“It’s up to me to…”

For years, I was an eager visitor to CosmoCaixa, Barcelona’s Science Museum. I used to go there every school holiday when my children were small.

We’d always make a beeline for the giant ice cube, and see who was first to spot the real live capybara in the rainforest.


Early last Sunday morning, I was there for the first time in ages, for a different reason.

It was the venue for the final of the annual 4Voices speech competition, and I had the honour of being one of the coaches.

Now in its fourth year, 4Voices gives teenagers the chance to step onto the stage and speak up about the issues that matter most to them.

This year’s theme, “It’s Up To Me To…”, prompted a variety of topics… and a rollercoaster of emotions.

The messages they shared held insight not just for their peers, but for us adults too.

Here are a few of the gems that stayed with me:

✨ Small acts of defiance can set big changes in motion.
🌱 It’s OK to leave a footprint — as long as it’s a positive one.
🫶 In uncertain times, community matters — let’s reconnect across generations.
🕊️ Our voices can do much more than we think. Including speaking out against war.
🎨 GenZ wants to shape the world on its own terms — not just meet older generations’ expectations.
🌧️ Scrolling is a way to avoid uncomfortable feelings. What if we tried sitting with those feelings instead?
💬 Don’t worry about getting every word perfect, especially in another language. The more you speak in public, the more confident you get.

Amen to that.

I left inspired, and hopeful.

✨ We often say “young people are the future” — but they’re also very much the present.

Let’s listen to them. Learn from them. And cheer them on.