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Join us at the 2025 AFS Youth Assembly!

Defying Adversity: Empowering Young Global Citizens to Lead | August 8-10, 2025 at the NYU Kimmel Center (New York City, USA)

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August 8-10, 2025 at the NYU Kimmel Center (New York City, USA)

Defying Adversity: Empowering Young Global Citizens to Lead

The AFS Youth Assembly is a global platform that cultivates an international network of young leaders and changemakers through exchange, education, action and impact. Through the theme of the 30th Session of the AFS Youth Assembly, “Defying Adversity: Empowering Young Global Citizens to Lead” we will explore:

  • Peace, Policy and Action: Navigating Global Instability
  • Green Skills for Employment: Building a Sustainable Resource-Efficient Society
  • Youth Mental Health in a Turbulent World: Challenges and Solutions
  • Advancing Women’s Inclusion and Leadership

Explore the Program   |   Read the Concept Note

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Who Attends?

The AFS Youth Assembly brings together the world’s foremost young leaders and changemakers. The AFS Youth Assembly delegates, age 18 to 35, come from over 100 countries and possess strong leadership potential as well as keen interest in global issues.

Meet our alumni

Explore Our Academies

Choose an Academy to enhance your skills, gain new resources, and strengthen your action network
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Climate Entrepreneurship

Gain practical knowledge of and strategies for founding, financing, and sustainably growing their own climate-focused start-ups. Join this Academy whether you’re just starting your entrepreneurial journey, considering this path, or interested in contributing to the startup community in a meaningful way. Team up with your peers and industry mentors in the Academy delivered by New York University (NYU) Center for Global Affairs.

Find out more
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Changemakers

We invite vibrant, passionate leaders committed to positive social and environmental change to join us. Get introduced to the fundamental methods for creating and testing new ideas for social innovation, in the style of a team-based hackathon. You will collaborate in small groups, develop prototypes for key challenges, and present your projects at the culminating event delivered by the Center for Social Impact Strategy at the University of Pennsylvania.

Find out more
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International Affairs

Are you interested in understanding major issues within international affairs and sustainable development? In this Academy, you will learn directly from principal actors in the field to advance the role of youth in tackling global challenges. Build towards youth action to catalyze sustainable development and peaceful societies, and get equipped to take on challenges facing the world, seize opportunities, and make a difference in your communities and beyond.

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United Nations Global Citizenship Training

Get empowered to work more effectively and efficiently in international environments at this Academy offered by AFS & United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) for the first time ever. Program highlights include a two-week field visit to New York City, career development support, insights into UN internship and staff opportunities, interactive UN negotiation simulations, sessions on leadership, cross-cultural communication, peace-keeping, human rights, and the SDGs.

Find out more

The AFS Youth Assembly Program Includes:

Keynote Talks

Get inspired by today’s trailblazers and influencers

Thematic Discussions

Interact with panels of experts and leaders in various areas of inquiry

Skill-Building Workshops

Engage in in-depth discussions or activities to develop practical skills

AFS Award for Young Global Citizens Finals

Finalists pitch their ideas to distinguished panel of judges for funding

Networking

Make connections with young leaders from all over the world

Awards

Find out the winners of the Outstanding Youth Delegate Award

Field Visits

Get an inside look into the working of global and national institutions and organizations

Special Events

Make new friends or collaborators through special dinners, CultureFest and more

Explore the program

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Get Involved in the Alumni Impact Network

AFS invites you to be part of the Youth Assembly Alumni Impact Network Community, designed to accelerate your impact both regionally and globally. Our newly launched alumni engagement initiative offers you opportunities that:

  • Support Your Action and Impact: Get help with action-driven projects, mentorship, and expert connections.
  • Access Seed Funding: Receive financial support for your projects and initiatives.
  • Promote Regional Collaboration: Join local hubs to share knowledge and collaborate with peers globally.
  • Showcase Your Achievements: Have your work showcased globally.
  • Develop Your Skills: Benefit from youth opportunities, skill development sessions, and peer-to-peer support.
Find out more
“The AFS Youth Assembly empowered me to embrace my role as a changemaker and encouraged me to take action towards positive change in my community. It has enhanced my leadership skills, communication abilities, and problem-solving capabilities. Moreover, the networking opportunities provided at the AFS Youth Assembly have expanded my professional connections and opened doors for potential collaborations.”

—Ereeny Hozain, 21 years old, Egypt

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Sponsor the AFS Youth Assembly

We are dedicated to making the Youth Assembly a diverse, inclusive, accessible event that includes young people from as many countries and communities as possible. This cannot be done without the support of generous AFS Youth Assembly Sponsors.

As a sponsor you can empower and connect with the next generation of leaders while demonstrating in a tangible way, your organization’s commitment to diversity by developing youth from countries and backgrounds around the world to tackle global challenges and transform their vision for a better future into action.

Contact us for top sponsorship opportunities

Past Youth Assemblies

  1. Forge Our Shared Future #YA29

  2. Breakthrough to a Better Future #YA28

  3. Dare to Reshape the World #YA27

  4. Accelerate! Youth for SDGs 2030 #YA26

  5. It’s Time: Youth for Global Impact #YA25

The 2025 AFS Youth Assembly is supported by:

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