International Youth Day Celebration: August 11, 2023

AFS Intercultural Programs is pleased to announce the Permanent Mission of Malta to the United Nations as the lead endorser for the celebration of International Youth Day on August 11, 2023. The International Youth Day celebration took place at the UN with 800 young leaders and participants from around the world in attendance. The AFS Youth Assembly Delegates were included in the celebration of International Youth Day at the UN. Click here to learn more about the 2023 International Youth Day Celebration.

See the 2023 International Youth Day PHOTOS

Watch the 2023 International Youth Day RECORDING

Friday, August 11 at 6.30 PM ET

Saturday, August 12, 2023

see photos here
Venue: Convene Center

9:00-9:45 am

at Hall 1

Breakthrough to a Better Future: Youth at the Front Lines (Plenary)

  • Call to order: Nicole Lebenson Angulo, Deputy Chief Organization Development, AFS Intercultural Programs
  • Welcome Day to the AFS Youth Assembly: Daniel Obst, President and CEO, AFS Intercultural Programs
  • Remarks: Kerry Dryburgh, Executive Vice President, People and Culture and Chief People Officer, bp plc
  • Remarks: Rosy Fynn, Ghana and Nigeria (acting) Country Director, Mastercard Foundation
  • Youth Keynote Speaker: Wantoe T. Wantoe, Youth Advisory Council member, SDGs campaigner, Climate and human rights activist
  • Program Overview: Yumna Khan, Director of the Youth Assembly & Strategic Youth Initiatives, AFS Intercultural Programs
  • AFS Alumnus Remarks: Cristian A. Vera, Senior Vice President Sales, DHL Express Americas
  • Concluding Remarks & Networking

10:00-5:15 pm

IN THE GALLERy 2a (2nd floor)

SDG Zone delivered by DHL

This event will include mini-informational sessions and engaging activities in an exhibit style setting. Delegates will be able to visit the SDG Zone delivered by DHL throughout the day to network and learn about SDGs-related work to inspire them in their own action and impact journeys.

Activities led by youth:

  • Do you know the power of the SDGs? by SDSN Youth. SDSN Youth showcases the SDG Zone resources for delegates.
  • Youth in Policy Making by Sheba George, AFS Youth Assembly Ambassador – EU Delegation. This interactive activity will cover the role of youth in shaping policies that affect their lives, outline the key policy issues of relevance to youth, such as climate and education, and explore how youth can get engaged in policy development processes at the local and global levels.
  • Paisley’s Shine Solution. Paisley will demo the many facets of the SHINE solution that utilizes a partnering approach to combine targeted solutions with refugee led programs.
  • Stories of Change: Youth Inspiring Action for a Better Future by Khaled Abdulwahed and Wantoe Wantoe, AFS Youth Assembly Alumni. Immerse yourself in the power of storytelling and ignite conversations about the SDGS at the “Stories of Change: Youth Inspiring Action for a Better Future.” This event offers impactful narratives, innovative games, networking opportunities to engage participants in the importance of the SDGs.

Photo Booth Area: Delegates will be able to use props and take official photos with a #YA28 theme banner as background.

Speed Networking: Delegates can sit down and chat throughout the day with an option to use conversational cards.

Find out more here.


10:00-11:15 am

Session 1 at hall 1 | Track 1: Reduce Inequalities: Tackling Poverty and Gender Inequality

Sounding the Alarm: How to Get SDGs 1 and 5 on Track (Panel)

Moderator: Andrés Lanza, Educational Products Coordinator, AFS Intercultural Programs

  • Shah Chowdhury, Co-founder and President, Footsteps Bangladesh
  • Ugochi Okpe, Executive Director, Community Health And Advocacy Initiative (CHAIN)
  • Dr. Roopa Dhatt, Executive Director, Women in Global Health
  • Alexandra del Castello, Associate Public Information Officer, Campaigns and Country Operations Division (Campaigns Service), UN Department of Global Communications
Session 2 at hall 2 | Track 2: Education & Employment: Skills for the Future

Solidarity for SDG 4: What Will It Take to Achieve It? (Panel)

Moderator: Ana Carolina Cassiano, Head of Education Development, AFS Intercultural Programs

  • Frederico Menino, Senior Program Officer, Open Society Foundation
  • Joann Halpern, Director, Hasso Plattner Institute, New York/Adjunct Prof. of International Education, New York University
  • Priya Joshi, Senior Research Officer, GEM Report, UNESCO
  • Ilan Enverga, Focal Point, Sustainability Education, SDG4 Youth & Student Network
Session 3 at the hub | Track 3: Protect Our Planet: Climate Action

Climate Change Affecting Our People & Planet: What We Need to Do Right Now! (Panel)

Moderator: Molly Stern, Global Up Manager, AFS Intercultural Programs

  • Marcene Mitchell, Senior Vice President, Climate Change, WWF
  • Jevanic Henry, UN Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change
  • Laur Hesse Fisher, Program Director, Climate Change Communications & Public Engagement, MIT Environmental Solutions Institute
  • Berna Idriz, International Campaigns Manager, The Climate Reality Project

11:30-12:45 pm

Session 1 at hall 1 | Track 3: Protect Our Planet: Climate Action

Adaptation & Climate Finance (Panel)

Moderator: Nicole Lebenson Angulo, Deputy Chief Organization Development, AFS Intercultural Programs

Session 2 at hall 2 | Track 5: Global Solidarity: Multilateralism and Regional Cooperation for a Better Future

Global Solidarity: Why Must We Come Together? (Panel)

Moderator: Cecilia Vasquez, Executive Director, Fundación Intercultural y Educativa AFS Guatemala

  • Purnaka De Silva, Adjunct Professor, Seton Hall University
  • Magdalena Fulton, Global Youth Director, IREX
  • Aleksandra Plesko, Human Rights Officer, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)
  • Lamar Shambley, Founder and Executive Director, Teens of Color Abroad (TOCA)
  • Ose Arheghan, Youth Observer to the United Nations, United Nations Association of the USA
Session 3 at the hub | Track 4: Global Trust: Peace & Information Integrity

Global Trust: Institutional Responsibilities (Panel)

Moderator: Dr. Lisette Nieves, President for Fund for the City of NY, and Distinguished Clinical Professor at NYU Steinhardt

  • Angelo Cardona, Representative for Latin America, International Peace Bureau (IPB)
  • Rachel Palermo, Program Specialist for Youth, Peace & Security, United States Institute of Peace (USIP)
  • Dana Podmolikova, Project Management Specialist – Youth, United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC)
  • Darshana​ M. Baruah, Fellow, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

12:00-4:00 pm

in the gallery 1 (1st floor)

Opportunities Fair


1:00-2:45

at hub 4

AFS Award for Young Global Citizens Finals


3:00-4:00 pm

Session 1 at hall 1 | Track 2: Education & Employment: Skills for the Future

Inspiring Global Citizenship: How to Build Global Education Projects in Schools and Youth-led Organizations by SDSN Youth (Workshop)

Session 2 at hall 2 | Track 4: Global Trust: Peace & Information Integrity

Introducing UN Women, Peace and Security Agenda: Identifying the Challenges of Implementation (Workshop)

  • Cemre Ulker, Representative of Journalists and Writers Foundation to the UN Department of Global Communications
Session 3 at the hub | Track 1: Reduce Inequalities: Tackling Poverty and Gender Inequality

Dare to Lead: What Types of Leadership are Needed in the 21st Century? by Schwarzman Scholars (Workshop)

  • Wyatt Bruton, Associate Director of Admissions, Schwarzman Scholars

4:15-5:15 pm

Session 1 at hall 2 | Track 5: Global Solidarity: Multilateralism and Regional Cooperation for a Better Future

Cultivating Global Solidarity through Collaboration Skills by AFS Intercultural Programs (Workshop)

Session 2 at the hub | Track 2: Education & Employment: Skills for the Future

Developing Your Organization’s Brand Personality by Big Duck (Workshop)

Session 3 at hall 1

The Impact of the Youth Assembly Alumni (Panel)

Moderator: Yumna Khan, Director of the Youth Assembly & Strategic Youth Initiatives, AFS Intercultural Programs

Sunday, August 13, 2023

see photos here
Venue: Convene Center

9:00-9:45 am

at hall 1

Breakthrough to a Better Future: Unite for Global Action (Plenary)

  • Call to order: Milena Miladinovic, Communications & External Affairs, AFS Intercultural Programs
  • Welcome to the AFS Youth Assembly: Daniel Obst, President and CEO, AFS Intercultural Programs
  • Remarks: Sarah Sladen, Agency Youth Coordinator, USAID
  • Youth Keynote Speaker: Nadine Khaouli, Co-founder, Kafe be Kafak
  • Program Overview: Yumna Khan, Director of the Youth Assembly & Strategic Youth Initiatives, AFS Intercultural Programs
  • Concluding Remarks & Networking

10:00-11:15 am

Session 1 at hall 1 | Track 4: Global Trust: Peace & Information Integrity

Information Integrity in Today’s World (Panel)

Moderator: Milena MIladinovic, Communications & External Affairs, AFS Intercultural Programs

Session 2 at hall 2 | Track 1: Reduce Inequalities: Tackling Poverty and Gender Inequality

Extreme Poverty in a World of Crises (Panel)

Moderator: Efrem Fisher, Chief Programs Officer, AFS Intercultural Programs

  • Nadine Khaouli, Co-founder, Kafe be Kafak
  • Lane Kenworthy, Professor of Sociology and Yankelovich Chair in Social Thought, University of California-San Diego
  • Mai Sami Ahmed, Youth Fellow Advocacy Officer, Save the Children New York Advocacy Office
  • Eric Bebernitz, Director of External Relations, Action Against Hunger
Session 3 at the hub | Track 2: Education & Employment: Skills for the Future

Education for Employment: What Really Matters in the Real World (Panel)

Moderator: Lennart d’Hulst, Member of the AFS International Board of Trustees


11:30-12:45 pm

Session 1 at hall 1 | Track 5: Global Solidarity: Multilateralism and Regional Cooperation for a Better Future

SDG 17: Where Do We Go from Here? (Panel)

Moderator: Sherifa Fayez, Partner Director, AFS Egypt

Session 2 at hall 2 | Track 4: Global Trust: Peace & Information Integrity

Unveiling the Invisible: Decoding Power and Privilege through Global Competence by AFS Intercultural Programs (Workshop)

  • Andrés Lanza, Educational Products Coordinator, AFS Intercultural Programs
  • Molly Stern, Global Up Manager, AFS Intercultural Programs
Session 3 at the hub

Augmenting Leadership through Mentoring (Workshop)


1:00-2:00 pm

at hub 4

Youth Assembly Ambassadors Award Ceremony


1:00-2:45 pm

IN the gallery 1a (1st floor)

Youth at the Front Lines: Action & Impact Hub


3:00-4:00 pm

Session 1 at hall 2

Youth Assembly Ambassadors Panel

Moderator: Yumna Khan, Director of the Youth Assembly & Strategic Youth Initiatives, AFS Intercultural Programs

Session 2 at hall 1 | Track 3: Protect Our Planet: Climate Action

Working Together to Address the Global Food Crisis by World Bank (Workshop)

  • Nugroho Sunjoyo, External Affairs and Communications Officer, the Sustainable Development Group, World Bank
Session 3 at the hub | Track 3: Protect Our Planet: Climate Action

Empowering Climate Changemakers: Building a Sustainable Future, Together (Workshop)


4:15-5:15 pm

Session 1 at the hub

Strategic Planning for Young Entrepreneurs by JP Morgan and AFS Intercultural Programs (Workshop)

  • Ulrich Voss, Member of the Board of Trustees, AFS Intercultural Programs
  • Rashwinder Bardha, Managing Director – Global Head of AWM Operational Transformation & Strategy, JP Morgan
Session 2 at hall 2 | Track 2: Education & Employment: Skills for the Future

Skills for the Future by Accenture (Workshop)

  • Kathy Chen, Global Technology Learning Lead, Accenture
Session 3 at hall 1 | Track 5: Global Solidarity: Multilateralism and Regional Cooperation for a Better Future

Multilateralism and Regional Cooperation for a Better Future by International Organization for Migration (IOM) (Workshop)

  • Amira Nassim, Migration Policy Officer, International Organization for Migration (IOM)

5:30-6:45 pm

at hall 2

Unite for Global Action: Collaboration Hub

Delegates will have the opportunity to make new connections and collaborate on innovative ideas to continue their action and impact in their communities after the AFS Youth Assembly. This event will be moderated by Youth Advisory Council members, Larissa del Pilar Cevallos and Lukas Findeisen.


7:00-7:50 pm

at hall 1

Closing Ceremony

  • Program Roundup: Yumna Khan, Director of the Youth Assembly & Strategic Youth Initiatives, AFS Intercultural Programs
  • Keynote Remarks: Brian Atwood, Visiting Scholar of International Studies and Public Affairs at Brown University’s Thomas Watson Institute for International Studies, and Professor Emeritus at the University of Minnesota’s Hubert H Humphrey School of Public Affairs
  • Keynote Remarks: H.E. Mr. Michal Mlynár, Deputy Executive Director, UN Habitat, and Assistant Secretary General of the United Nations
  • Outstanding AFS Youth Assembly Ambassadors Recognition
  • Outstanding Youth Delegate Award delivered by DHL
  • AFS Award for Young Global Citizens Winners Announcement with Daniel Obst, President & CEO, AFS Intercultural Programs and Helmut Schuster, Board of Trustees, AFS Intercultural Programs

7:50-9:00 pm

Culturefest

Meet the speakers

Since 2004, our most notable speakers have included UN leaders and senior staff, celebrities, and other luminaries from civil society and the private sector. Meet the speakers who will join us at the 2023 Youth Assembly in New York City.
File 11

Panels

  1. aleks – Aleksandra Plesko

    Aleksandra Plesko, Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)

    Aleksandra Plesko has been working in human rights advocacy with the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) since 2010. Before moving to UNHQ in New York…
  2. Dean Atwood preferred photo – Brian Atwood

    Brian Atwood, Brown University, Watson Institute

    An AFS student in Luxembourg, Atwood has chaired the AFS International Board of Trustees. He served as the Head of the world’s largest bilateral foreign aid agency, the US Agency…
  3. Mariana (1) – Mariana Franco

    Mariana Franco Hernandez, Teach For All

    Mariana Franco Hernandez is the Director of Corporate Partnerships for the Global Development Team at Teach For All, where she develops and manages multinational partnerships. She has over 15 years…
08_13_22 YA – social media-9505

Workshops

  1. Amira Nassim

    Amira Nassim, International Organization for Migration (IOM)

    Amira Nassim, a native of Palestine and Finland, is a Migration Policy Officer at the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Office to the United Nations. Within the Sustainable Development Unit,…
  2. Amanda

    Amanda Abrom, Global Schools, Sustainable Development Solutions Network

    “We are thrilled to represent the Global Schools Program for the second year in a row and lead a workshop on education. Looking forward to a great AFS Youth Assembly!”…
  3. UVoss_EM_Portrait_Tie_2_2017-QUADRAT – Ulrich Voss

    Ulrich Voss, AFS Intercultural Programs

    A native of Germany, Ulrich has studied, lived and worked in the USA, France, Switzerland and Kenya. He runs a consulting boutique in Germany working mostly with Private Equity firms…
File 2

concept note

Breakthrough to a Better Future

Anchored around a celebration of International Youth Day, the theme of the 28th Session of The Youth Assembly is “Breakthrough to a Better Future.” Five core areas were identified as the program agenda where there are urgent challenges and exciting potential for young people to make a breakthrough:

  • Track 1: Reduce Inequalities: Tackling Poverty and Gender Inequality
  • Track 2: Education & Employment: Skills for the Future 
  • Track 3: Protect Our Planet: Climate Action 
  • Track 4: Global Trust: Peace & Information Integrity
  • Track 5: Global Solidarity: Multilateralism and Regional Cooperation for a Better Future
Read the Concept Note

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