Mount Gambier teenager Milla Prowse has the world at her fingertips having secured a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity with the UN Youth Australia.

The 17-year-old was recently accepted as one of 16 youths in Australia to embark on the Young Diplomats Tour.

“It is a month-long trip through Europe exploring all the nerdy political things that I am interested in,” Milla said.

“From learning about fascism and Nazism in Poland and Germany, to learning about diplomacy, peace, and revolution in France, The Netherlands, and Belgium, this trip is everything I am interested in and 
more.”

However, at a cost of $9000 the trip is to be self-funded by participants.

The full-time Year 11 student works part-time at The Barn Steakhouse and is seeking sponsorship to help get her there.

“The tour will cost close to $9000 plus spending, and I am hoping to crowd fund at least half of this,” she said.

“I need help to raise money to assist with the costs for this educational adventure.”

Milla said she is seeking sponsorship from organisations and people of key influence, as well as from the community through fun fundraising events.

“Anything that can be donated will be greatly appreciated to fund what will be an unparalleled opportunity,” she said.

Milla has developed a website that goes more in depth about herself, the tour and the UN Youth Australia.

“After finding out about the UN Youth’s ‘European Delegates Tour’, my interest was immediately piqued,” she said.

“Although, I know that I am not a normal teenager. I have a deep-rooted passion for societal change and a diplomatic way of thinking.

“By gathering diverse perspectives and having challenging conversations, I am always looking at the bigger picture.”

Milla attributes her participation and the connections made from the YMCA Youth Parliament program to being exposed to the opportunity with the UN Youth Australia.

For the past two years, Grant District Council has sponsored her participation in the Youth Parliament program, where participants aged 15 to 25 come together to express their perspectives on relevant matters, in the form of writing and debating bills at Parliament House in Adelaide.

“The Youth Parliament Program has strengthened my understanding of parliament and political systems, as well as cementing my passion for global change,” she asid.

Milla said the Young Diplomats Tour combines everything that she is interested in, from modern history, to politics, to European geography and travel.

“I am excited that I will be one of 16 young diplomats representing the United Nations Australia on this tour,” she said.

“This will be a once in a lifetime opportunity that will prepare me for the university courses I am interested in, such as International Relations and Political Science, History, and Law.”

By participating in initiatives like this, Milla said she finds herself surrounded by like-minded people.

“People who challenge my way of thinking and my perspective, while fostering my personal growth and ideologies,” she said.

“I am a passionate ally of our First Nations people, and an advocate for women’s rights, the LGBTQIA+ community and action for climate change.”

The tour departs Melbourne on December 28.

“Landing in Krakow, Poland, our main focus is on nationalism, dictatorships, and their WW2 history, visiting places such as Auschwitz,” she said.

“From there, we will spend New Year’s Eve in Berlin, Germany, where our focus there will be espionage, the cold war, and obviously, Nazism and its power in WWII.

“Then we visit the Hague, in the Netherlands, where the International Court of Justice, and the International Criminal Court are housed.

“Next stop is the capital of the EU, Brussels, Belgium. Here we will be focused on exploring the European parliament, diplomacy, and the power that organisations such as the UN, EU, and NATO hold.

“Then, we will stop in France to learn about the themes of revolution and democracy, as well as the UN’S Security Council, which is the permanent five sovereign states of the UN.

“Our last stop before departing from London is Belfast, Northern Ireland. Here, we focus on sovereignty and colonialism, as well as the IRA, the Irish Troubles, and Brexit.”

The self-proclaimed “change-maker” has a desire to enhance her education and cultural awareness and hopes the community can see how much this trip will shape her future beyond school.

“I wish to make a difference in my own community and hopefully the world at large. It would be a privilege to represent the UN Youth Australia, exploring and engaging with European counterparts,” she said.

Milla will blog her journey which will go live on her website in January 2025.