Story Lab
Making global policy clear, accessible, and inspiring.
Global policies – whether climate action, digital cooperation, or global governance – often feel distant, complicated, and disconnected from everyday life. At the same time, misinformation travels six times faster than facts, particularly among young people who rarely engage with traditional media.
Story Lab, an initiative of the Unlock the Future coalition, was created to bridge this gap. Through powerful storytelling, accessible narratives, engaging visuals, and creative digital formats, we help young people and communities understand the relevance of global decisions to their daily lives.
Why it Matters
In a world overloaded with misinformation and disconnected policy discussions, Story Lab provides clarity, credibility, and connection. By transforming dry policy documents into interactive, inspiring narratives, we help young people feel empowered to participate in shaping their own futures.
Our stories combat misinformation, engage young audiences on their own terms, and foster a more informed, active, and interconnected global community – ensuring policy decisions truly reflect diverse voices and realities.
Projects
The Economy Reboot
Overwhelmed by headlines about debt and disaster, Jacob is pulled into a simulation of the global economy. He uncovers a rigged system, guarded by powerful forces and built to keep young countries trapped in an endless cycle of debt… But what if he could rewrite the rules?
Our Future Agenda Quarterly
A digital magazine that provides timely insights, analysis, and youth perspectives on global issues and key international events, complemented by interactive graphics, practical toolkits, and inspiring stories.
Pact Decoded
A clear, concise guide to the Pact for the Future, designed to help young audiences and communities grasp the key commitments made by world leaders and understand how these decisions could shape their lives.
Our Future Animation Series
A compelling series of short animations around complex global challenges. These visuals connect everyday experiences with global policies, inspiring informed action and meaningful conversations.
Our Common Agenda Decoded
Simplified explanations of Our Common Agenda, breaking down major policy points into digestible content that makes high-level global priorities understandable and actionable for young people.
Our Impact
Story Lab’s projects have made significant strides in building a bridge between young people and global policy discussions.
Reaching
Reaching 40,000+ young people globally through engaging and accessible digital storytelling.
Amplyfing
Amplifying youth and grassroots voices, ensuring authentic community perspectives inform global narratives and policy discussions.
Informing
Informing global conversations at events such as the Summit of the Future, SDG Summit, and Nairobi Civil Society Conference, equipping young changemakers with trusted insights to influence high-level agendas.
Young Advisors
Valeria Colunga
Valeria is a social entrepreneur and international consultant from Monterrey, Mexico. She co-authored Our Future Agenda and represented Mexico at the 2023 Y20 Summit as lead negotiator on youth governance.
Srijani Datta
Srijani is a climate activist and sociology graduate from the University of Oxford. She has led research teams at Youth For Climate India and Fridays For Future Delhi, focusing on youth-led climate action.
Saru Duckworth
Saru is a Nepalese-American development practitioner and Columbia University graduate student. She advocates for economic inclusion and has spoken at global forums on poverty eradication and decent work.
Alejandra Gutiérrez Rodríguez
Alejandra is an international relations student committed to peacebuilding and youth empowerment. She has represented Mexican civil society at the UN and serves as a Youth Peace Ambassador.
Oscar Lopez
Oscar serves as the UNA-USA Youth Observer to the United Nations, representing American youth on global issues. He advocates for climate action, youth mental health, and democratic reform.
Aishwarya Machani
Aishwarya is a Policy Analyst at the Grantham Research Institute, focusing on climate governance and public participation. She previously led the UN Foundation’s Next Generation Fellows, contributing to Our Common Agenda.
Sharon Matongo
Sharon is a lawyer by training and the Co-founder of Charity Drive Zimbabwe. A bright legal mind, she has experience in social justice lawyering in both Africa and Europe.
Alua Samat
Alua is a Kazakhstani student at Bard College and an activist for SexEd, helped create an online game called Not a Shame in December 2022 together with four other students from Bard and the American University of Central Asia.
Ishaan Shah
Ishaan is the founder of Stolen Dreams, a youth-led collective combating modern slavery and human trafficking. He serves as the youngest advisor to the Global Commission on Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking.
Gunraagh Singh Talwar
Gunraagh is an architect and Sustainable Cities Fellow with the Next Generation India Fellows. He focuses on sustainable urban development through efficient resource management and circular systems.
Inés Yábar
Inés is a sustainability activist and former Lead of the UN Foundation’s Next Generation Fellows program. She has been advocating for social and environmental causes since age 15 and currently works with the UN Youth Office as an expert for the UN Youth Leaders for the SDGs initiative.
How to Engage
We invite young storytellers, activists, policymakers, and partner organizations to join us in making global policy clearer, more accessible, and more impactful:
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