2025 International Forum
We, the Youth
Connect for Change
July - August 2025
Regional Dialogues for Africa and the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific,
Europe, Latin America and Caribbean and North America
October 2025
Korean Diaspora Dialogue
Final Conference: Our Sustainable Future and Solidarity Concert
in Seoul, Republic of Korea
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What is the International Forum
We, the Youth (IFWY)?
The challenges we face today—rising inequality, climate crisis, conflict, and systemic
exclusion—impact all of us, demanding urgent, collective responses.
In this context, youth hold a special responsibility not only as future leaders but as
present actors of change, actively shaping and implementing solutions.
The International Forum We, the Youth (IFWY), a global initiative co-organized
by United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD) and MBC, responds to
this need by providing a space for open,transparent, democratic and solution-oriented
dialogue—empowering youth to co-create pathways toward a more just, peaceful, and sustainable world.
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An action-oriented movement
based on bottom-up approach
At the IFWY, youth are not just participants.
They are in the driver's seat, shaping the agenda, selecting the voices to be amplified, and leading the dialogue.
By blending serious policy discussions with the creativity and energy of a festival, IFWY creates
a dynamic space where youth and policymakers connect as partners in making solutions.
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Dynamics of
Agenda-setting Discourse -
Creativity of
Festival -
Energy for
Social Change
By the Youth, for the Youth, with the Youth Agenda Setting Platform with Festival
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The Expected Impact and
Outcomes of the Forum
Regional Dialogues
July - August, 2025
In-person gatherings in Africa, the Middle East, Asia & the Pacific, Europe, Latin America & Caribbean and North America (50 youth per Regional Dialogue, 250 in total), selected through online voting and recommendations for the vulnerable and marginalized.
Korean Diaspora Dialogue
October, 2025
In-person gathering in Seoul, 50 Korean diaspora youth from around the world, selected through online voting and recommendations for the vulnerable and marginalized.
Outcome
Empowered youth leadership through solution-oriented policy recommendations rooted in regional
perspectives and challenges; Strengthened regional ownership of global agendas; Amplified grassroots youth voices
in policymaking; and strong regional networks of youth leaders capable of sustained collaboration.
Enhanced engagement of Korean diaspora youth as key connecters between global and regional initiatives, contributing
diverse lived experiences and transnational perspectives to enrich dialogue and policymaking.
Conference: Our Sustainable Future
October, 2025
Seoul, Republic of Korea
175 Explorers (25 per Regional Dialogue and 50 from Korean Diaspora Dialogue)
Outcome
Youth-led global policy advocacy through the production of a globally relevant, youth-driven list of solution-oriented policy
recommendations; increased global visibility and public support for youth-led change; and the election of a new generation of
youth representatives (Navigators) equipped to influence global discourse.
Solidarity Concerts
October, 2025
Seoul, Republic of Korea
The global public, artists and the attendees of the Conference: Our Sustainable Future
Outcome
Cultural legitimacy for youth-led agendas, bridging the gap between policy and popular culture;
Widespread public engagement and solidarity, turning global challenges into shared causes embraced by diverse audiences;
An emotional connection to action, mobilizing support not just through facts, but through inspiration.
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Regional Dialogues &
Walk the Talk
Regional Dialogues &
Korean Diaspora Dialogue
Walk the Talk
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Regional Dialogues &
Korean Diaspora Dialogue
The Regional Dialogues are the cornerstone of the International Forum "We, the Youth" (IFWY) 2025, empowering young people to shape global and regional policy through inclusive, youth-led, and solution-focused discussions. Taking place across five global regions—Africa & the Middle East (Botswana), Asia & the Pacific (Thailand), Europe (Switzerland), Latin America & the Caribbean (Brazil), and North America (US)—between July and August, the dialogues emphasize local leadership, innovation, and diversity. A special Korean Diaspora Dialogue will be held in the Republic of Korea in October, bringing together ethnic Korean youth from around the world to explore identity, belonging, and shared responsibility in global peace and sustainability efforts. An online platform will ensure broad, democratic participation, enabling applicants to submit short self-introductions and 3-minute policy messages. Based on public voting (80%) and organizing committee recommendations (20%), 50 youth per region (totalling 250 Catalysts) and 50 Korean diaspora youth will be selected to join the in-person dialogues. The dialogues are youth-designed and facilitated, with a strong focus on the inclusion of marginalized voices. They integrate culture, storytelling, and digital expression to enhance connection and understanding across regions. Each dialogue will focus on six thematic areas under the umbrella theme “Our Sustainable Future: Peace and Cooperation”, resulting in region-specific policy recommendations. The initiative aims to build lasting networks and elevate youth voices in global decision-making.
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Conference
Our Sustainable Future“
Conference
Our Sustainable Future, to be held in Seoul (October), will bring together 175 youth leaders ("Explorers") selected from the Regional and Korean Diaspora Dialogues to co-develop global policy recommendations on sustainable development and peace.
Building on insights from the Regional Dialogues and the Korean Diaspora Dialogue, the conference will serve as a collaborative and inclusive space to transform local solutions into actionable global strategies. It aims to empower youth to shape policies on peace, equality, and environmental sustainability through cross-sector and cross-cultural collaboration.
The conference will launch a long-term follow-up strategy, including:
▶ The election of Navigators, youth delegates who will represent IFWY outcomes at global platforms like the World Social Summit, COP30, and G20.
▶ Mentorship, project incubation, and seed funding to support youth-led initiatives.
▶ The creation of a Global Youth Network of IFWY to foster continued collaboration, advocacy, and impact tracking.
These efforts ensure that youth-driven, community-rooted solutions actively influence global decision-making and contribute to a more just, peaceful, and sustainable future.
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Solidarity Concerts
Unite4Peace“
Solidarity Concerts
The Solidarity Concerts, tentatively titled Unite4Peace, are a cultural centrepiece of the IFWY 2025, held alongside the final conference in Seoul. Inspired by Live Aid and Live 8, these globally broadcast concerts—organized across multiple venues in Seoul—use the power of music, storytelling, and technology to amplify the Forum’s message of peace, unity, and sustainability.
Highlighting youth voices, the concerts will feature diverse performers from around the world, celebrating cultural pluralism and shared human values. They will also incorporate digital innovation, including virtual idols and AI-enhanced experiences, to engage a global, digitally connected audience.
Each performance will align with the Forum’s core themes, offering a platform for creative activism and global solidarity. Far more than entertainment, Unite4Peace is a powerful call to action—mobilizing hearts, minds, and movements for a more peaceful and sustainable future.
How to Join IFWY
Become a Catalyst, Explorer and Navigator
