AFS Youth Assembly

Wow! The AFS Youth Assembly just wrapped -- and I'm so energized and inspired by the 700 passionate, talented, empathetic and dedicated young leaders and changemakers from 80 countries around the world who participated this year. A few highlights:  - The AFS Award for Young Global Citizens has been awarded to Diego F. Irrazabal, a 19-year old trailblazer from Paraguay who will receive $10,000 and mentorship to scale up his impactful project on making safe drinking water accessible to remote communities with a portable solar-powered device in Paraguay.  - We recognized Nadia Sarkis Rojas as an Outstanding Youth Delegate from Costa Rica for her achievements in providing medical care and legal advice to vulnerable groups including migrants affected by crises - We launched the Youth Assembly Alumni Network to provide young people with opportunities to create and grow their impact through mentorship, seed funding, skills development, a space for meaningful collaboration with like-minded changemakers within their region and recognition of their work globally. Thank you to all the speakers and partners: In taking part, you have played a key role in helping The Youth Assembly delegates prepare to take on the world’s greatest challenges. Thanks to the support of sponsors, we were able to provide over 150 scholarships to delegates from around the world: DHL bp Sanofi AstraZeneca TOEFL Schwarzman Scholars Global Gateway Advisors AKCG - Public Relations Counselors, the Dr Stanley Ho Foundation and the Cyril Taylor Charitable Foundation. Thanks to all the amazing AFS Intercultural Programs volunteers who support and participated! And to young delegates: As you return home, I hope you carry with you not just the lessons learned, but the sense of purpose that has been so palpable this past weekend. You are the architects of our shared future, and the world needs your leadership now more than ever. Thank you for your unwavering commitment, for your voices, and for your vision of a more just, equitable, and peaceful world.

AFS Youth Assembly, August 16 to 18 2024 I have really enjoyed my engagements at the Youth Assembly and with AFS Intercultural Programs. The Assembly focuses on macro topics linked to all the Sustainable Development Goals, which fit perfectly with the GEM Report UNESCO agenda of articulating and advocating for education's role in the SDGs, and leveraging youth leadership and action for climate action, technology, and consultative decision-making. The gathering's dynamism comes from its highly energetic leadership and staff Daniel Obst Yumna Khan Efrem Fisher Nicole Lebenson Angulo Milena Miladinovic Syed M. Ali Mustafa; highly engaging speakers; and the dynamic young people in attendance from all countries. It was a pleasure to reconnect with Lukas Findeisen Joann Halpern and to hear from Anand Verma (Dr.) on AI. I had the opportunity to: - speak on digital technologies in education panel (Efrem Fisher Mariama Kabia Frederico Menino, Ph.D. @ChristineJaneShiau, The Stevens Initiative at the Aspen Institute, Patrick F.); - facilitate a workshop on education for climate action (with Andrés Peñaloza Lanza); - contribute to a plenary (Yumna Khan Ilan Enverga Asha Castleberry-Hernandez Helmut Schuster Henk Rogers); - listen in and participate in the SDG Zone focus on #LeadingSDG4: Youth-Led Education Transformation for the 2030 Agenda (Ilan Enverga Un Wa Lok Amanda Bennett Rivera) It was also timely to have the chance to highlight 3 different ongoing initiatives: - Youth Petition to express their voice, and for government to transform climate education https://lnkd.in/ew3meBDw - Youth-led consultation and demands on technology in education. Launch in September. https://lnkd.in/e5JYS4AG - Ongoing development of the Youth Indicator, linked to the Transforming Education Summit. The Youth Indicator is likely to be a groundbreaking opportunity. This pioneering effort could be used by other sectors to shape their strategies and processes. As before, in connecting and listening to young people from Nepal, Nigeria, Philippines, Argentina and other countries, you can't help but be moved by their enthusiasm, solutions orientation, and hunger to envision a better world, and #Forgeoursharedfuture together. These are difficult and frustrating times nearly 10 years after the beginning the Sustainable Development Goals agenda and aspirations. Young people and their possibilities are now spoken with more respect and trust. This is due to the leadership young people have demonstrated in holding governments accountable for social justice, climate action, and getting their demands heard. This is an earned respect, and was not given easily. Youth hope, optimism and determination have become prominent and visible. It is time now to turbo-charge youth voice and leadership. Thank you Yumna Khan Daniel Obst and everyone else for the invitation, and for this highly motivated and interesting convening!

Thank you so much for your support!

Thank you so much for your support!

REFLECTIONs from the 29th AFS YOUTH ASSEMBLY ‘It doesn’t always take great things - sometimes it is the small things done in a great way, that end up making the biggest differences ….’ These were the words of a young participant from Malaysia the deeply resonated with me. A theme that was ever present at this summit. I have spent the last few days at the 29th AFS Youth Assembly in Manhattan New York. It was my third time attending in my role as a member of the Leadership Council. Despite already witnessing the power of the previous events, I was once again blown away by the diversity, wisdom and authenticity of the participants. In the corporate world we often talk about safe spaces and inclusion. At the Convene Center where the event took place, it was a reality. I was given the honor to introduce the new alumni program for participants of the AFS Youth Assembly. An important next step to further spread the message of global citizenship and turn this annual summit into a sustainable movement. And maybe, only maybe, this little addition of creating a regional support structure for the 20.000 plus AFS Youth Assembly alumni will exactly be this small thing, that ultimately will turn out to make a huge difference, a tipping point for something much greater. Thank you Yumna Khan for driving this. It matters! My big take away from this conference was that we can trust the next generation of leaders and changemakers to make good choices and lead us to a better, more inclusive and as a result more peaceful future. A big thank you to AFS Intercultural Programs President Daniel Obst for being such a great role model and inspiration for all of us. A big thank you the sponsors and supporters of the AFS Youth Assembly - you are more than sponsors you have become friends. One of my personal highlights was that one participant came up to the podium and asked me to sign her copy of ‘A Career Carol’. Young people still read and appreciate good books that talk to their issues and emotional state. A final thank you to all participants- you are AMAZING! Come back next year to celebrate the YA’s 30th anniversary, and until then be an active almnus/a. #AFS #AFSYouthAssembly #peace #UN

🌏 Incredible first 2 days at the AFS Youth Assembly! Over 700 participants from 80 countries at the UN, with powerful panels on #AI, #Education, #ClimateAction, and more.

Today I’m filled with hope for the future. After meeting so many young change makers this weekend at the AFS Youth Assembly, I leave NYC inspired by their energy, optimism, and creativity. And I look forward to hearing about their future accomplishments. Thanks to my fellow “Leading for Impact” panelists, Amantia Muhedini, Christian Celeste Tate, Henk Rogers & Firehiwot Abebe Mengistie, who were in conversation with me about change leadership, inclusive leadership, and challenges and opportunities for young leaders. We discussed best practices in modern day leadership and strategies to encourage leaders to promote empathy, vulnerability, inter-generational collaboration, and sustainability. As always, so wonderful to connect with fabulous colleagues at the event as well! #youthvoice #intled #changemakers The PIE AFS Intercultural Programs #leadership #YA29 #organizationalleadership

Thank you so much to the AFS Youth Assembly and Yumna Khan for the invitation for the Global Schools Program to lead a workshop at the 29th annual Youth Assembly, titled: "Youth-Driven Innovation in Global Education". It was great to co-lead this workshop with Nene Ibezim. . Global Schools was grateful to be program partners for the third consecutive year and engage in this inspiring event meant to put young people at the center. Thank you to all the delegates and participants that actively engaed in our workshop. Looking forward to future collaborations! . Sustainable Development Solutions Network

What a privilege to represent AIFS celebrating International Youth Day at the United Nations, hosted by AFS Intercultural Programs and the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Malta to the UN, surrounded by 600+ astounding young global leaders participating in the AFS Youth Assembly. It is critically important to invest in empowering these young, yet wise, voices with the opportunities, skills, knowledge and values required to drive positive change, including meeting #SDGs and building peace. With this small glimpse of their ambition and achievements – rest assured, they CAN do it 💪🌍. Inspiring words were shared from diverse voices, from the President of the UN General Assembly to young change-makers. In the wise words of Dr. Fanta Aw, may we all embrace the MINDSET that is global citizenship. #youthday #publicdiplomacy #culturalexchange #empoweryouth #futureleaders

It’s a wrap on the 2024 AFS Youth Assembly! Hundreds of dynamic young global citizens from over 80 countries gathered in New York City over the last three days aspiring to Forge Our Shared Future and take important actions towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. We are certain that each and every one of them will go on to make an impact in their communities.  Highlights from this year’s event include: ⭐ An International Youth Day Celebration ⭐ Program Packed with Engaging Sessions ⭐ Specialized Academies in Partnership with Leading Institutions ⭐ Launching the Alumni Impact Network ⭐ Awards and Special Recognitions ⭐ A Celebration of Cultures Find out more and join us in 2025 by applying now! https://lnkd.in/dxf8HPDq #YA29 #YouthAseembly #AFSeffect #youth