How do four students end up organising a United Nations dialogue?
"If someone had told me at the start of the semester that I would be discussing the future of space with people from around the world, I probably would have laughed.
My name is Chiara, and together with Luca, Corvin and Lise, I started Value Creators with completely different interests. Some of us were interested in education, others in psychology. At that point, we were not even working as a team yet.
Everything changed during a conversation about what kind of impact we wanted to create. Through discussions with our coach María, we came across an ambitious idea: creating a new Sustainable Development Goal focused on space. At first, it sounded impossible. Why would four students with almost no background in space try to contribute to a global discussion about the future of outer space? But that question only made us more curious."
Learning something completely new
"The first months were a deep dive into a world we knew very little about. We spent countless hours reading about space sustainability, international law and the rapidly growing private space sector. We contacted experts, attended meetings and asked as many questions as possible.
The more we learned, the more convinced we became that space deserves a stronger place within discussions about sustainability. Space technologies already influence communication, climate monitoring, navigation and many aspects of daily life. At the same time, challenges such as space debris, outdated regulations and increasing geopolitical interests are becoming more urgent. What fascinated me most was that we were not simply studying these issues. We were actively contributing to conversations about them."
From an idea to the United Nations
"One of the biggest turning points came when we discovered the United Nations UN75 Dialogue initiative. We decided to submit our idea and, to our surprise, were invited to organise an official dialogue. We were thrilled, but also slightly terrified.
Suddenly, we had to organise an international online event without any previous experience. We needed speakers, a platform, participants and a way to facilitate meaningful discussions. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, everything had to happen online.
There were moments when it felt overwhelming. Every time we solved one challenge, another seemed to appear. But through persistence, networking and a lot of teamwork, things slowly started falling into place. What began as a single Zoom meeting with someone who believed in our idea eventually helped us build the foundation for what became SDG 18: Space for All(opens in new tab). We connected with experts from different sectors, gained media attention and built a growing international network of supporters."
Creating impact beyond the classroom
"The day of the dialogue is still one of the most memorable moments of my studies. Participants from 41 countries joined the discussion. We received dozens of questions, heard diverse perspectives and facilitated conversations about the future of space and sustainability. After months of preparation, everything suddenly became real.
What made the experience so special, was realising that our work was reaching far beyond the classroom. We were contributing to international discussions, connecting people across disciplines and helping to raise awareness about challenges that will shape the future of humanity's presence in space.
Looking back, I am proud that a project which started as an idea between four students developed into an initiative with global reach. The Value Creators module taught me that meaningful change often starts with curiosity and the courage to pursue an idea that seems far too ambitious at first. Most importantly, it showed me that students do not have to wait until after graduation to make an impact. Sometimes, all it takes is one idea, a motivated team and the willingness to ask: what if we actually try?"