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.

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 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.