Young people from around the world, aged 21-26, are invited to join the debate on the future of internal cooperation at the upcoming edition of European Development Days (EDD15), Europe’s premier forum on global cooperation and development, which will take place in Brussels on 3-4 June. This year’s edition will be the flagship event of the European Year for Development (EYD2015) – the first ever European Year to focus on international cooperation.
A call to all Future Leaders
Young adults will have until 18 March 2015 to submit a detailed application, including a CV, as well as a two-minute video explaining which one of the 12 topics that will be discussed at the EDD15 they would like to focus on, and why.
The European Commission will select youth representatives, or ‘future leaders’ on the basis of their skills, experience and commitment on a given issue. Twelve Future Leaders, one per auditorium session, will be selected to join other prominent decision makers on the main high-level panels at EDD15. Future leaders will be able to share their experience and ideas alongside key development stakeholders and policy makers.
Chernor Bah, from Sierra Leone, who took part in 2013 edition of the EDDs, explains: ‘As young people, we want to push for a different vision of development, looking at poverty as a result of actions and consumption patterns in one part of the world, that affect populations in another part. We should be focusing on using social consciousness in young generations around the world as a complementary tool to aid in the fight against poverty and inequality.’
A fresh vision for development
Young people actively contribute to the fight against poverty on a daily basis through their research or endeavours as business or civil society leaders. The European Commission wants to recognise this contribution and put their achievements in the spotlight; helping to give them a role in shaping the development policies that will affect them and their future. This year, Future Leaders will be showcasing their expertise not only in their own name, but as representatives of other youth and their inspiring initiatives. Young people are very much driven by ideas such as global solidarity and a fair and decent life for all. According to the latest Eurobarometer survey, 88% of young Europeans (aged 15-24) think it’s important to help people in developing countries. Young people are very much at the heart of the 2015 European Year for Development, which aims to inspire people – particularly young people – to get actively involved in development. The selected Young Leaders will also be given the opportunity to attend Green Week in Brussels and meet with leaders from European institutions.
