Hope Begins with a Conversation
Reporter: Haruka Inami, age 12
At Expo 2025 in Osaka, three young people from Japan — among them a university student from Ritsumeikan University and a high school student — had a rare chance to speak directly with the President of Iceland. Their questions touched on some of the most pressing issues we face today, including climate change, peace, education, and mental health.
Rather than delivering long speeches, the President listened carefully and responded to each student’s honest and sometimes emotional questions. The conversation showed how deeply young people care about the world—and how leaders can support them with both wisdom and hope.
As I entered the UN Pavilion at the Expo 2025, I saw a buzzing hologram reading “Peace for every country” floating above a spinning globe at the check-in desk. Around the space, photos of smiling children from different backgrounds decorated the walls. Guided by security, we stepped into a warm, welcoming room to prepare for the interview. As we entered, a sudden wave of words poured from the speakers, and a booming voice echoed through the space. Everyone turned toward the stage. There stood a kind-looking woman in a flower-patterned dress, leaning toward the audience as she spoke.
During the event, three young students were selected to ask the President their unique questions,each of which received a thoughtful and inspiring response. The first student was passionate about medical health, the second focused on the issue of child soldiers in today’s world, and the third asked for advice on how to help improve Australia and its future. The President answered each of their questions with sincerity and encouragement:
First student:
Iceland is known as one of the happiest countries in the world. How does your country support people in becoming self-reliant, and how does that contribute to the well-being of its people?
President Halla Tómasdóttir :
I’m very proud of the creativity that comes naturally to Iceland—not just in our people, but in the land itself. Like Japan, our volcanic activity is constantly reshaping the landscape. That same creativity shines through our vibrant arts and culture, helping us find joy even during long, dark winters.
We’re also proud of developing one of the world’s strongest entrepreneurial ecosystems. When we first introduced the concept, people saw entrepreneurship as something irrelevant—a man in a garage building something no one needs. But we changed that by teaching entrepreneurship to all university students, no matter their field. They worked in diverse teams to solve real problems, and the impact has been amazing.
Now, from elementary to university level, we’re building this mindset into education—teaching self-agency, innovation, and resilience. As the AI era advances, I believe the most valuable skills for youth will be creativity, humanity, and the courage to act. These go hand in hand with traditional learning. Thank you for your thoughtful question.
Japanese University student:
I have a dream—to help end the suffering of child soldiers. When I was in elementary school, I visited a peace museum and first learned about this issue. I was shocked that children my own age were being forced to fight. Since then, I’ve created educational materials, given classes to younger students, and even visited Africa to learn more. But after returning home, I felt overwhelmed and even fell into depression. The problem feels so big. How can I stay strong and keep moving forward without losing hope?
President Halla Tómasdóttir:
Well, the only way I know how to do that is to drop from my head to my heart a little more.And if I have my way, one of the things I hope to do in Iceland as president is really make a bit of a dent in the fact that the mental well-being of young people is not where it should be, but we are not teaching people in school how to deal with this. We’re teaching ourselves a lot of things, but not enough about how to work with ourselves to meet the difficult times with resilience, courage, joy, and a mindset that we can control. So doing something about it is the best antidote to feeling bad.
Australian Activist:
I’d like to bring this experience back to Australia. How can I share what I’ve learned with my friends and inspire my community to take action for a healthier environment, especially in such an open and complex system?
President Halla Tómasdóttir:
Entrepreneurship, creativity, and people who think differently are key to building a more sustainable and better world. I had the opportunity to speak to students at the Leveres Academy, where we supported a leadership program in Australia. It helps young people truly apply themselves to shaping this new world.
My best advice is: don’t sit back and wait for those with traditional power to bring about change. Activate. Use your creativity, leadership, and entrepreneurial spirit in service of shared goals. Countries with abundant natural resources often forget the importance of human potential. Iceland is learning this—we used to rely on fisheries for 80% of our economy, but now innovation and entrepreneurship make up about 40%. We’re diversifying, and I believe Australia is doing the same. Embrace new power. Don’t wait for someone else to act. Return from your journey with all your learnings and personal growth, and apply them to one or more of our shared goals. I’m counting on you.
Ms. Halla Tómasdóttir spoke with warmth and enthusiasm, her expressive gestures and powerful words resonating with me and the audience. I imagined her as strict and formal—like Professor McGonagall. But she was the opposite: warm, approachable, and inclusive to all. Listening to her speech was a truly inspiring and unforgettable experience.
Reporter’s note:
This event was an extremely valuable and memorable experience for me. Meeting and listening to the President of Iceland is something I know I may never have the chance to experience again. Hearing her speak about gender equality and the importance of the younger generation’s actions sparked my curiosity and inspired me to take action for the future. Thank you, Ms. Halla Tómasdóttir, for delivering such an inspiring message to our generation.
Meet the reporter:
I have an interest in reading, and I’ve read many books when I was younger. Some books I loved reading were “The Mysterious Benedict Society”, “The Hunger Games”, and the Harry Potter series.
