News Article: Youth Leads The Way at The EU Global Gateway High-level Youth Event 

by Eeyeng Lim
Global Youth Mobilization

Brussels, 9-10 October 2024 

At the EU Global Gateway High-Level Youth Event, Global Youth Mobilization (GYM) Youth Representatives and Big Six Youth Organisations’ (Big Six) Representatives emphasized the significance of mobilizing young people in creating sustainable development in their local communities, through access to funding.  

In the landmark gathering that united global youth leadership, the Youth Empowerment Fund was featured as a testament of collective youth impact, the unique international partnership between the EU and the Big Six Youth Organisations (Big Six), and the success of the GYM Youth-Led Model. The Youth-Led Model was seen in action at the Youth Empowerment Fund marketplace booth where activities were co-designed and facilitated by the GYM Youth Representatives.  

As a panellist, Carlos Sanvee, the GYM Chairperson emphasized, “designed by youth, implemented by youth, oversight by youth – young people are very responsible. People think that young people cannot be accountable, they’re wrong, and that’s why the Global Youth Mobilization is here». His speech was also accompanied by a short video (below) capturing the impact of the Youth Empowerment Fund which utilizes the GYM’s Youth-Led Model of involving young people at all levels of decision making.  

The Youth Empowerment Fund makes sure that young people have easy access to funding and that the decisions are made by young people themselves. That is the heart of the Global Youth Mobilization.
Carlos Sanvee, Global Youth Mobilization Chairperson
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On Youth Day, GYM Youth Representatives also provided their input on the drafting of youth recommendations to the main conference and engaged in thought-provoking sessions aimed at making EU External Action more relatable to young people, pioneering innovative climate solutions, and enhancing engagement with EU institutions. They also delivered a powerful three-minute pitch on the Youth Empowerment Fund, showcasing their commitment to fostering youth-led initiatives at the global level.

Over 10,400 applications from youth around the world, were received in the first cycle of the Youth Empowerment Fund Open Call. Currently, applications are being reviewed by 168 youth panellists and the second cycle of the Open Call will take place early next year. Follow the GYM on Facebook, Instagram and X for the latest updates.

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The world’s six largest youth organisations, who lead the Global Youth Mobilization, held a high-level roundtable discussion on the sidelines of the 79th United Nations General Assembly and Summit of the Future this week to showcase the initiative’s model as a high-impact approach to empowering young people to drive sustainable development in their communities.