Youth leaders have an important role to play in instilling the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Paris Climate Agreement, and Laudato Si’ among the new generation worldwide. The Vatican Youth Symposium is a forum to strengthen global youth movements for sustainable development. Attendees come together to learn from both experts and each other in sessions covering topics such as advocacy, leadership, entrepreneurship, and moral engagement to fortify global youth movements for sustainable development.
Young people are not only the future guardians of our planet, but also talented, passionate agents for transformative change in our economies and communities, as well as the way we protect natural ecosystems. Sadly, many are unable to reach their full potential due to a lack in resources. This especially hinders the ability of innovative young people to support the SDGs and their respective targets.
The 2018 Symposium addresses this challenge by training young leaders in global development, specifically, young innovators, entrepreneurs, and activists who will become champions for their causes and catalyze social movements around the biggest issues of our time. With the support of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences (PAS) and SDSN, leaders from civil society, faith communities, businesses and academia, along with members of the UN Secretary-General’s SDG Advocates, will facilitate sessions offering their guidance and partnership with the youth leaders.
Throughout this event, young people will collaborate on concrete actions plans to implement solutions for the 2030 Agenda at both national and regional levels. Together, participants will build a wider understanding of the challenges various organizations and groups face and how youth can build on the lessons shared to continue to progressively mobilize on their own SDG projects and movements in their respective countries. The local network leaders of SDSN Youth will play an instrumental role in adopting these ideas
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Youth leaders have an important role to play in instilling the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Paris Climate Agreement, and Laudato Si’ among the new generation worldwide. The Vatican Youth Symposium is a forum to strengthen global youth movements for sustainable development. Attendees come together to learn from both experts and each other in sessions covering topics such as advocacy, leadership, entrepreneurship, and moral engagement to fortify global youth movements for sustainable development.
Young people are not only the future guardians of our planet, but also talented, passionate agents for transformative change in our economies and communities, as well as the way we protect natural ecosystems. Sadly, many are unable to reach their full potential due to a lack in resources. This especially hinders the ability of innovative young people to support the SDGs and their respective targets.
The 2018 Symposium addresses this challenge by training young leaders in global development, specifically, young innovators, entrepreneurs, and activists who will become champions for their causes and catalyze social movements around the biggest issues of our time. With the support of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences (PAS) and SDSN, leaders from civil society, faith communities, businesses and academia, along with members of the UN Secretary-General’s SDG Advocates, will facilitate sessions offering their guidance and partnership with the youth leaders.
Throughout this event, young people will collaborate on concrete actions plans to implement solutions for the 2030 Agenda at both national and regional levels. Together, participants will build a wider understanding of the challenges various organizations and groups face and how youth can build on the lessons shared to continue to progressively mobilize on their own SDG projects and movements in their respective countries. The local network leaders of SDSN Youth will play an instrumental role in adopting these ideas and implementing them in their respective regions and countries.
This year’s Symposium participants bring a wealth of expertise in leading and shaping systems change in various sectors which will equip young changemakers with the knowledge, skills, and guidance to build movements that will provide solutions for the 2030 Agenda.
SESSION I - Welcome
The opening session of the Vatican Youth Symposium will look at the role of youth leadership in instilling the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Paris Climate Agreement, and Laudato Si’ around the world.
Monsignor Marcelo Sánchez Sorondo
Chancellor of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences (PAS)
Professor Jeffrey Sachs
Director of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), Special Advisor on SDG’s to UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres
SESSION II – Raising Global Awareness for SDGs
This session will discuss ways to raise social awareness of sustainable development in schools, communities, churches, workplaces, and other areas of life.
Hugh Evans – Global Citizen
Sam Loni – SDSN Youth
Tabitha Mpamira-Kaguri – EDJA Foundation
Tomás Insua – Global Catholic Climate Movement
Discussion
SESSION III - Education and Expertise for SDGs
This session will discuss ways to embed the concepts of sustainable development in school curricula, job training, and public engagement. Key topics will include climate change, modern slavery, sustainable supply chains, and other vital themes of the SDGs.
Grégoire Théry – CAP International
Alessandra Graziosi – Scholas Occurrentes
Camille Bangug – Millenium Campus Network
Yi Jun Mock – SDG Students Program
Kinsu Kumar – Kailash Satyarthi Children's Foundation
Professor Fernando Reimers (Video Message) – Harvard University
Amanda Abrom – Global Schools Program
Discussion
SESSION IV - Entrepreneurship & Innovation for SDGs
This session will discuss the role of entrepreneurship and social businesses for the SDGs, and will present several case studies.
Christina Myers & Dr. Aziza Khabbush – Omni Institute
Facundo Lugo – La Alameda Foundation
Yesika Aguilera – Tespack
Filippo Veglio – World Business Council on Sustainable Development
Dario Piselli – Youth Solutions Program
Discussion
SESSION V - Philanthropy & Financing for SDGs
This session will discuss mobilizing SDG financing and how youth can build systems and learn lessons from various sectors to achieve the necessary financing for SDG-related solutions.
Thomas Preiss – Common Goal
Vanessa Fajans-Turner – Sustainable Development Solutions Network
Djaffar Shalchi – Human Act
Lynn Zovighian – NEXUS
Discussion
Updates from Previous Vatican Youth Symposiums Speakers in this session will share their experiences from the previous Vatican Youth Symposiums and elaborate on the progress and impact of projects since last year.
Gabriela May Lagunes
Sienna Nordquist
Molly Burhans
Anthony Bucci
Clayton Ferrara
Ixchel Yglesias
Mariana Ruenes
Obinna Nnewuihe
Closing Remarks
Speakers will come together to summarize the main takeaways of each session and discuss the synergies between each of the thematic areas. Participants will be asked to share on their experiences from the day and explain how they will adapt the lessons from this symposium into their respective projects and solutions.
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