Youth Leadership Accelerator Agenda

Youth Pre-Summit Overview

 

The 2023 Global Youth Economic Opportunities (YEO) Summit will kick-off with a youth Pre-Summit. This Pre-Summit will include two-half days of dedicated skills building, mentorship, networking and leadership activities for youth leaders attending the summit. 

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Since the last in-person Summit in 2019, there has been increased recognition of the need to shift power dynamics between adult institutions and youth leaders and to build more equitable partnerships between youth and adult stakeholders so that youth take a greater role leading development solutions.  In support of these objectives, the youth Pre-Summit will serve as a forum to hone youth’s capacity as change agents in the employment and livelihoods sector by offering youth resources, youth-to-adult network-building opportunities, and targeted professional skills.  Drawing upon the successes of the 2019 Pre-Summit and lessons learned from current youth engagement programs, the Pre-Summit will offer training and mentoring tools that have been tested under the Global Opportunity Youth Network (GOYN), YouthPower and YouthLead. The Pre-Summit activities will also prepare the youth participants and invited adult allies to maximize their participation and networking opportunities at the full Summit.   

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Objectives 

1. Build their professional and peer-to-peer support networks.  
   Youth participants will have the opportunity to connect directly with a diverse group of stakeholders that include youth development practitioners, policymakers, funders, private companies, researchers and academics, and other young people from over 75 countries who attend the Summit each year. 

2. Build their professional skills and knowledge. 
   Participation in the youth summit will provide an opportunity for young leaders to build their capacity and knowledge through the targeted skills training session, peer-peer exchanges and youth-to-adult networking building opportunities. By engaging in the Summit, youth will sit at the same table as adult decision-makers, and be able to exchange knowledge, ideas and perspectives to the Summit’s learning agenda through breakout sessions and plenaries. 

3. Connect and build mentorship relationships with supportive adults. 
   Youth leaders will have the opportunity to connect directly with adult mentors who can offer advice, guidance, and support for their work and professional development even post the Summit. 

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Below you will find Pre-Summit activities listed for May 15 and May 16.

 
May 15th, 2023

 

2:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. 

Youth Pre-Summit

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Setting the Scene: The Peer Circle and Setting Expectations 

 

Moderator: Zunaira Ali, Atlas Corp Fellow 

 

Opportunity for young leaders to get to know their peers through the peer circle and to familiarize themselves with the Summit expectations. 

 

2:30 p.m.- 2:40 p.m.

Break 

 

2:40 p.m. - 4:10 p.m. 

Skills Building Workshop 1 

 

​Opportunity for Young Leaders to build and strengthen their professional and soft skills through a facilitated and focused skills-building workshop. 

 

Topic: Digital Skills Training

Organization: UNICEF's Generation Unlimited and IREX 

Trainers: 

Silvya Kananu, Project Lead, Youth Excel, IREX 

Karen Carvajalino, Co-Founder, Biz Nation 

 

Topic: Leadership and Personal Branding Training

Organization: Humentum 

Trainers: 

Kim Kucinskas- Director, Community Strategy, Humentum

 

 

4:10 p.m. - 4:20 p.m.

Transition Break 

 

4:20 p.m. - 5:20 p.m.

Skills Building Workshop 2 

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​Opportunity for Young Leaders to build and strengthen their skills on youth innovation and design thinking through a facilitated and focused skills-building workshop. 

 

Topic: Youth Innovation Design Thinking Toolkit Training

Host: Global Opportunity Youth Network (GOYN) and Accenture 

Trainers: 

Gabriela Carmo, Program Associate, Global Opportunity Youth Network (GOYN), Aspen Institute Forum for Community Solutions

 

Joel Miranda, Senior Advisor for Global Youth Opportunity Leadership, Global Opportunity Youth Network (GOYN), Aspen Institute Forum for Community Solutions 

  

5:20 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Young Leaders Reflection and Debrief 

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Opportunity for young leaders to reflect and share some key takeaways from the sessions of the day. 
 

6:00 p.m. -  7:30 p.m.

Young Leaders Informal Networking Reception 

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​Opportunity for young leaders to network and engage through a networking activity or get-together such as bowling/informal dinner with adult allies from partner organizations. 

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May 16th, 2023 

 

8:30 - 10:15 a.m.

Youth Speak Lab: Round Table Discussion and Workshop on Equity and Meaningful Youth-Adult Partnerships 

 

Through this session, young leaders will be able to collaborate and have concrete discussions on equity and meaningful youth-adult partnerships in the youth economic opportunities space. This session will also provide an opportunity for young leaders to develop key asks/calls to action for adult allies on equity and meaningful youth-adult partnerships that will be included in the youth manifesto that will be presented at the GYEO Summit. 

 

10:15 a.m. - 10:25 a.m.

Break

 

10:25 a.m.- 11:55 a.m. 

Speed Networking Hour  

 

Opportunity for young leaders and adult allies from partner organizations to engage in a series of speed networking sessions. 

 

11:55 a.m.- 12:00 p.m.

Break

 

12:00 p.m. - 12:25 p.m.

Presentation of Youth Manifesto/Youth Declaration from the Youth Speak Lab

 

Round table discussion on equity and meaningful youth-adult partnerships. 

 

12:25 p.m.- 12:30 p.m.

Conclusion of Youth Pre-Summit