Where young leaders start leading.
What IS One Young World?
One Young World was founded in 2009 by David Jones and Kate Robertson. We are a London-based non-profit organisation that gathers together young people from around the world, helping them make lasting connections to create positive change.
We stage an annual Summit (see below for highlight videos of 2010 and 2011 Summits) where the young delegates, backed by the One Young World Counsellors, debate and formulate solutions for the pressing issues the world faces. No youth-dominated event outside the Olympic Games brings together more countries than One Young World.
In 2010 and 2011 delegates were guided by a line-up of Counsellors that included Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, Bob Geldof, Kofi Annan, Professor Muhammad Yunus, HKH Prince Haakon of Norway, Jamie Oliver, Wael Ghonim and Joss Stone. Click here for full list of Counsellors.
After each Summit, the newly-minted One Young World Ambassadors work on their own projects and initiatives or lend the power of the One Young World network to those already in existence. Since the 2010 Summit, One Young World Ambassadors have been creating change on a global level. Previous initiatives have included the presentation of The Missing Millennium Development Goal to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon and the creation of the first-ever African Student Leaders Summit.
To date, almost four million people have been directly impacted by the work of One Young World Ambassadors. There are currently more than 125 projects and initiatives involving in excess of 100 countries.
Find out more about the work of the One Young World Ambassadors.
One Young World Summit 2012
One Young World Summit 2012 will take place in Pittsburgh, USA from 18–22 October. Approximately 1,500 delegates from 196 countries are expected to attend. Read more.
One Young World Summit 2013
One Young World Summit 2013 will take place in Johannesburg, South Africa, date to be confirmed.
Who can be a One Young World Ambassador?
One Young World delegates are 16-30 years old and have demonstrated their leadership potential. Many have already had an impact in their home countries on a range of issues, including the role of business in society, transparency in business and government, the impact of climate change, global health and hunger relief.
If you think you meet the requirements, we'd welcome your application to join the pool of Candidates. Once approved, profiles are displayed on the One Young World website. Here, Candidates may seek the necessary funding to be a delegate at the Summit. Apply to attend here.
At the Summit Closing Ceremony, delegates graduate as One Young World Ambassadors, joining a global network of young leaders who are creating a positive change around the world.
How is it funded?
Delegates expenses to attend a Summit may be sponsored by private citizens, companies, NGOs, education establishments, etc. These backers are known as Delegate Champions.
More information about how to become a Delegate Champion can be found here.
The cost for each delegate attending the Summit encompasses their travel to and from the Summit city, travel within the city (to and from hotels and to and from break-out events), accommodation, meals, access to laptops, desktops and mobile devices, venue costs, chaperones and satellite and wireless connectivity.
Although the cost of travel for delegates varies enormously depending on where they come from, the delegate fees for those from the host nation, who travel less far, offset the travel costs of delegates from far-flung places.
To date, this funding, per delegate, is the only sponsorship that has been received by One Young World.
One Young World 2011
One Young World Summit 2011 was hosted by the city of Zurich, Switzerland from 1-4 September.
1200 delegates attended from 171 countries.
One Young World 2011 Counsellor, Unilever CEO, Paul Polman says: "The world is facing a number of enormous challenges over the next fifty years as it tries to evolve from a consumption-driven economy, to a new, sustainable economy. The leaders of today are just starting to grapple with the challenges; it will be the leaders of tomorrow who have to deliver the solutions to overcome them. Our job is to inspire these new leaders to seize the opportunities these challenges present."
One Young World 2010
The inaugural One Young World Summit was held in London on 8-10 February 2010.
823 delegates attended from 114 countries.
The Summit 2010 focused on six key Resolutions developed in response to the most pressing issues in the world, as identified by the One Young World Global Consultation Process, a poll of over 15,000 respondents aged 18-27 years old from 34 countries, with every continent represented.
After One Young World Summit 2010, Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu said: "I was inspired by the energy, ideas and dynamism of the wonderful young people I met at One Young World in London and I am delighted to be attending the second gathering of these exceptional individuals in Zurich. Young people are changing the world in which we live at an incredible pace and it is important that we listen to the young leaders of tomorrow and encourage them to address the problems in the world today."
