At just 15 years old, Derin Sezgin is already reshaping the world and he's not waiting for permission. In this inspiring Do the Thing interview, host Stacey Lauren meets Derin after their shared appearance at the United Nations and dives into how he's mobilizing youth across 35+ countries through SDG Youth Connect, a nonprofit raising awareness and action for the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

From building interactive games that teach climate action to helping young people tell their stories on global stages, Derin shares how courage, creativity, and collaboration are the keys to a better future, and how every one of us can make a difference.

Whether you’re a student, nonprofit founder, activist, or parent, this episode will ignite your belief in what’s possible when young people step up and do the thing.

In this episode, you’ll learn:
- What the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) actually are and why they matter
- How Derin turned a school project into a global nonprofit
- The gap between awareness and action and how to close it
- How AI and digital access are changing global education
- What stops people from sharing their stories and how to start

Learn more at: https://sdgyouthconnect.org
Contact Derin: derinsezgin@gmail.com

0:01 — Stacey introduces Derin and their UN connection
4:38 — Why awareness is the gateway to action
10:42 — How Derin scaled SDG Youth Connect to 35+ countries
18:30 — The digital divide and ethics of AI in sustainability
28:00 — Why youth storytelling is the key to global change

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