X-Change from GOAL NextGen explores themes of global citizenship in a changing world. In this season, host Katja Mia chats with young artists, activists and changemakers on the theme of ‘belonging’. Through a series of curated questions, we will explore the food, art, stories, culture, and the challenges facing the places they call home.

This episode's guest is Angel Arutura. Angel is a multifaceted creative at the intersection of activism, education, music, and wellness, renowned for her impactful work as a speaker, content creator, and advocate for racial equity and climate justice. Beyond her advocacy Angel is a passionate cold-water swimmer, promoting the importance of connecting with nature for mental and physical well-being. As a DJ she uses music to cultivate spaces of healing and joy as an extension of her creative expression.

X-Change from GOAL NextGen explores themes of global citizenship in a changing world. In this season, host Katja Mia chats with young artists, activists and changemakers on the theme of ‘belonging’. Through a series of curated questions, we will explore the food, art, stories, culture, and the challenges facing the places they call home.

This episode's guest is Nhial Deng. Nhial was born in Ethiopia, where his father had settled after fleeing the first Sudanese civil war. When Nhial was 11, his West Ethiopian village was attacked, and he had to flee to a refugee camp in Kenya that would become his home for over a decade. Now living in Canada, Nhial is a storyteller, youth advocate, and community activist. Nhial’s work focuses on ensuring that young people in displacement contexts and conflict-affected areas have access to education.

Items Discussed In This Episode:

Forced to Sin by Emmanuel Jal

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-vjGPY0gI8

More About Nhial's Work

https://www.chegg.org/global-student-prize-2023-winner

X-Change from GOAL NextGen explores themes of global citizenship in a changing world. In this season, host Katja Mia chats with young artists, activists and changemakers on the theme of ‘belonging’. Through a series of curated questions, we will explore the food, art, stories, culture, and the challenges facing the places they call home.

This episode's guest is Tuqa Al-Sarraj. Born in Palestine, Tuqa is a Dublin-based multidisciplinary artist who studied Fine Art Media at NCAD. She is currently based at FLUX Studios and her work navigates themes of memory, loss, and exile through social dialogues and personal conversations.

Items Discussed In This Episode:

About Wajib (Film)

https://ifi.ie/film/wajib/

https://variety.com/2017/film/reviews/wajib-review-1202520838/

The Baghdad Modern Art Group

https://theartwanderer.co.uk/the-baghdad-modern-art-group-birth-of-arabian-modernism/

Ramparts (Poem)

https://www.elliottcolla.com/blog/2015/1/25/jabra-ibrahim-jabra-ramparts

The Thread of Home (Art Project)

https://www.instagram.com/the.thread.of.home?igsh=MTdvOHNydHMwNGxxaA%3D%3D

Episode 3 was recorded in Dublin at the launch of ‘Spark’ - a music and visual art project where Artists and Musicians from across the globe, collaborated and shared ideas, sounds, learnings and cultural nuances.

Our host on the night was RTÉ presenter and activist Emer O’Neill and thr guests included James Gomez Thompson, The Great Oven founder, Amanda Adewole the activist and content creator, and Vikki Walshe, GOAL Global Citizenship Manager.

This is Episode 2, recorded in Dublin at the launch of ‘Spark’ - a music and visual art project where Artists and Musicians from across the globe, collaborated and shared ideas, sounds, learnings and cultural nuances.

Guests include singer Celaviedmai, designer Paula Roldán and spoken word artist Adam Mohomad. You’ll also hear from music producer Edna Martinez and artist Grace Enemaku.

Celaviedmai, designer Paula Roldán and spoken word artist Adam Mohomad. You’ll also hear from music producer Edna Martinez and artist Grace Enemaku.

X-Change, The Podcast: Episode 1

Recorded in September 2023 at EARTH RISING, a four-day festival aimed at addressing the climate crisis and inspiring collective action towards a sustainable and hopeful future.

Four young GOAL NextGen ambassadors took part in a discussion about their own experiences with the climate crisis in their communities, and how they are working in creative ways to affect change.

Host: RTÉ presenter, writer and activist Emer O'Neill.

Ambassadors:

Clodagh Sulley (Ireland) - applied Social Sciences graduate from the University of Galway. Her final year dissertation was on whether art can be used as an effective method of climate change communication.

Josh Marikopo (Zimbabwe) - a writer with a degree in Tourism operations and Wildlife Management. He is a Youth Representative for Scouts and a sexual reproductive health rights activist.

Bezawit E. Liro (Ethiopia) - software engineering student who volunteers for Sele Enat Charitable Organisation which aims to support children and families facing hardship.

Denis Wembi (Uganda) - Project co-lead at Youth CAST, a platform that gives young people a voice in decision-making processes. He Runs 'Progress Reads', a specialised library on global citizenship and the Sustainable Development Goals.

ABOUT GOAL NEXTGEN X-CHANGE

GOAL's NextGen Youth programme brings young people together from all over the world to deepen their understanding of Global Citizenship. We believe that deeper and longer-term engagement is the best possible way to support a generation of young people who are passionate about a fairer and more sustainable future. X-Change is all about the creative exchange of ideas across the globe - driving creative endeavours that inspire and create positive change.