From Cardiff to the UN: My Peace and Goodwill mission to Paris & Geneva

Nansi Eccott, a trainee solicitor in Geldards’ Infrastructure and Construction team recently represented Geldards on an ambassadorial trip arranged by the Urdd, here she shares her reflections on her incredible journey.

The Urdd – my involvement through the years

Urdd Gobaith Cymru is a national voluntary youth organisation offering volunteering, apprenticeship, sports, culture, international and many more opportunities through the medium of Welsh. Today the Urdd have around 55,000 members aged 8-25 and in 2024-2025 the Urdd engaged with around 160,000 young people, contributing an estimated £45 million in economic value to Wales.

I have benefitted from the work of the Urdd throughout my childhood and teenage years in Welsh‑medium schools in Swansea, especially through competing in the Urdd Eisteddfod (one of Europe’s largest youth touring festivals) every year. Even after moving to Cardiff for university, and now working at Geldards, the Urdd has continued to be part of my life. I’ve joined choirs locally and most recently competed last year at the Urdd Eisteddfod in Margam Park with Taflais, a Welsh‑medium Cardiff-based choir.

“The Urdd has continued to be part of my life.”

Back in 2022 I came across an advert from the Urdd on social media inviting young people to apply for roles on their strategic boards as part of a newly restructured governance set up. These are voluntary roles for a term of 3 years and following an application and interview I was offered a place on the HR board which oversees and scrutinises the organisation’s Human Resources department. I have just started my second term as a board member.

The Mission to UNESCO….a fantastic opportunity

In January 2026, young board members were invited on a trip to Paris and Geneva to promote the organisation’s Peace and Goodwill Message. This message is unique to Wales having been shared yearly since 1922 and is now shared globally and translated to over 60 languages. Since the 1950s the responsibility of announcing the message on May 18th each year has been held by the Urdd. The message is written by young people and focuses on a different theme annually.

The purpose of our trip was to visit UNESCO in Paris and the United Nations in Geneva following UNESCO’s decision to grant the message Patronage status, the highest level of recognition given to an activity.

Monday …first stop Paris

On Monday we travelled to Paris, which doubled as a chance to get to know the other five young board members on the trip. Some good friends already, others now friends thanks to shared experiences through the Urdd. We were also joined by three young people involved in writing the 2025 Peace Message, which focuses on poverty.

Whilst travelling, we learnt more about the origins of the message. It was first sent by Reverend Gwilym Davies, from Cwm Rhymni, who played a key role in establishing the Welsh Union of the League of Nations and influenced the founding of UNESCO.

“When the message was first sent in 1922 it received one reply from the Eiffel Tower in morse code.”

It was interesting to hear that when the message was first sent out in 1922, it only received one reply and that was from the Eiffel Tower, passing the message on via morse code – a story that made our trip to Paris feel even more meaningful.

Tuesday…onto the British Embassy meeting the UK Ambassador

Tuesday was our busiest day. We began with a visit to the British Embassy in Paris and met with the Welsh Government team based there. It was interesting to hear about their work in promoting Wales’s interests in France and to share with them what the Urdd does, what the Peace Message represents and our work with the Urdd as young volunteers. It was great to hear about their interest in the Urdd’s work and their upcoming plans to showcase and represent Wales and develop connections in France.

“We presented the Peace and Goodwill Message in both Welsh and English.”

Next, we met with Anna Nsubga, the UK ambassador and permanent delegate to UNESCO and her deputy Maxim, both based in Paris. We spoke to Anna about the importance of youth voices, the role of UNESCO in supporting young people globally and how promoting peace remains at the core of their work. We also discussed our roles as young board member and how we give back to the organisation.

After this, we presented the Peace and Goodwill Message in both Welsh and English and gifted framed copies to Anna and the Welsh Government team to mark our visit and highlight the significance of the message for Wales and the wider world.

…and then behind the scenes at UNESCO

We then went to the UNESCO headquarters in Paris. It’s a building you hear so much about and one I never expected I’d actually get to visit. Seeing the flags of the 194 member states outside was a powerful reminder of global cooperation.

Inside, we were given a tour of the building and learnt more about UNESCO’s work promoting world peace and security through international cooperation in the fields of education, science, culture and communication.

“Seeing 194 member states flags was a powerful reminder of global cooperation.”

We also met with members of the organisation’s youth engagement team, presented the Peace Message to them, introduced the Urdd’s work and discussed how young people are placed at the heart of decision-making. They also told us about their Youth Forum and a range of youth-led initiatives.

Wednesday…coming full circle in Geneva

A quiet morning gave us the chance to wander Paris and visit famous sites such as the Eiffel Tower and the Notre Dame.

Later we travelled to Geneva, an important journey as we learnt that the Urdd’s first ever international trip was also to Geneva, back in 1930. It felt full circle to be following in those footsteps almost a century later.

“The Urdd’s first ever international trip was to Geneva.”

Thursday…off to the Palais des Nations home of the UN

On Thursday, we woke up to a very cold and wet morning in Geneva. We made our way to the Palais des Nations, one of the four major offices of the United Nations worldwide. At the UN headquarters, we were given a tour of the building, its impressive conference rooms and learned more about the organisation’s mission and work. We discussed the history of the UN, which was founded after the Second World War as an institution dedicated to promoting global peace, security and international cooperation. The buildings were originally home to the League of Nations and now host thousands of intergovernmental meetings each year. It was surreal to be behind the gates of yet another place I never thought I would have the chance to visit.

We then visited CERN, the European Organisation for Nuclear Research. There we explored the museum and learnt about the intergovernmental organisation that runs the world’s largest particle physics laboratory, made up of 24 member states. The museum was a completely different experience, one I can’t claim to fully understand, but the interactive exhibits brought physics to life and definitely taught me a thing or two!

“It was surreal to be behind the gates of place I never thought I would visit.”

Friday…. Back home to Wales and “a chance to reflect”

Friday marked the end of our trip, a bittersweet journey home but a chance to reflect on an incredible week. We met wonderful people, learnt so much and gained experiences we can take back to Wales, to the Urdd and into our personal and professional lives.

I would like to extend a diolch to the Urdd for the opportunity and to the Welsh Government for funding the trip. Diolch also to Geldards for their support.

I will look back on this week fondly.