24th Session of the Youth Assembly
The 24th Session of the Youth Assembly under the theme “New Horizons for Global Youth” was held from 8th-10th August 2019 at George Washington University in Washington D.C., USA. The event was organised by the Friendship Ambassadors Foundations (FAF) formally associated with the United Nations Department of Global Communications.
The FAF initiated the Youth Assembly in 2004 in response to the growing need for youth representation in global dialogues. It is held twice a year and describes the Youth Assembly as “a platform where the Friendship Ambassadors Foundation brings together the foremost young leaders who want to learn, engage, and take action to solve global challenges”.
The programme included: insightful keynote talks, thematic discussions with panels of experts in various areas of interest, hands-on skill-building workshops, impact challenge presentations by inspiring delegates, award ceremony, cultural fest, and networking sessions. The Conference programme agenda included four focus areas namely: Human Development, Peace and Security, Environment, and Technology.
Hundreds of young people from around the world participated in this inspiring event. A young adult (YA) of the Sathya Sai International Organisation (SSIO) had an opportunity to attend some of the sessions, mainly focused on Environment. The sessions on this topic explored the rising environmental threats at regional and global contexts, including climate change, pollution, loss of biodiversity and potential new solutions.
During the networking session, as well as at the workshop and group discussions, the SSIO representative had opportunities to share works of the SSIO and the SSIO International Young Adults Programme, including the SSIO engagement in the Environmental & Humanitarian affairs. She also had a chance to speak about the importance of behavioural change, how change can start from each one of us and how the SSIO Environmental Programme through its YA ‘Serve the Planet’ global initiative and Environmental Sustainability Committee are encouraging such through ‘Ceiling on Desires’ practices and the 5 Universal Human Values.
Delegates left the Conference motivated, energised, informed and further equipped to face challenges, seize opportunities, and catalyse change for the betterment of their societies and communities. Furthermore, all delegates received a Certificate of Completion for their participation.
