On August 14, 2026, delegates at the 31st AFS Youth Assembly in Geneva took the floor to help shape the future of education and learning beyond 2030 through the session, “Shaping the Future of SDG 4 & the SDGs: An Open Dialogue.” Designed as a youth-led consultation, the session replaced the traditional panel format with a dynamic fishbowl discussion where young people were not simply listeners, but speakers, contributors, and co-creators of the conversation for the global education policy driven by UNESCO.
The format was warmly received by participants. Youth delegates highlighted how much they valued having genuine opportunities to speak, while the rotating format created space for diverse perspectives. Youth contributions offered eloquent and meaningful reflections grounded in participants’ local realities from their respective communities and regions.
A Bold Vision for the Post-2030 Education Agenda
The discussion revealed a strong vision for a peaceful, equitable and inclusive society where differences do not become barriers to opportunity or participation. Young people called for accessible education, stronger early childhood and foundational learning, meaningful youth participation in decision-making, and education co-created with learners. They envisioned more participatory and engaging classrooms, alongside greater attention to mental health and wellbeing and equitable access to the digital world.
Moving from Ideas to Concrete Youth Action
Participants identified a need to move from passive and abstract learning toward active, authentic, experiential and interdisciplinary learning that develops critical thinking, problem-solving and practical life skills. They called for students to become active contributors and decision-makers in their education, while making education more inclusive and accessible to diverse learners, including students with disabilities. At the same time, they emphasized what should be strengthened: supportive teacher–student relationships, a valued and sustainable teaching profession, and learning that develops cultural awareness and helps young people navigate an interconnected world.
Youth also identified concrete actions they are prepared to take: working with local communities, engaging in peer-to-peer learning, creating practical learning opportunities, and advocating for meaningful youth participation. To turn these commitments into impact, they called for resources and genuine decision-making opportunities, stronger partnerships among schools, families, communities and industry, international networks, and greater access to internships and other real-world learning experiences.
The session concluded with Mr. Zeeshan Suhail, Social Impact Manager at Nestlé, serving as Keynote Listener. Rather than occupying the traditional keynote speaker role, Zeeshan listened to the youth dialogue and reflected on the ideas shared, recognizing the value of youth expertise and lived experience.
Next Steps: Influencing Global Policy
The contributions gathered during the session have already been submitted to UNESCO as part of its official consultation process for developing the post-2030 education agenda. The submission will next be analyzed by the SDG 4 Youth & Student Network and used to inform the drafting of a Post-2030 Youth Education and Learning Agenda, which will be presented at the 2027 Global Education Meeting. That youth-developed agenda will then provide a foundation for the following phase, engaging governments, civil society, teachers, and other education stakeholders.
The session demonstrated that when young people are given not only a seat at the table but the microphone, the space, and the opportunity to shape the agenda, their lived experiences can become meaningful contributions to global education policy.
Ilan Enverga
Member of the AFS Youth Assembly Advisory Council, Teacher, Founder of Global Changemaker Schools, and Education Global Focal Point at the UN Major Group for Children & Youth