and showed me that our individual efforts do have an impact on the world.
Our Youth Ambassadors are a part of ONE‘s Global Activist program, which is made up of a dedicated team of volunteers who support our campaigns across Africa, North America, and Europe. They encourage the public to engage with decision-makers, sign ONE petitions, and more.
Find out how to become a Youth Ambassador and learn more about the work our YAs do below.
