The new generation has a lot of potential with fresh ideas and views as to how they want to visualize the new society they want to live in. To lead the society with dynamic ideas, we should be bold and rational in making decisions. Leadership is essential to bring in change, for good.
One Young World (OYW) is a London based non-governmental organization which was formed in 2009 by David Jones and Kate Johnson. Its principle is to gather young leaders across the globe to come up with solutions regarding the most concerning issues. This organization identifies, promotes, and connects the world’s most impactful leaders to create a better world.
One Young World hosts an annual international summit for ambassadors and speakers to collaborate and debate innovative solutions for global issues. People who attend the summit range from corporations, non-profits, and governments and the young individuals they influence to provoke a better understanding of age difference 18-30 from 196 countries. The summit intends to turn well-selected delegates into future ambassadors who will be motivated to emerge in leadership positions. It’s counseled and influenced by influential political, business, and humanitarian leaders.
Applicants can apply to participate in the summit either individually or via any organization. Applicants must apply to One Young World with typed essay format answer to questions posed on the application form by a certain deadline each year. At the closing ceremony, delegates graduate to ambassadors and are allowed to join ambassador networks to continue their independent social and environmental initiative work outside of the Summit.
The One Young World Summit, which has been referred to as a “Young Davos”, is an arena where delegates discuss global issues and develop solutions to meet the challenges of the 21st century. Topics are chosen by a survey of former delegates.
The summit is facilitated by counselors who have been politicians, activists, chief officers, musicians, models, and chefs. The Notable counselors who had addressed the delegates are-
· Kofi Anann – He had addressed the delegates at 4 OYW summits.
· Muhammud Yunus – He was a Counsellor at One Young World Summits: 2010 in London, 2011 in Zurich and 2012 in Pittsburgh.
· Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu – He spoke to delegates at the One Young World Summits in London and Zurich.
· Meghan Markle – She was the counselor at OYW and she attended its 2014 and 2016 summit.
· Vicente Fox – He was one among the presidents at One Young World Summit 2014 in Dublin, Ireland.
The intention behind the summit brings together delegates or organizations excelling in different fields belonging from different countries across the world with the idea to do something for the citizens the world by motivating them with the help humanitarians; to help the suffering with whatever possible initiatives to help the common man fight against all odds.
Not only that, but the organization also looks forward to bring people to the right track in order to help gain a healthy natural environment. When a country is hit by natural calamity or plague, the netizens rely on the government to support them. aside from the government, non-governmental associations also aid during an awful crisis like these.
Since the establishment of One Young World, the organizations had held 10 annual summits with over 8000 delegates-
· London, England, 2010
· Zurich, Switzerland, 2011
· Pittsburgh, USA, 2012
· Johannesburg, South Africa, 2013
· Dublin, Ireland, 2014
· Bangkok, Thailand, 2015
· Ottawa, Canada, 2016
· Bogota, Columbia, 2017
· The Hague, Netherlands, 2018
· London, England, 2019
· Munich, Germany, 2020 (to be held)
The Organization has helped out various countries. In South Africa, an association namely “Upcycle Africa” took the initiative to avoid plastic pollution, the volunteers had taken up initiatives to build affordable houses without producing plastic waste and alternative solutions to tackle pollution.
In the Philippines, an advocacy mission was led by “Emanuelle” to empower human trafficking survivors and to put an end to such social evil against humanity. In Zambia, “Agents of Change”, a group of young volunteers instigated to educate the citizens about environmental issues through journalism.
In Spain, “Escuelabs” provides access to the next generation f the country with STEM education through workshops, camps, and summer camps. And many more clusters of organizations under One Young World have taken various steps to bring forward countries dealing with social problems or environmental problems and help them deal with it wisely.
These influential people motivate the new and young delegates to change the world for a better place. This organization has proved to be a prime example that “Unity Is Strength”. This can teach us that if we make use of our capabilities and channel it in the right direction, for our society, we can make it worth living for our upcoming generation.
Nowadays, people barely get time to reach out to their surroundings, let alone make changes. Organizations like OYW can provide us that opportunity to make a difference. It’ll help us get closer to our society and make us realize that there’s a lot for us to explore and achieve. Aside from the connection with society and nature, eventually, it’ll help us inculcate moral values and social etiquettes as to how we can work as a team and communicate efficiently.
Leadership and Team-work are the two main skills required which can help us get through our colleagues. It can make us feel empathy and sympathy towards others; coming up with creative and alternative solutions that can prove to be beneficial for the betterment that’ll educate and instigate common people to follow and promote, which in turn can contribute to a widespread change. There are various pressing issues that will take years to resolve.
Nonetheless, it has the power to motivate the youngsters to take initiatives, even if it’s small. A group of dynamic youngsters with ideas is as powerful as any politician. Why let our youth go to waste when there’s so much that can be done to our neighborhood, society, environment if we make the right decisions. Thus, it’s in our hands to make a sustainable environment and keep in mind that our small day to day life work, our perspective towards our surroundings, our society can be influential, if we proceed in the right path.
