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Tello was selected to be part of the Youth Task Force for the Future alongside young activists from around the world. She is representing her home country of Colombia. According to Plan International, the organization behind the task force, “The Youth Task Force for the Future includes 35 young people aged 15 to 24 from 22 countries. It acts within Plan International’s focus areas of gender equality, girls’ rights, and leadership, and is engaging in research, policy advocacy, and campaigning ahead of and during the Summit of the Future.”

While in New York with the task force, Tello took part in bilateral meetings with diplomats and representatives from UN member states. She used her time in these meetings to advocate for inclusive and gender-responsive language in the documents that would be presented during the upcoming UN General Assembly, Summit of the Future.

The Summit of the Future aims to strengthen international cooperation to ensure the UN delivers fully and fairly on existing agreements while enabling nations to respond effectively to new threats and secure sustainable futures for present and future generations.

“Representing the Youth Task Force for the Future has been one of the most transformative experiences of my life, and I consider that this is how meaningful youth engagement should look,” Tello said. “I feel equipped with all the necessary knowledge and skills to be able to speak on behalf of the 30 young advocates from around the world I've been working with to draft the 'Girls Pact for the Future.'”

Tello started her work as an environmental advocate and girls’ education activist two years ago after she moved to Germany to attend United World College Robert Bosch College. In 2022, her activist efforts led her to the UN, where she shared a speech about the importance of feminist leadership and girls’ education in Latin America. That same year, she participated in the Paris Peace Forum.

Her recent experience in New York gave her more one-on-one time with global leaders, which allowed her to advocate on more specific issues.

“This was an amazing experience because, typically when you go to these big spaces where global leaders congregate, you don't have time to talk to diplomats one-on-one,” Tello explained. “However, we were able to talk to diplomats individually this time, and I was specifically able to talk to the Colombian representative about domestic issues that concern me.”

One of the things that have helped Tello make this experience transformative was the capacity-building sessions that helped her identify key priorities for girls around the world. These sessions consisted of workshops and discussions in which participants could freely share their experiences and concerns.

Tello urged those she spoke with to not only look to the future, but acknowledge the mistakes of the past.

“One main point I discussed with the diplomats was that while thinking about the future, we should also acknowledge the mistakes of the past,” she said. “We haven't really talked about the past in those different conversations. How can we ensure we have a better future when we do not look at the mistakes of the past? I think specifically about how we are failing many countries that are experiencing conflict, and therefore we are leaving behind voices of the girls in those areas of conflict. I want us to think about how we can include these girls in the future as well.”

Currently, Tello is trying to gain a sponsorship so she can attend the Summit for the Future in New York later this year. The international relations major expressed thanks for Assitant Professor of Philosophy and Politics Chad McCracken's International Law course, which she felt equipped her to discuss important issues on an international scale.