Favorite Moments…
The One Young World Conferece delegates have disbanded, but there is still work to be done. David Jones challenged the delegates to become active in the post-conference networking site, where we can volunteer for different committees.
For alumni, here is the site:
http://oneyoungworld.com/ambassadors/
When making a decision as to the committee of my choice, I felt compelled to read over my notes again and recall my favorite moments from the conference. Durint the first plenary session on the environment, Lina from Ethiopia brought up the devastating fact that the poorest nations will also be the most vulnerable to “climate migration”, insances in which the change in climate will ultimately displace large groups leaving them without homes.
I enjoyed Mohammed Yunus’s presentation on social businesses. He encouraged us to design a social business to solve a problem you see around you, saying “monkey making is only a part of us, not the whole of us”. What committee will you join?
Sarah
Here’s a picture from yesterday, it’s Desmond Tutu recieving his honorary David Beckham jersey. JEALOUS! Archbishop Tutu has been a joy to hear this week, he is so full of energy and happiness. (He also recieved really cool purple and yellow “trainers”, or sneakers). More words you should know if you ever come to London, the bathroom really is the loo, the elevator really is the lift, and the line REALLY is called the queue. And if someone asks, “You alright?!” it’s often rhetorical. Just a way to say hello. But I like to answer anyways. Fine thanks, a little tired, loving this sunshine, HUNGRY!
Cheers,
Sarah
WHO IS HERE?
People from over 100 different countries. In less than 24 hours I’ve spoken to people from India, Holland, Afghanistan, Turkey, China, Finland, UK, Germany, and Australia, to name a few. We all met James from Haiti survived the horrible earth quake and is able to represent his country and their needs as they recover. We are students and employees and volunteers from around the world and among all of our many, many differences it truly feels like we have a common goal which is to change how things are run.
Bob Geldof quoted Gandhi during the opening ceremonies saying, “First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you and then you win”. I think this was a great way to start the week. Another inspiring quote I heard today at the plenary sessions was from from Mohammad Yunus who said, “design a social business to fix a problem that you hate.” Definitely words of wisdome for aspiring entrepreneurs!
Why are we here?
So why is it that hundreds of 25-and-unders have come to London this week? Certainly not for the weather. I’m sure Customs at Heathrow have heard plenty of abbreviated answers to this question in the past couple of days.
Well, I’ll tell ya. We’re here to attend One Young World, the world’s first global youth leadership summit. We’ve been called from all corners because our generation had a number of advantages (and disadvantages) that make for a potent mix. Now, some have written us off, calling us Millenials, apparently a swear word. But OYW founders David Jones and Kate Robertson see the potential in our generation.
And it’s not just a hunch. One Young World recently completed their Global Youth Study, a survey of 15,000 youths from across the globe. Surprisingly, we seem to have a lot to agree on. The survey “reveals unexpected consensus among youth on warming, poverty and global issues.” Furthermore, the delegate list alone is like an essay on inspiration, proving that these young people are not waiting to become the decision makers of tomorrow but are actively changing things today.
Ultimately, this summit will not be just talking about what we agree on or what we’ve done already. We’re here to challenge one another, learn from each other. This will be the ultimate brainstorming session. But, unlike many brainstorms I’ve been to, these ideas will not waste away on post-it notes. OYW will challenge us to take these resolutions home. Our responsibilities as delegates are only just beginning.
For now, OYW will be beginning itself in a few hours time. I’ll be tweeting with the hashtag #OYW @michellemarie and blogging here throughout the days. But this isn’t a spectator sport, you can also participate and watch live online!
I look forward to hearing from you.
Countdown
I’ve been tripping over London guidebooks littering my bedroom floor all week – so the One Young World Summit must be around the corner. I’ve been thinking about the speakers selected for the conference, and how they might spend their time in the big city. If this remarkable group of leaders wrote a guidebook, what would it look like? No doubt we’d take a stroll down to Kings College on The Strand, where activist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu received his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Theology. In 2008, former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan visited the same University to deliver the Commencement Oration. The Strand is just over ¾ of a mile long in the heart of London, but the street once frequented by London-greats such as Charles Dickens hosts enough history for an afternoon.
Carole Stone’s London tour would begin in the lovely Covent Garden, where she currently resides. She is London’s “queen of networking,” not to mention an acclaimed journalist and broadcaster. Her neighborhood Covent Garden is known for its colorful street performers, theaters and stalls of goods. If I were to contribute, I would take us down King’s Road in the posh corner of Chelsea. Where do YOU want to go?
Sarah
Hello World!
Welcome to our (Michelle and Sarah’s) One Young World blog. We will be posting here leading up to and during the One Young World conference in London, February 8-10. Keep checking this blog (as well as our twitter pages, @michellemarie/@sarahbeebs) to stay in the loop as we travel across the pond to join our peers from all over the world.
With discussions led by renown world leaders such as Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Sir Bob Geldof, Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus, former President of Peru Alejandro Toledo, and U.S. Senator John Kerry we will dive into pressing issues facing the global community today while recording our experiences here for you to follow.
We’re truly honored to be a part of this initiative, and are eager to begin our journey as young leaders. First stop, London town. As British author Samuel Johnson once said, “When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford.” Looking through London guidebooks is sure to fill some time as we anxiously await our departures! Check back soon for more.
Cheers!
Sarah
