Ethiopia

On November 16, 2024, the African Union Chairperson’s Youth Envoy, Ms Chido Cleopatra Mpemba, supported by the United Nations Foundation, the World Economic Forum and Global Shapers will convene a High-Level Ministerial Youth Town Hall titled: “Multilateral Governance: Reigniting Youth Leadership for Today and the Future.” The Town Hall will spotlight Africa’s Panel of the Future, highlighting the need to transform multilateralism, placing youth leadership at the center, including the priorities of African young people to be integrated into future policies. The discussions will enable views from young people, ministers, policy makers, heads of state and stakeholders across various sectors.

Plastic Pollution INC-5/Republic of Korea

This Town Hall aligns with the Youth and Stakeholder Assembly on Plastic Pollution, taking place on November 24 in Busan, Republic of Korea. This strategic gathering will bring together youth voices and diverse stakeholders, providing an intergenerational platform for coordinating and amplifying advocacy efforts for a plastics free future.

Find out more about Plastic Pollution INC-5

Costa Rica

The Intergenerational Peace Conference of San José will focus on engaging participants in an interactive and intergenerational dialogue, presenting solutions and good practices to advance the commitments from the Future Summit. The event will take place on December 10, International Human Rights Day, and follows the 76th anniversary of the abolition of the Army in Costa Rica.

USA/Mexico

This Town Hall, organized by the UCSD Design Lab, UN Foundation, World Design Capital, YMCA of San Diego County, and YMCA of the USA will engage an intergenerational, binational audience to capture perspectives on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border. A series of events are taking place in the region between September and November 2024, and a culminating Town Hall will be held on December 7.

More: Invitation, Survey

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Poland

This Town Hall will take place alongside the 2024 European Scout and Guide Academy, a unique event designed to provide participants with high quality training and networking opportunities around the core priorities of the WAGGGS and WOSM European Regions.

South Africa

This Intergenerational Dialogue, co-hosted by the UN Foundation, YMCA South Africa, Engage South Africa, and the Leading Like Mandela Institute, will take place at the African Leadership Academy in Johannesburg, South Africa on November 30, 2024. This event is structured around six critical and forward-thinking dialogue themes, which will be led by an intergenerational pair of facilitators.

Spain

This Town Hall, organized by the Federación Española de Guidismo, took place on October 19-20, 2024 as part of the organization’s 40th anniversary. Around 100 young leaders and subject matter experts gathered in El Escorial, just outside of Madrid, to discuss and amplify the visions of the local communities across Spain regarding the Sustainable Development Goals.

African Union

On September 27, 2024, the United Nations Department of Global Communications (DGC), in collaboration with the African Union Chairperson’s Special Envoy on Youth (AU OYE) and BBC Africa, gathered 12 Young Africans alongside UN Deputy Secretary General Amina Mohammed to engage on the Future of Africa. During this Town Hall Discussion, which occurred on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, young people provided their perspectives on pressing issues and offered solutions to promote growth, prosperity and a sustainable future across the continent. Among them were members of the newly launched Africa’s Panel of the Future, supported by the UN Foundation, who engaged in a reflective discussion on the critical role African youth play in addressing the climate crisis and shaping global governance.

In the Press: The Herald; AllAfrica; Lerenifleur224; TheObserver; SpikedMedia; Bambouguinee.com; Pan African Visions; Spiked Media (Intl Girl Day); sportywaynewsnet; gemnation

Sweden

On September 11, 2024, Shared City Foundation, in collaboration with the UN Foundation, hosted “För en bättre framtid” (For a Better Future), a Town Hall centered on promoting global cooperation for a better future. The discussions addressed a range of global challenges such as poverty, hunger, education, health, climate change, and peace. The Town Hall gathered participants across generational boundaries and diverse sectors, exploring how Sweden can face the great challenges of our time with courage, hope, and purposeful action.

Blog

Sierra Leone

On August 27, 2024, the Ministry of Information and Civic Education, in partnership with Purposeful and the United Nations Foundation, hosted various stakeholders to discuss the future of peace and national cohesion in Sierra Leone. The event aligned with a historic milestone for Sierra Leone, as it was elected to a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for the period of 2024-2025.

Livestream

Mexico

The Intergenerational Assembly: Building a Collective Vision For The Future, hosted by Enseña por México, took place in Tlatelolco, Mexico City on August 29, 2024, where 150 children, youth, policymakers, educators, and experts gathered to envision a future where Mexico had the opportunity, support, and sustainability to thrive. The town hall focused on key issues for the country such as intergenerational justice, youth activism, climate action, peace and security, global governance, youth and education, sustainable development and technological innovation. This event provided a platform for strengthening a community of changemakers from every generation who are passionate about empowering young leaders and driving sustainable change.

Report

Egypt

From August 17-23, 2024, Scout leaders from 176 Member Organizations participated in three International Town Hall sessions. These sessions were organized in collaboration with the UN Foundation at the 43rd World Scout Conference in Cairo, Egypt, engaging over 1,500 delegates from 174 countries. Seasoned decision-makers, young leaders, and attendees committed to making a positive impact in their communities were invited to share their expertise, including 18 speakers and government officials from both the Global North and South who used the platforms to address key issues shaping the future.

Coverage:

Leaders of the present and future to meet for a pivotal intergenerational town hall. Read…

UN Deputy Secretary-General Mohammed highlights Scouts as key leaders in tackling global challenges, praises World Scouting’s role in youth empowerment. Read…

In the News

Brazil

The Brazil Futures Town Hall was hosted by Observatorio Internacional da Juventude in partnership with the Igarapé Institute on August 16, 2024. The event, which occurred in Rio de Janeiro in alignment with the Rio de Janeiro World Capital campaign, gathered approximately 60 young activists, peace promoters, and representatives from youth organizations committed to promoting peace. It facilitated open dialogue and generated recommendations for international forums on key issues, including food security and food systems, constitutional rights for intergenerational justice, energy transition, and climate security.

In the Press: Diariodorio

In the News

India

On the International Youth Day, August 12, 2024, over 200 students, policymakers, diplomats and social influencers came together to discuss India’s future at Youth Sabha 2047 in New Delhi. The event, co-hosted by the Council on Energy, Environment, and Water (CEEW) and the United Nations Foundation, included diverse panel discussions, fireside chats, and in-depth breakout sessions focused on cities, health, oceans, food, and energy. Prominent speakers included the UN Resident Coordinator Mr Shombi Sharp, UNSG’s SDG Advocate Ms Dia Mirza, and Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma, the first Indian in space, among others.

In the press: Mint, Economic Times, The Print, NDTV, Telegraph India.

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Indonesia

The Unlock coalition hosted a two-part intergenerational town hall in Indonesia, focusing on the theme “Standing Strong with Girls and Youth in Indonesia Towards 2100 Vision.” The first event, held on July 30 in partnership with Plan International, emphasized youth empowerment and included insights from UNDP’s SDG Push Diagnostics and Signals Spotlight platforms into discussions. The second town hall, held on September 7 in Jakarta, attracted hundreds of participants and featured youth activists alongside high-level representatives from the Ministry for Human Development and Culture and UN Women Indonesia.

Report

USA

On June 2, 2024, UNA-USA hosted an Intergenerational Town Hall as part of their 2024 Leadership Summit in Washington, DC. Each year, the summit brings together over 250 activists, and during this year’s Town Hall sessions, intergenerational Americans shared their ideas for what the United States, and the world, should look like by 2100. They shared bold visions that reflect a deep commitment to the principles of justice, equity, and sustainability.

Young leaders engaging with United Nations decision-makers

Ishaan Shah

Lead Fellow

India/UK, 22

Co-Founder of Stolen Dreams, a youth-led initiative working globally to combat modern slavery and human trafficking through education, advocacy, and policy engagement.

Currently serving as a Global Organizing Partner of the Women’s Major Group (created at the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro), and Lead Analyst for the Pact for the Future Implementation at the Coalition for the UN We Need (C4UN). Ishaan is also the youngest Member of the Global Commission on Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking, he advises efforts to strengthen national legislation and eradicate forced labor in global supply chains.

Ishaan has served as an advisor to several United Nations entities, including UN Women, UNODC, UNESCO, and the UN Youth Office, and his work focuses on strengthening intergovernmental processes across the UN system, with an emphasis on transparency, accessibility, and localisation.