The One Young World Summit opened yesterday in Johannesburg, South Africa making it the first time in Africa. It will take place from 2-5 October 2013.
One Young World was founded in 2009 by David Jones and Kate Robertson. It is a London-based charity that gathers together young people from around the world, helping them make lasting connections to create positive change.
The charity organisation stages an annual Summit where the young delegates, backed by the One Young World Counsellors, debate and formulate solutions for the pressing issues the world faces. No youth-dominated event outside the Olympic Games brings together more countries than One Young World.
Kofi Annan at the Summit Opening Ceremony |
At the opening ceremony, Kofi Annan, Sir Bob Geldof & Professor Muhammad Yunus addressed 1,250 young leaders at the FNB Stadium.
Reflecting on the shortcomings of his own generation Geldof warned the delegates: “You cannot afford to let your generation fail.”
Professor Yunus said to delegates: “You are lucky to have been born in an age where what was impossible is becoming possible. Each one of you is capable of changing the whole world. Feel that power inside of you and make use of it.”
After each Summit, the newly-minted One Young World Ambassadors work on their own initiatives or lend the power of the One Young World network to those already in existence. Of those in employment, many return to their companies and set about creating change from within, energising their corporate environment. Since the 2010 Summit, One Young World Ambassadors have been creating change on a global level. Previous initiatives have included the presentation of The Missing Millennium Development Goal to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon and the creation of the first-ever African Student Leaders Summit.
To date, almost four million people have been directly impacted by the work of One Young World Ambassadors. There are currently more than 130 projects and initiatives involving in excess of 100 countries.