If your question isn’t answered in this FAQ, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the IFWY Secretariat. You can contact us at ifwy.official@ifwy.org. Due to the large volume of messages we receive, we may not be able to respond to all inquiries immediately, but we will do our best to review and respond to important concerns as capacity allows.Please note that, depending on the nature of your inquiry, especially if it requires additional internal review, it may take some time for our team to respond. While we may not be able to provide detailed feedback in all cases, we appreciate your understanding and your contribution to IFWY.

We’re here to help ensure your participation is clear, meaningful, and supported. Please refrain from contacting other channels or posting inquiries on social media, as this may result in delayed replies or miscommunication.

If you are selected and later realize you cannot participate in the regional dialogue, please inform the regional dialogue organizers as soon as possible. Your place may be offered to another qualified applicant. We understand that life happens as early communication helps us ensure smooth planning and fair inclusion.

Due to data privacy and platform limitations, we do not publicly share full voting rankings. If you believe there was a specific issue with how your application was processed (e.g. a technical error), you may contact us at ifwy.official@ifwy.org.

Yes, the use of AI tools is not prohibited. We recognize that many participants may use generative AI for brainstorming, editing, or language support.
Please note that while limited use of AI tools will not automatically disqualify a submission, especially given the current limitations of AI detection technology, entries that demonstrate a high level of reliance on AI, particularly in place of original thought and expression, will be disqualified. We encourage all participants to ensure their submissions reflect their own ideas, voice, and effort.

Due to the high volume of submissions, we are unfortunately unable to provide individualized feedback to all applicants. However, you are welcome to contact us at ifwy.official@ifwy.org for general clarification. We deeply appreciate your effort and hope you’ll stay engaged in future IFWY opportunities.

Catalysts are selected through a process that combines public online voting with committee review to ensure fairness, diversity and quality.

For example in the case of Latin America and the Caribbean Regional Dialogue and Asia and the Pacific Regional Dialogue in 2025, the majority of selected candidates have received strong public support through online voting. However, the selection of Catalysts has not been based on vote counts alone. The Organizing Committee has also considered important factors such as gender balance, country and thematic diversity, and the overall quality and relevance of the submissions.

This approach ensures that the Regional Dialogues include not only popular voices, but also underrepresented perspectives and strong ideas that align with the goals and spirit of IFWY.

A visa may be required for onsite participation. Details will be provided upon selection.

Yes. IFWY will cover all travel expenses, accommodation costs, and visa application fees for participants attending both the Regional Dialogues and the Our Sustainable Future Conference.

There is no fee for participation.

A confirmation email will be sent to the email address provided during the registration process. If not received, check your spam or junk mail folder or contact the organizing committee.

Yes. Applicants are permitted to make modifications to their submitted content prior to the application deadline.

We highly recommend submissions to be submitted in English.

Applicants may share policy solutions across multiple thematic areas during the initial selection phase. However, selected participants will engage in only one theme during Regional Dialogues and Our Sustainable Future Conference.

Your region will be automatically determined based on your country of residence provided while filling out the application form.

Applications for Catalyst are restricted to individuals only. Organizational affiliations may be specified in the designated "Affiliation" field during the registration process.

A total of 250 participants (50 per continent) will be selected across six thematic areas during the initial selection phase. Following the regional preliminary events, 25 participants from each continent and 50 individuals from the Korean Diaspora Dialogue will advance to the main conference, constituting a total of 175 participants. IFWY reserves the authority to modify selection quotas as necessary to ensure diverse representation among youth participants.

Regional Dialogues will be conducted across five continents—Europe, Asia-Pacific, North America, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Africa—from late July through August. The Korean Dialogue without Borders will be held in October, before the main conference. The Our Sustainable Future Conference will be held in Seoul, South Korea, in late October.

IFWY comprises Regional Dialogues and the Our Sustainable Future Conference. To apply as a Catalyst, register on the official website, complete the application form, and submit a post containing either a 3-minute video message, a short-written message (up to 1,500 words), and/or a photo. Candidates selected as Explorers from the Regional Dialogues will subsequently be invited to participate in the Our Sustainable Future Conference.

While the UN defines youth as individuals aged 18–35, IFWY welcomes participants beyond this age range. We value a youth mindset characterized by openness, adaptability, and commitment to change. Anyone willing to learn, adapt, and share their perspectives about the world is encouraged to participate in our program.

Yes. Any individual (ages 18 - 35) with a message for a sustainable future and the capability to address today’s global challenges is eligible to participate in IFWY.