A chance for youth to engage with top policymakers, network with promising youth from the region and the world that are determined to make our world a better place for everyone.
World Youth Forum is an international NGO founded in 2017, based in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt. WYF's mission is to send a message of peace, prosperity, harmony, and progress from the youth to the entire world.[1] The forum was initially sponsored early on and held under the auspices of the president of Egypt, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, who agreed in November 2017 during a peace marathon, President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi agreed to hold the forum annually.
On February 18, 2021, the United Nations adopted World Youth Forum as an international platform.[2]
The forum became an annual event, being hosted in November, after following one of its recommendations in as the first edition of the forum. Since its launch in 2017, World Youth Forum had 4 editions starting with over 3200 attendees from 113 countries and reaching a total of 5,000 delegates in 2018 from 169 countries. The most recent forum was held in January 2022.
ًWYF registrations are open to all youth of all nations between the ages 18–40 years old. Youth that are influential in their communities and areas of study are also encouraged to apply as speakers as well.[3] People can attend WYF as an attendee, a speaker, a model participant, a workshop participant or a world youth theater participant.[4]
Discussion tracks
The World Youth Forum agenda opens discussion into three tracks which reflect the visions and aspirations of the world’s youth, tackling themes and topics of interest to international youth, creating a platform to express views, present ideas and share experiences throughout its sessions.[5][6][7]
World Youth Forum logo from 2017
Peace
The role of world leaders in building and sustaining peace Euro-Mediterranean cooperation: a strategic partnership humanitarian aid: responsibilities in confronting challenges Resurrecting communities post-conflict: from the Marshall Plan to Syria
Entrepreneurs and Innovative startups role in economic growth
Editions
WYF 2017
In July 2017, the president announced organizing the WYF in Sharm el-Sheikh during the fourth National Youth Conference in Alexandria. Under the auspices of Egypt's president, the tourist attraction city of Sharm el-Sheikh was chosen to host the first edition of World Youth Forum from 4–10 November.[8]
The forum brought together more than 3,000 youths represented by 60 delegations from 113 countries across the world, a total of 222 speakers from 64 countries and expertise in various fields, all gathered in 46 sessions. to explore key issues facing their generation, and determine their role in implementing the global development goals and in facing terrorism.[9] In addition, the forum witnessed a simulation of the UN Security Council through WYF-MUN.
WYF 2017 in Sharm El-Sheikh
Among WYF 2017 keynote speakers was Lamya Haji Bashar, Yazidi survivor, who was held captive by ISIS.[10]
WYF 2018
The second edition of WYF was hosted from 3–6 November. More than 230,000 people from around the world applied to attend the four-day conference of the 2018 edition in Egypt’s Sharm El-Sheikh and discuss topics relating to peace, development and creativity.[11]
The second edition of the Forum is expected to be attended by some 5,000 young people from 145 countries.[12]
In the closing session of WYF 2018, President Abdel Fatah el-Sisi announced ten recommendations to be executed before holding the third edition of the forum, among the recommendations was announcing Egypt’s Aswan city as the capital of African Youth in 2019.[13]
Egypt's Pope, Tawadros II of the Church of Alexandria said the forum held annually in Egypt reflects the president’s care about youth. He also hailed the forum’s management of theatrical shows that were presented on December 13, to bring together promising artists from all over the world to present their talents and represent their cultures.[14]
