Earlier this month, I had the opportunity to participate in the One Young World Summit in Munich, Germany. I was selected to participate in the Summit as a delegate for my home country, Libya, and to serve as the flag bearer for Libya at the Opening Ceremony. The Summit lives up to its name, bringing young leaders and changemakers from around the world together in one space. The One Young World Summit brings together the world’s brightest young leaders to tackle today’s most pressing issues. From keynote speeches and plenary speeches to workshops and networking sessions, the agenda is designed to spark dialogue, share solutions, and drive action on a global scale.
Over 2,200 participants from over 190 countries attended the Summit, representing diverse backgrounds. Each year, the Summit covers specific topics that shape the plenary speeches and workshops. This Year’s focus was on Education, Circular economy, peace and security, and anti-hate. The global network has over 20,500 changemakers. The One Young World Summit was launched in 2013 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Again, it will be hosted there in 2026.
One Young World Summit of Hope & Change
Participating in such a vast and influential event exceeded my expectations. The One Young World team’s planning, coordination, and support have been incredible throughout the period from acceptance to arrival and up to the closing of the Summit. This year’s edition was hosted in Munich, a city I visited a few times before. I was thrilled to revisit it. The Summit gathered incredible changemakers working on diverse projects to impact their communities positively. It brought together key speakers, including Queen Rania of the Kingdom of Jordan, the famous musician and songwriter Sir Bob Geldof, American actors Terry Crews and Nathalie Emmanuel, Leena Nair, the Global CEO of Chanel, Angela F. Williams, Representatives from BMW Group, Deloitte, Siemens, Audi Environmental Foundation, and many more.
It was an opportunity for me to reflect on my experience working as an independent consultant on environmental policy. It gave me the chance to reflect deeply, engage, and expand my knowledge beyond my scope of work, through sessions that addressed education, leadership, innovation, and technology. For me, the Summit is an excellent opportunity to connect with people from all over the world, literally!
An Experience that Lasts Long
It allowed me to learn more and see the level of change made by many participants. The Summit was a reminder that change starts small and can be elevated when you have a clear vision and believe in your ideas. Moreover, it is also a great opportunity for practitioners to meet and create an open space for collaboration. I got to connect with organisations that work on food security, water solutions, and waste management.
I would highly recommend youth aged 18 to 35 who are active in art, health, business, education, environment, security, energy, technology, and beyond to apply and share their experience on an incredible platform. The One Young World Summit is an opportunity that will significantly contribute to your development. Both personally and professionally, you will become a One Young World Ambassador after participating. If you have any questions about the Summit, don’t hesitate to contact me through the ”contact me” section, and I’d be more than happy to help!