One Young World

Young leaders from Malaysia to attend the world’s largest youth leadership summit

Archbishop Desmond Tutu, one of the One Young World (www.OneYoungWorld.com) Counsellors, explains; “We want to see this world a different kind of world. We want to see a peaceful world, a more compassionate world, a caring world and so we appeal to you, please send the best that you have who will be the next generation of leaders.” Mohd Hairol Izmar bin Ahmad has been selected to be just that; one of the best that Malaysia has to offer.

Selection as a One Young World Delegate will provide Mohd Hairol with the opportunity to attend the world’s largest youth leadership summit. Mohd Hairol will travel to London in February 2010 and spend three days discussing six key issues. As well as the 1500 young leaders from 192 countries there will be counsellors to facilitate the sessions. Desmond Tutu, Kofi Annan and Bob Geldof have already committed their support. One Young World will provide a unified voice from the next generation of leaders. Resolutions will be debated, voted on and the outcome being fed back to today’s decision makers.

One Young World is unique. Not only is it the largest meeting of its kind but it is also the first global summit at which all countries will be proportionally represented. Every country in the world has two seats at the conference. The remaining 1116 seats will be filled in proportion to the world’s population. For example, China will have the largest delegation with 259 and India following close behind with 223 however, America will only have 61 delegates. This is just one of the fundamental messages that the next generation will be sending to the, often disproportionately, powerful people of today.

Engaging with young people is a challenge that all large organisations face. Young people often feel disenfranchised, disempowered and forgotten. One Young World is working in partnership with BraveNewTalent.com to break this barrier and find the best delegates.

“One Young World wants to connect the human family and we are so impressed with how people around the world are already making this initiative their own;” commented Kate Robertson, UK Chairman of Euro RSCG Worldwide and Co Founder of One Young World. “Brave New Talent’s work delivering the messages about this movement to young people everywhere through social media has built a groundswell of awareness and pro-active support which will ensure One Young World achieves its aims.”

A YouTube initiative (www.youtube.com/oneyoungworld) has been launched which provides the opportunity for 20 young people to win a fully funded place at the Summit.  WAYN, Facebook, BraveNewTalent and Twitter are also being used to engage with potential delegates and those interested in the aims of the initiative. Over 500 people from 80 countries have already put themselves forwards as delegates and thousands of others are voting, pledging support and discussing the initiative on forums and interest groups.

This ‘user generated’ leadership programme is the first of its kind and shows how social media can be deployed as an instrument for positive change.  “Social media channels are the single most effective route to reaching the next generation’s leaders;” commented Lucian Tarnowski, CEO of BraveNewTalent.com, One Young World’s delegate outreach partner. “By working with the biggest social networks around the world, we are reaching out to millions of young people and giving them an important, integral role in the process, which has never been possible on this scale before.  This is like a global search for 1500 young Obamas.”

The current leader board at http://apps.facebook.com/oywcandidates/leaderboard/ gives a fascinating insight into the response to the campaign. The reasons given for taking part are varied, but the common thread is a global vision and a serious belief that positive change is possible. As one candidate from the Philippines commented; “The youth need a real voice in world affairs because the decisions made today by our leaders affect the next generation more.”

Mohd Hairol Izmar bin Ahmad is raising his voice and One Young World will make sure it is heard.