Monique Coleman returns as a Keynote Speaker at the 22nd Session of The Youth Assembly

Friendship Ambassadors Foundation is extremely honored to welcome Monique Coleman for the third time as a Keynote Speaker at The Youth Assembly this August!

Monique is an actor, producer, and global youth advocate. She's most recognized as Taylor Mckessie in Disney’s High School Musical franchise. However, she's known to many as the first ever United Nations Youth Champion. During The International Year of Youth, Monique organized and funded a 6-month global tour to 24 countries and raised awareness about the most pressing issues facing today's youth.

Mo balances her work in entertainment with her passion for impacting the world. She appears in the upcoming film "Steppin' Back To Love" on TV One and "Somebody’s Someone" airing on Lifetime. She's also the founder & CEO of Motivated Productions and has several exciting projects in development, including Season 1 & 2 of “GimmeMo" airing on Discovery Life this Fall. Monique is a longtime champion for "Girl Up" and is Allstate Foundation’s "Good Starts Young Ambassador".

Follow Monique Coleman on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram!

Schwarzman Scholars joins young leaders at the 22nd Session of The Youth Assembly

Friendship Ambassadors Foundation (FAF) is thrilled to announce its partnership with Schwarzman Scholars for the upcoming session of The Youth Assembly in August 2018.

Schwarzman Scholars is a highly-selective, fully-funded scholarship program, based at the distinguished Tsinghua University in Beijing, designed to ensure that the next generation of business, political and civil society leaders around the world can effectively serve as bridges between China and the rest of the world. We achieve this by (1) recruiting promising young leaders from around the world—people who have the ambition and talent to take on executive roles in government, civil society, or business and who have a commitment to building understanding among people with differing perspectives; (2) educating them about China’s global role via a one-year Master’s degree in global affairs at Tsinghua and (3) linking them to senior mentors in their field in China and to their peers among China’s rising young leaders. You may also find it helpful to view this video introduction, this profile in the New York Times, and/or to download the program’s full brochure. 

Scholars hone their leadership skills through a curriculum designed by leading international academics and frequent interactions with distinguished guest lecturers. Additional, Scholars spend considerable time outside the classroom developing first-hand exposure to China and its people through thematic study tours, a mentoring program, and internships with key employers in Beijing. All classes are taught in English, and students have the opportunity to study Mandarin. Schwarzman Scholars recruits an internationally diverse cohort each year, people who have the ambition and talent to take on executive roles in government, civil society, or business and who have a commitment to building understanding among people with differing perspectives.

Applications for the 2019-2020 class are open for US and Global applicants up to age 28, (with selections made in November 2018), and currently closed for applicants from China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macao (with selections made in September).

The program has the support of donors from around the world and a distinguished Advisory Board consisting of important leaders including Prime Minister Tony Blair, President Nicolas Sarkozy, Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, Tung Chee Hwa, Henry Kissinger, Colin Powell, Condoleezza Rice, Hank Paulson, Bob Rubin, Jim Wolfensohn, Richard Haas, Richard Levin, Sir Colin Lucas, Richard Brodhead, Nobel Laureate Chen Ning Yang, John Thornton, Yo-Yo Ma, and Bob Dudley. 

Make sure to look out for further details on what opportunities will be available for The Youth Assembly participants in the coming weeks!

The Youth Assembly Ambassadors Program is here!

Young people's energy, creativity, and passion never fail to inspire our work every day. Through our Campus Ambassadors Program, we were able to work with amazing delegates from at least 11 different countries to help increase representation from their campuses and nearby communities. Today, with the aim of widening our scope from leading colleges and universities to various regions around the world, we are proud to announce a major update to this initiative, which is now called The Youth Assembly Ambassadors Program.

Through this program, delegates or observers of The Youth Assembly who felt inspired and empowered through their experience at the conference have the opportunity to play an important role in forming a youth delegation to represent their local communities at The Youth Assembly.

As The Youth Assembly Ambassador of your campus, community, organization, country, or region, you become a leader in enabling others to take an active role in critical issues confronting your community by tackling them at the global arena.

Are you the perfect fit for this role? Do you know anyone who would be interested to take on this challenge? Learn more about the program here.

Thought For Food joins young leaders at the 2018 Winter Youth Assembly

Friendship Ambassadors Foundation (FAF) is thrilled to announce its partnership with Thought For Food for the upcoming Youth Assembly in February 2018.

The partnership will provide an opportunity for conference attendees to participate in a specially-developed workshop for aspiring young innovators and entrepreneurs to gain valuable skills and insights into forming bold ideas and professional pitches for competitions such as the TFF Challenge.

The Thought For Food Challenge is the world’s leading next generation startup and leadership development program, calling on young innovators from around the world to form interdisciplinary teams and develop breakthrough solutions that address the global challenge of feeding 9+ billion people by the year 2050. Sign-ups for the 2018 TFF Challenge open on 15 January.  

With a strong emphasis on working together to create innovative solutions to end hunger, the TFF Challenge runs in line with the conference’s theme “#CocreateImpact: Collaboration and Innovation for a Sustainable World.”

Make sure to look out for further details on the workshop and the TFF Challenge in the coming weeks!

12th Resolution Social Venture Challenge at the Youth Assembly

Are you an undergraduate with an idea for a new social venture? Do you need money and mentorship to turn that idea into reality? Pitch your idea in the Resolution Social Venture Challenge at the Youth Assembly.

WHAT IS THE RESOLUTION SOCIAL VENTURE CHALLENGE?

The Resolution Social Venture Challenge (SVC) is a multi-step competition designed to inspire undergraduate students to propose impactful, socially-responsible projects that address pressing social issues around the world. SVC Winners are provided lifelong Resolution Fellowship!

WHAT IS A RESOLUTION FELLOWSHIP?

A Resolution Fellowship is a unique and full ecosystem of support for aspiring young social entrepreneurs, including seed-funding, mentorship, resources, and access to a global community of like-minded peers.

There are currently over 300 Resolution Fellows working in 70 countries in diverse, high-impact fields such as human rights, energy, environment, education, technology, and community development. In the past year, select Resolution Fellows have been featured in the first ever United Nations Youth Solution Report, Forbes 30 under 30, Shark Tank, and on-stage with U.S. President Clinton!

HOW CAN YOU PARTICIPATE IN THE SVC?

1. Are you eligible? SVC participation is only open to undergraduate Youth Assembly attendees. Venture ideas must not have received prior institutional funding or support and should be in the early stages of implementation.

2. Submit your venture proposal! Registration links will be emailed to all undergraduate Youth Assembly attendees. Individuals and teams can then sign-up and complete a multi-step proposal outlining their proposed social venture’s implementation and sustainability. (Step 1 Deadline: Jan. 16; Step 2 Deadline: Jan. 23; Step 3 Deadline: Feb. 6)

3. Pitch in the SVC Forum (Feb. 14th, 10am-12pm): Semifinalists will showcase their proposed venture to students and judges in an informal, science fair-like setting.  Please note, the Forum takes place during Youth Assembly registration and prior to most conference programming. In order to be eligible for a Resolution Fellowship, you must participate in the Forum, so please plan travel accordingly.

4. Pitch in the SVC Finals (Feb. 15th, 1-3pm):  Finalists will give formal presentations about their ventures, followed by question and answer sessions with a panel of judges.

CONTACT US

All undergraduate students who register for Youth Assembly will receive details on how to register. If you do not receive an email, please reach out to svc@resolutionproject.org.

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3 UN Member States to co-organize the 2018 Winter Youth Assembly as Lead Endorsers

Greenwich, CT – Friendship Ambassadors Foundation is proud to announce the lead endorsers for the upcoming 2018 Winter Youth Assembly. The 21st session of the Youth Assembly, set to take place from 14-16 February 2018, will be co-organized by the Permanent Mission of Austria to the UN, the Permanent Mission of Mongolia to the UN, and the Permanent Mission of the Slovak Republic to the UN.

The following are the statements of support from the Permanent Missions:

AMBASSADOR H.E. MR. JAN KICKERT AND THE PERMANENT MISSION OF AUSTRIA TO THE UNITED NATIONS

The Permanent Mission of Austria is proud to be a lead endorser of the 2018 Winter Youth Assembly. We believe that for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda we need partnerships across the world, particularly between generations. Without the full involvement of the world’s youth, we will not be successful in achieving sustainable development and preserving our planet.  It is therefore important that young people around the globe can express themselves and actively contribute to shaping our common future.

“Without the full involvement of the world’s youth, we will not be successful in achieving sustainable development and preserving our planet.”

— H.E. Mr. Jan Kickert, Ambassador & Permanent Representative of Austria to the UN

AMBASSADOR H.E. MR. SUKHBOLD SUKHEE AND THE PERMANENT MISSION OF MONGOLIA TO THE UNITED NATIONS

Mongolia is honored to be a lead endorser of the 2018 Winter Youth Assembly.

As youth are given specific recognition in the preamble of the 2030 Agenda, and both explicit and implicit references to youth are found throughout its 17 Sustainable Development Goals, we should increase policy focus on youth issues as they relate to sustainable development.

The 2018 Winter Youth Assembly, which will bring together more than 1,000 leaders and professionals from around the world, will be an important event in recognizing the young people are recognized as agents of change, entrusted with fulfilling their own potential and ensuring a world fit for future generations.

“As youth are given specific recognition in the preamble of the 2030 Agenda, [...] we should increase policy focus on youth issues as they relate to sustainable development.”

— H.E. Mr. Sukhbold Sukhee, Ambassador & Permanent Representative of Mongolia to the UN

H. E. MR. MICHAL MLYNÁR AND THE PERMANENT MISSION OF The SLOVAK REPUBLIC TO THE UNITED NATIONS

I believe that sustainable development goals are a vital part of our future and so are young people. We have to make sure that their voices will be heard beyond community lines and that their enthusiasm will be allowed to contribute to making our world sustainable. As ambassadors of change, they can bring fresh ideas and added value on the topics of innovation and collaboration. For all these reasons, the Permanent Mission of the Slovak Republic to the United Nations proudly supports Friendship Ambassadors Foundation and will co-organize the 2018 Winter Youth Assembly.

“We have to make sure that [youth’s] voices will be heard beyond community lines and that their enthusiasm will be allowed to contribute to making our world sustainable.”

— H.E. Mr. Michal Mlynár, Ambassador & Permanent Representative of the Slovak Republic to the UN

Her Excellency Ms. Simona-Mirela Miculescu, Representative of the UN Secretary-General and Head of the UN Office in Belgrade, expresses her unyielding support for youth and continues her role as the Youth Assembly Honorary Chair.

H.E. MS. SIMONA-MIRELA MICULESCU, REPRESENTATIVE OF THE UN SECRETARY-GENERAL AND HEAD OF THE UN OFFICE IN BELGRADE

At this crucial time when the world is looking for new ways to build peace and to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, it is great that the Youth Assembly focuses on encouraging young people to innovate and create knowledge that is vital in effectively addressing all challenges. The creativity and the imagination of youth clearly need to be nurtured, and occasions such as this one are wonderful because these youth are doing more than innovating – they are networking, and they are absorbing precious experiences that will inspire them. I fully trust youth’s creativity, innovation and sustainable leadership in building a solid future that will leave no one behind.

“The creativity and the imagination of youth clearly need to be nurtured, and occasions such as this one are wonderful because these youth are doing more than innovating – they are networking, and they are absorbing precious experiences that will inspire them.”

— H.E. Ms. Simona-Mirela Miculescu, Representative of the UN Secretary-General and Head of UN Office in Belgrade

For three days, over 1,000 young leaders, social entrepreneurs, and advocates will convene to tackle the world’s most pressing issues along with experts and leaders in the global community.

Organized on the theme of “Innovation and Collaboration for a Sustainable World,” the 21st session of the Youth Assembly is a forum to open up new pathways for cooperation and social entrepreneurship while harnessing the creativity and energy of youth for global impact. In alignment with the upcoming 2018 High-Level Political Forum, discussions will focus on the environmental dimensions of the 2030 Agenda, particularly Goals 6, 7, 11, 12, and 15. Learn more about the concept note here.

The Youth Assembly is a project of Friendship Ambassadors Foundation, a non-profit organization that aims to empower people through global education, youth leadership development, and cultural exchange programs. It works toward achieving a peaceful and sustainable society that embodies diversity, mutual understanding, and cooperation. Through the Youth Assembly platform, the Foundation brings the global community together in an atmosphere of collaboration towards achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals.

For media inquiries, please contact yamedia@faf.org.

Call for Workshop Proposals

Friendship Ambassadors Foundation is seeking proposals for workshop sessions at the 2018 Winter Youth Assembly. Our workshop and training sessions aim to equip young people with the necessary tools, knowledge, and skills to become an effective leader and changemaker in their communities.

Civil society/advocacy groups or organizations that help empower youth through capacity building or interested in engaging youth through their work are invited to submit proposals using the form below. The 2018 Winter Youth Assembly is tentatively scheduled from 14-16 February 2018 in New York, USA. Workshop sessions will take place between 15-16 February 2018.

Due to high interest, only proposals under review for further consideration will be contacted.

DEADLINE for Proposal Submissions: November 8, 2017

For topics of interest, please read the concept note →

View the summary of 2017 Summer Youth Assembly →

*Update: The deadline for proposal submission has already passed. For inquiries, please email team@faf.org.

Support #EndPoverty Day

Today is #EndPoverty Day! Together with young leaders and changemakers around the world, we believe we can #endpoverty by 2030.

In an upcoming report "Fair Progress: Educational Mobility Around the World", World Bank takes a look at how influential the social status of one's parents is in determining a person's future. The report suggests that in order to break the cycle of poverty, we have to work towards a society where everyone has an equal chance to succeed.

Here at Friendship Ambassadors Foundation, we believe that we can be the first generation that can end poverty. Hence, empowering this generation, particularly young people, is critical to achieving this goal. If we invest in young people's education and provide them with opportunities and tools necessary for their success, we are one step closer to realizing a future where no one is left behind.

Help us spread the word about the importance of today's message by doing any of the following:

1. Show your support on Facebook by updating your profile picture with World Bank's End Poverty frame.

2. Write an op-ed piece in response to or in the context of the upcoming report, which tackles economic mobility across generations and why it matters for reducing poverty and inequality. Please email yamedia@faf.org for more information.

3. Join the movement by signing up here to get exclusive updates on online events, contests, campaigns, and social media challenges from World Bank.