Watch all the sessions from the Global Youth Summit 2021

Plenary sessions

Breakout sessions

Future of work

Hosted by The World Health Organization (WHO) this breakout session showcased learnings from the pandemic – what will future workplaces look like around the world, and how do young people prepare themselves for it.

Bridging the digital divide

Hosted by Digital Opportunities Trust (DOT) and BridgingtheGap Ventures this breakout session presented examples of successful initiatives from different parts of the world to bridge the widening digital gap.

Key skills for a new labour market

This fireside chat with Salesforce.org CEO Rob Acke discussed the key skills required in the job market now and in the next 5-10 years, and shared tips on what young people can do to prepare themselves to be competitive in the marketplace, with a focus on emotional intelligence and empathy in the workplace.

Staying in school (Spanish)

Hosted by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). In this breakout session, participants got acquainted with the challenges faced by their peers around the world in staying in school, and learned about interesting initiatives (governmental, NGO, etc.) trying to prevent school dropout, whose models could be interesting for their local activism as well. The session also highlighted the importance of the links and interdependencies between formal and non-formal education.

Meaningful work for young people

Hosted by AIESEC this breakout session showcased successful initiatives for ensuring meaningful work for young people and strategies for successfully advocating for it at national level. Focused on inclusive and paid internships, and providing opportunities for growth (and matching passion with purpose).

From concept to action empowering communities to prevent Covid (Spanish)

Hosted by the Global Youth Mobilization (GYM) this breakout session focused on how to give young people/mobilizers a checklist of concrete actions to take, based on the findings in the WHO TAG Youth Report, to enable their local community to adhere to COVID19 preventive behaviours.

LGBTQIA+ Feminist Advocacy and wellbeing during COVID19 and beyond insights from Africa

This breakout session was held in April 2021 during the Global Youth Summit (GYS). Hosted by the Coalition of African Lesbians (CAL), the session explored the impact of the pandemic on LGBTIQ advocacy and showcased initiatives from the local/national/regional/global level on gender issues related to the pandemic.

Mission nutrition

Hosted by The World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) this breakout session showcased the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on adolescent nutrition and well-being while providing support services to strengthen the youth’s capacity in creating personal and communal change as well as supplementing existing initiatives on the topic.

Faith and Empathy in a Global Pandemic

Hosted by the ACT Alliance and the International Dialogue Centre (KAICIID) this breakout session focused on Faith & Empathy from multiple angles, and how one’s faith regardless of their personal belief system or religious affiliation can be a positive resource for being more empathetical with special attention to times of crisis and post it i.e. COVID-19.

Global Education Connecting Schools Worldwide

Hosted by Global Classroom this breakout session explored why we should connect educational institutions and the need to understand the challenges for schools in extreme poverty and war torn countries. In addition, this session showcased how the pandemic has created a quantum shift for education globally.

Meaningful engagement in refugee youth education

Hosted by United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) this breakout session aimed to expand awareness and engagement of youth in the campaign to improve access to secondary education and expand higher education opportunities for refugees.

Social Action Good for you, good for others

Hosted by The Scout Association, UK this breakout session presented their award winning social action programme ‘A Million Hands’ and how this helps provide skills for life that young people can then utilise in the workplace.

Periods in a pandemic are even more of a challenge. Lets build practical solutions together!

Hosted by the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) and AFRIpads this breakout session discussed the world’s leading reusable menstrual pads social enterprise about the challenges they have faced in East Africa during the pandemic, and the solutions they have found.

Human Trafficking and Exploitation

Hosted by It’s a penalty, this breakout session explored the prevalence of human trafficking and exploitation and how we can create a culture where no forms of human trafficking and exploitation are acceptable.

Virtual non formal education works

Hosted by the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM), the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) and Office of the UN Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth (OSGEY), this breakout session shared impactful stories on non-formal education in these pandemic times and beyond.

Education in Marginalized Communities

Hosted by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM), this breakout session showcases the impact of education disruption on marginalized communities as a result of the pandemic.

Youth-led initiatives during Covid

Hosted by The World Health Organization (WHO), The International Federation of Medical Students Associations (IFMSA) and NCD Child, this breakout session reflected on how COVID-19 has impacted health and wellbeing from the perspective of young people by sharing examples of youth-led health initiatives to protect the most vulnerable people in their communities including peer-to-peer solutions.

Education for children and youth with special needs

Hosted by Special Olympics this breakout session focused on both formal and non-formal education and understanding what implications the pandemic has had on children and youth with special needs (both physical and mental).

Reimagine education digital learning solutions

Hosted by the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) and the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM) this breakout session focused on the digital gap in education and how young people can contribute to bridging it by joining Reimagine Education efforts. How to make digital learning on par with in-person learning (by increasing its quality)?

How can we use STEM to change the world

Hosted by the Smithsonian Science Education Centre (SSEC) this breakout session shared the impact the pandemic has had on STEM education (given the lack of access to laboratories and similar) and how this is being brought to homes, including examples of citizen/crowd science. It provided additional focus on girls and young women in STEM.

Global citizenship education, responsibilities and activism

Hosted by the Ban Ki-moon Centre for Global Citizens (BKM Centre) and the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) this breakout session showcased successful advocacy examples (on youth issues) and shared strategies for delivering successful advocacy campaigns at national/regional/global level, including examples directly from young people.

Stop the Violence! Domestic and Gender based Violence

Hosted by the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) during the Global Youth Summit (GYM), this breakout session looks at how the pandemic has exacerbated domestic/gender-based violence. This session also explores how local solutions projects have been implemented to prevent violence and provide support to victims.

Managing finances and budgets for young people

Hosted by the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) and the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM), this session furthered participants’ understanding of their current financial situation and the importance of financial education and budget management, as well as how to set their financial goals and how to achieve them.

Welcoming Migrants in a Pandemic

Hosted by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) this breakout session shared and exchanged experiences from across the world on welcoming and supporting migrants during the COVID-19 pandemic. The focused was on the important role that youth have played and continue to play in supporting migrants – including refugees, asylum seekers and other people on the move. The session also highlighted both the challenges that migrants have faced due to COVID-19, as well as some of the best practices globally in supporting migrants to address those challenges.

Claim your rights in the digital world

Hosted by #CovidUnder19 (London School of Economics, International Institute of Child Rights and Development) this breakout session focused on sharing evidence and experience about children’s online experiences during the pandemic and presented concrete resources to empower children & young people online.

Youth led digital action for mental heath

Hosted by the International Federation of Medical Students Associations (IFMSA) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) this breakout session discussed youth mental health and how it has been impacted by unprecedented global health crises as the COVID-19 pandemic.

From Concept to Action Empower communities to prevent COVID19

Social Entrepreneurship

Hosted by Peace First and WEF Global Shapers, this breakout session explored potential for youth entrepreneurship and innovation post-COVID-19. Focused on design thinking and practical advice for getting young people’s ideas off the ground.

Providing relevant non formal education opportunities to youth living in difficult circumstances

Hosted by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) this breakout session presented and discussed new and proven non formal education youth initiatives from the Red Cross Red Crescent (RCRC) South East Asian Youth Network (SEAYN) and from Asian-Pacific RCRC National Societies reaching out to young people living in difficult circumstances.

Violence against children

Hosted by the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence Against Children (SRSG/VAC) and the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM) this breakout session provided evidence of the current situation (compared to the years before the pandemic) and examples of how young people can take action to prevent/report/support victims.

Digital activism

Hosted by The World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM) and The World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS), this breakout session shared examples of influencers using their platforms for activism, to learn from their examples how to amplify the voice of young people. It also showcased stories where young people have been successful in bringing about change in their communities through digital activism.

Youth led digital action for mental health online (Spanish)

Hosted by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) this breakout session worked on the impact of the pandemic on young people’s mental health and showcased examples of successful initiatives that have provided online mental health support. Focused on self-care and how young people can use technology as a means to protect their mental health.

We all have mental health

Hosted by the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) this breakout session looked at studies and examples that show positive link between physical activity and mental health, and share examples of organizations that support both.

Gap year with a purpose

Hosted by the United Nations Volunteers programme (UNV) and AIESEC this breakout session presented the impact of a gap year and taking time off from work/studies to volunteer. It was based on the importance of taking time off to pursue a passion project. Everyone’s timelines are different.

Covid 19 vaccine equity and youth

Hosted by The World Health Organization (WHO) this breakout session focused on COVID-19 related vaccine inequities, and the roles of meaningful youth engagement in addressing these issues globally, regionally and nationally.

Global perspectives converting classroom learning into community action

Hosted by Cambridge International, this session discussed the Global Perspectives programme and explored how young people can be actively involved in their local community. They discussed some of the barriers to taking action, sharing examples and debating how to overcome them.

47 Million Women will fall under the poverty line post COVID

Hosted by the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) and the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) this breakout session explored the challenges especially focusing on the issues of work/employment and childcare, and how we can encourage “positive parenting”. The YWCA of Canada was heard about their feminist recovery plan that has been adopted nationally, as well as the YWCA Japan and their community approach.

Climate, Environment and Wellbeing

Hosted by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM) this breakout session explored the major issues affecting countries and immediate community and ways young people can tackle these issues.

What does a pandemic have to do with it? Finding practical solutions to SRH

Hosted by the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) and the the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) this breakout session increased the audience’s understanding of different aspects of sexual and reproductive health and how the pandemic has impacted them. This session also explored concrete examples of action and actions/tips that can be taken in the area of sexual and reproductive health.

Livelihood Development for vulnerable young people

Hosted by Y Care International this breakout session focused on case studies and examples of how young people’s livelihoods have been impacted by the pandemic and showcased successful initiatives that have been supporting them.

Youth Participation in decision making

Hosted by World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) this breakout session explored what is youth participation and what it isn’t and why it is important for young people and organizations.

Overcoming Isolation and connecting online

Hosted by The World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM) and The World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS), this breakout session shared learnings about how the pandemic has increased the sense of isolation among youth and what to expect in the near future. This session also gave an understanding of your own mental health, various emotions, how to help yourself and others, and the meaning of connection.

How Non Formal Education and Learning Impacts our Lives and Why we need to Invest in it Even More

Hosted by the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM) and The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award, this breakout session reflected on how non-formal education and learning impacts our lives in ways we may not expect it to, discussed the biggest educational gaps and needs in a post-pandemic world, and linked those to a policy discussion with tools and calls to action on how to advocate for better support for NFEL.

From Concept to Action Empowering community to prevent COVID19 (Mandarin)

Pledges of support

The Global Youth Mobilization is proud to have secured the support and endorsement from the following Governments, UN agencies and youth development organizations.