Global Youth Coalition Member Feature: Matías Iván Schulz

1. How did you first get involved in road safety? 
In 2015, I started to work as a member of the medical rescue team in race car competitions so I saw a car’s power of destruction. Even in circumstances where drivers are prepared and the safety standards are high. At that time, with my mates from university, we thought about and carried out an activity about road safety with people and kids of Miramar - one of the neighborhoods of our city. This was crucial to understanding that we could do something in the road safety field. I thank Pau, Pochi, Nico, Lui, Gime, Lu, Caro y Mauro for this.

2. How long have you been working in the road safety field?
From that moment, I’ve been working in the road safety field. I joined a research group at university called “Grupo Interdisciplinario para el Estudio de la Colisiones Viales” at Universidad Nacional del Sur. We produced the semestral road crash report for the local government. We published a book, where I and my mate Gabriel, focused on drunk driving and road safety.  In the rescue field, I keep working and learning about different types of competitions with cars and motorcycles.

3. Tell us about the work you’re doing now?
Nowadays, I’m working with a research program under Consejo Interuniversitario Nacional, in a project called “Alcohol and Road Crashes”. Of course, I joined the Global Youth Coalition and I’m working with a local network of people interested in road safety to start certain activities such as consultations and thinking groups. We want to see the changes that we demand as a Coalition into a reality in our local context.

4. Why did you join the Global Youth Coalition for Road Safety?
I joined the Coalition because I’m convinced that the future of this world needs a lot of us, the youth, to work as a team and to share knowledge. The severe road traffic problem compels us to dialogue, to work together, and to exchange ideas to further road safety efforts. The Coalition is a great opportunity to do that and to understand that no huge change is made alone.

5. What are your comments on the Coalition? 
I’m very proud of being a member of this initiative. It lets you connect with young people from the entire world and gives the chance of keep learning and improving your personal skills to think and take action for road safety in a local context. There are debate spaces, courses, and a lot of opportunities to grow as an individual and as a group member.

6. Any messages for people who have not yet joined the coalition?
I really recommend you join this initiative. The road safety involves every young girl and boy in this world. Is a problem that we need to solve. And the only way is through the union and the leadership. We need to be prepared for be leaders and guide the changes that we need. Claim our space!!

Matias is from Argentina and he recently served as one of the regional leads for the Coalition’s Global Awareness campaign.