he United Nations’ Summit of the Future aims to accelerate international commitments and take steps to tackle global challenges. As it approaches, it is incumbent on us to remember this: young people are the future. In the weeks before the Summit, youth from around the world gathered at the 29th AFS Youth Assembly in New York City from August 16–18 to transform their vision for a better future through innovative action. This makes the Youth Assembly a key driver of progress for future generations—one that helps set the stage for the Summit of the Future.
The world faces a polycrisis of intersecting challenges such as faltering trust in our institutions and each other, climate change, and rapid technological advancement. Against this backdrop, this year’s Youth Assembly convened under the theme of “Forge Our Shared Future,” prioritizing solidarity and strong partnerships.
Following consultation with global youth leaders, four areas were identified for this year’s program where challenges and potential for action exist:
- Global Shocks: Tackling Humanitarian Crises
- Future of Education: Leveraging Technology & Innovation
- Transform Our Future: Unite for Climate Action
- Food Security: Strengthen Global Food Systems
Through discussions, workshops, networking, and ideation challenges, hundreds of youths from over 80 countries pursued the objectives to connect and engage, learn and develop skills, and take action and create impact around these areas.
The Youth Assembly demonstrates how youth are stepping up and creating innovative solutions to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). For example, Diego Enrique Fernandez Irrazabal of Paraguay won the AFS Award for Young Global Citizens for his project Mbaretics, which brings potable and safe water to the community of Chaco by using a small solar-powered desalination device. Other finalists included a project that equips drones with specialized algorithms to operate in war zones and disaster areas, an app that helps bridge the technological gap faced by CSOs in India, and a program that designs precision agriculture solutions through web and mobile applications. These are just a few of the many activities that demonstrate the impact youth are creating across technology, education, and more.
Youth came together at the event, showcasing one of the most important factors to achieving the SDGs—solidarity. This accompanies the launch of the Youth Assembly Alumni Impact Network Community by AFS to strengthen connections regionally and globally. Additionally, it underscores the key goal of the Summit of the Future to enhance cooperation. At a time when the deadline to achieve the SDGs fast approaches, youth are forging our shared future. One only needs to look to the Youth Assembly to see it in action.
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Youth are forging our shared future
Photo by Johnny Vacar for the AFS Youth Assembly.
August 22, 2024
As the world faces the intersecting challenges of polycrisis, this year’s AFS Youth Assembly convened under the theme of “Forge Our Shared Future,” prioritizing solidarity and strong partnerships, writes Whitney DeVries.
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he United Nations’ Summit of the Future aims to accelerate international commitments and take steps to tackle global challenges. As it approaches, it is incumbent on us to remember this: young people are the future. In the weeks before the Summit, youth from around the world gathered at the 29th AFS Youth Assembly in New York City from August 16–18 to transform their vision for a better future through innovative action. This makes the Youth Assembly a key driver of progress for future generations—one that helps set the stage for the Summit of the Future.
The world faces a polycrisis of intersecting challenges such as faltering trust in our institutions and each other, climate change, and rapid technological advancement. Against this backdrop, this year’s Youth Assembly convened under the theme of “Forge Our Shared Future,” prioritizing solidarity and strong partnerships.
Following consultation with global youth leaders, four areas were identified for this year’s program where challenges and potential for action exist:
- Global Shocks: Tackling Humanitarian Crises
- Future of Education: Leveraging Technology & Innovation
- Transform Our Future: Unite for Climate Action
- Food Security: Strengthen Global Food Systems
Through discussions, workshops, networking, and ideation challenges, hundreds of youths from over 80 countries pursued the objectives to connect and engage, learn and develop skills, and take action and create impact around these areas.
The Youth Assembly demonstrates how youth are stepping up and creating innovative solutions to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). For example, Diego Enrique Fernandez Irrazabal of Paraguay won the AFS Award for Young Global Citizens for his project Mbaretics, which brings potable and safe water to the community of Chaco by using a small solar-powered desalination device. Other finalists included a project that equips drones with specialized algorithms to operate in war zones and disaster areas, an app that helps bridge the technological gap faced by CSOs in India, and a program that designs precision agriculture solutions through web and mobile applications. These are just a few of the many activities that demonstrate the impact youth are creating across technology, education, and more.
Youth came together at the event, showcasing one of the most important factors to achieving the SDGs—solidarity. This accompanies the launch of the Youth Assembly Alumni Impact Network Community by AFS to strengthen connections regionally and globally. Additionally, it underscores the key goal of the Summit of the Future to enhance cooperation. At a time when the deadline to achieve the SDGs fast approaches, youth are forging our shared future. One only needs to look to the Youth Assembly to see it in action.
