Open Discussion Sessions

Global environment is constantly changing and so we try to improve the G200 Youth Forum and introduce new platforms and events that could be beneficial for future leaders and change makers. One event of such is Open Sessions which allows participants to listen to inspirational speakers and ask any questions they may have.

What is the Purpose of the Open Discussion Sessions?

The purpose of the event is to invite experts from all over the world to share their knowledge and experience and provide a platform for a Q&A session.

What are the Topics of the Open Discussion Sessions?

This year the sessions will cover the following topics:

1.  Entrepreneurship

The Open Session on Entrepreneurship will include presentations from young entrepreneurs, who have managed to put their projects into practice and achieve great results.

The attendants would have an opportunity to:

  •  listen to the success stories and ask questions
  •  get inspired by the experience of young entrepreneurs with a proven track record of accomplishments
  •  learn more about investor relations and risks which are connected with starting a business venture

2.  De-globalization: risks, opportunities and implication in different countries

The Open Session on de-globalization will involve speakers commenting on pre-prepared sets of observations, concerning risks and opportunities of de-globalization or so-called “globalonelization”, and its impact on the global market economy.

The participants would have a chance to:

  •   listen to the experts and ask their own questions
  •   learn more about the influence of de-globalization on political and business environments

Who are the Speakers of the Event?

 

 

Ms. Bonnie Chiu

Ms. Bonnie Chiu

Founder and CEO, Lensational

Managing Director, The Social Investment Consultancy

London, UK

Hong Kong-born Chiu is the Founder and CEO of award-winning non-profit social enterprise Lensational, which aims to empower marginalised women by equipping them with cameras and photography training. Since launching in 2013, the organisation – which has expanded to a team of a hundred volunteers – has taught photography to seven hundred women across seventeen developing countries. She is also the Managing Director of The Social Investment Consultancy, an international consulting firm headquartered in London that helps organisations maximise their social impact. She holds a MSc International Relations at the London School of Economics (LSE) and she is recognised as a Forbes 30 Under 30 Social Entrepreneur in Europe in 2017. As a two-time TEDx speaker, she has been invited to speak in 11 countries on topics on social entrepreneurship, youth leadership and gender equality - most prominently at the Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting.

Mr. Ritesh Tilanitesh

Mr. Ritesh Tilanitesh

Founding Partner, Enhance

Co-CEO, joigifts.com

The United Arab Emirates

 

Ritesh Tilani is a serial entrepreneur and investor, with venture capital, blue chip MNC and top-tier global consulting experience. Ritesh is currently Founding Partner at 'enhance', a holding company consisting of online businesses that provide life-enhancing services to consumers. enhance has also formed strategic alliances with leading international VCs to support their portfolio companies with growing their businesses in the Middle East. enhance's current portfolio includes joi (www.joigifts.com), the leading online gift platform in the Middle East and Medigo (www.medigo.com), a global disruptor in the medical travel space.

In addition, Ritesh is as a mentor, advisor, angel investor and board member to multiple startups and accelerators, a regular speaker and judge at various events and startup competitions, and the former Head of UAE at iMENA Group, making him an active player in the region’s startup ecosystem. He has also been a consultant with Bain & Company’s Singapore Office, and the Head of Strategy for MENA at Nokia.

Ritesh is a native of the UAE with over 25 years of experience in the region. He holds a B.Sc. in Economics from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, and an MBA from INSEAD.

Mr. Tarek Ahmed Fouad

Mr. Tarek Ahmed Fouad

Accelerator Manager

Sheraa Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center

Tarek brings in over 8 years of experience in leading business entities and an extensive background in strategic marketing and lean business models. Tarek holds a master’s degree in control engineering and MBA from the prestigious London Business School and is also a certified personal trainer, life-coach, NLP practitioner and a hypnotherapist. The young business entrepreneur is the publisher of numerous research papers in both engineering and marketing fields and was a motivational speaker on various events held by the Dubai government and TEDx. Tarek Ahmed Fouad founded Lean International in 2012 which was sold off to a private equity firm. He has worked with the likes of TechWadi in Silicon Valley as UAE’s country manager and has cofounded Wakil Technologies, a blockchain government services portal earlier this year. Tarek is currently spearheading the accelerator program at Sheraa to contribute to Sharjah’s vision in becoming the entrepreneurial hub of the Middle East.

 

Mrs. Habiba Al Mar'ashi

Mrs. Habiba Al Mar'ashi

Co-founder and Chairperson

Emirates Environmental Group (EEG)

The United Arab Emirates

Mrs. Habiba Al Mara’shi is the co-founder and Chairperson of Emirates Environmental Group (EEG), a pioneering organisation founded in the United Arab Emirates in 1991. A visionary for a Safer Environment and a sustainable future for her country, region and the world in general, she has pioneered and played a key role in the growth of EEG to be a regional multi-sectorial organisation. EEG has had many a first under its banner.

-The first environmental NGO in the world to receive an ISO 14001 certification in 2001.
EEG is also the only organization of its kind in the GCC to be accredited with two highly esteemed UN bodies namely the United Nations Convention to Combating Desertification (UNCCD) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Governing Council.

-Under the leadership of Mrs. Al Mara’shi, in the year 2004, Arabia CSR Network (ACSRN) the first Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Network in the Arab Region came into being. ACSRN is the only multi stakeholder platform with local and multinational entities. ACRN initiated and rolled out the first prestigious Corporate Social Responsibility Award for the Arab World in 2008.

 -A founding member of the Emirates Green Building Council (Emirates GBC) wherein    Mrs. Al Mara’shi serves as a Treasurer to the Council since 2006 in addition to her role as the Vice Chair of the Council. She also serves as a Membership Committee on the World Green Building Council (WGBC) since 2016.

 -EEG is a member of the UN Global Compact (UNGC) and had the privilege to host the Local Network for the Gulf States from 2008-2014.  Mrs. Al Mara’shi was also the first Arab woman to become a board member of the UN Global Compact and was on the board from 2006 to 2012

Besides the above Mrs. Al Mara’shi is actively involved and is a member on the Board of several prestigious Councils. She is involved in many leading initiatives on environment, women and development at the national, regional and international levels and is a recognized representative and spokesperson for West Asian Arab Women at high ranking international summits. 

Presentation: Deglobalisation : Disintegration or Consolidation

Mr. Ziad G. El Haddad

Mr. Ziad G. El Haddad

Principal, Risk Advisory

Deloitte & Touche (M.E.)

The United Arab Emirates

 

Ziad El Haddad, Director with Deloitte & Touche (M.E.) Risk Advisory practice, possesses over 12 years of professional experience directing large-scale Risk Advisory services including, Data Risk Analytics, Controls Transformation, Cyber Security, Business Continuity and Risk Management, for international and local clients.  He brings extensive design, implementation and maintenance of organizational programs and regulatory operations. 

Ziad is a regular speaker in international Risk Advisory events and supports many board of directors and audit committees as trusted advisor.  His experience spans industries and countries – Middle East countries, Boston, Chicago, Canada and Singapore.  He had exposure to many industries; however, he specializes in Financial Services, Holding and Public Sector companies. Currently, he leads the Cyber and Technology practice in the United Arab Emirates, and Data Risk services in the Middle East.

Presentation: Cyber Security on the C-suite agenda

Photo Album

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G200 Youth Forum Press Office
G200 Youth Forum 2016 Official Opening Ceremony, Ms. Ksenia Khoruzhnikova, G200 Association Founder and President Gives the First Speech
April, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany
G200 Youth Forum 2016 Official Opening Ceremony, Ms. Ksenia Khoruzhnikova, G200 Association Founder and President Gives the First Speech
Ms. Ksenia Khoruzhnikova, G200 Association Founder and President welcomes the participants
G200 Youth Forum 2016 Official Opening Ceremony, Mr. Wolfgang Bauer, Deputy Mayor of Garmisch-Partenkirchen greets Participants
Before the Official Opening Ceremony, Ms. Ksenia Khoruzhnikova and Mr. Chris Skellett, Panellist of the Plenary Session
G200 Youth Forum 2016 Official Opening Ceremony, Plenary Session Panellists
G200 Youth Forum 2016 Official Opening Ceremony, Plenary Session Perceiving Happiness
G200 Participants, go to the Official Opening Ceremony
Plenary Session Perceiving Happiness, Dr. Ruut Veenhoven, Emeritus Professor, Rotterdam University, the Netherlands, presents Greater Happiness for a Greater Number
Plenary Session Perceiving Happiness, Mr. Chris Skellett, presenting Balancing Pleasure and Achievement in your Life
Plenary Session Perceiving Happiness, Ms. Miriam Akhtar, presents ‘Happiness is not a Spectator Sport’
Plenary Session Perceiving Happiness, Ms. Nkandu Beltz, presents ‘The Perception of Happiness’
Plenary Session Perceiving Happiness, Ms. Bridget Grenville-Cleave, Workmad Ltd., London, presents ‘Happiness: Other People Matter’
Plenary Session Perceiving Happiness, Q & A Section
Plenary Session Perceiving Happiness, Q & A Section
G200 Youth Forum 2016 Official Opening Ceremony, Family Photo
G200 Youth Forum 2016, Joint Session I: Security Education. Mr. Asaad Al Asaad, Chair of the Session
G200 Youth Forum 2016, Joint Session I: Security Education: A Need? Or A Must?
G200 Youth Forum 2016, Joint Session I: Security Education: A Need? Or A Must?
G200 Youth Forum 2016, Joint Session I: Security Education: A Need? Or A Must?
G200 Youth Forum 2016, Joint Session I: Security Education: A Need? Or A Must?
Three Group Leaders of the Joint Session I: Security Education: Mr. Robert de Wit, Group Leader for Parliamentarian, Shin-Yi Wu, Group Leader for Students and Ms. Elena Alcalde, Group Leader for Academics
G200 Youth Forum 2016, Joint Session II: Perceiving Happiness. Ms Bridget Grenville Cleave, Chair of the Session and Dr. Ruut Veenhoven, Group Leader for Professors
G200 Youth Forum 2016, Joint Session II: Perceiving Happiness
G200 Youth Forum 2016, Joint Session II: Perceiving Happiness
G200 Youth Forum 2016, Joint Session II: Perceiving Happiness
Joint Session II Chair and two Analysts: Mr. Luke Addison and Ms. Valencia Gabriella
Welcome Champagne before the Classical Concert
Welcome Champagne before the Classical Concert, Dr. Ruut Veenhoven and Mr. Wolfgang Bauer
Welcome Champagne before the Classical Concert, Spanish Delegation Surrounded by New Friends
Ms. Ksenia Khoruzhnikova, Founder and President and Ms. Yana Alexandrova, Head of Strategic Committee of the G200 Association before the Classical Concert
Classical Concert, Oleg Weinstein, pianist, soloist, and professor of N.A. Rimsky-Korsakov Saint Petersburg State Conservatory playing Tchaikovsky
G200 Youth Forum Classical Concert, Ovation from the Audience
G200 Youth Forum Classical Concert
G200 Youth Forum Classical Concert
G200 Youth Forum Classical Concert , Ms. Sedzani Siaga, Master of Ceremonies d
Werdenfelser Salonorchester Jazz Ban
G200 Youth Forum Opening Gala Dinner
Ms. Ksenia Khoruzhnikova, G200 Association Founder and President and Dr. Asaad Al Asaad, Director of Student Activity Administration of Al Yamamah University, present Silver Angel Award to Ms. Sedzani Siaga, Senior Lecturer, University of Pretoria
Ms. Ksenia Khoruzhnikova and Dr. Asaad Al Asaad present Silver Angel Award to Mr. Francesco Vanderjeugd, Parliamentarian, Flemish Parliament, Belgium
Ms. Ksenia Khoruzhnikova presents Silver Angel Award to Dr. Ruut Veenhoven, Emeritus Professor, Rotterdam University, the Netherlands for Impact in Scientific Research of Human Happiness
G200 Youth Forum Opening Gala Dinner
G200 Youth Forum Opening Gala Dinner, International Friends
Happy Birthday Ms. Yana Alexandrova!
G200 Youth Forum Opening Gala Dinner
G200 Youth Forum 2016, Conference Platform
G200 Conference, Round Table I: Economics and Finance, Session I: Investing and Financing
G200 Conference, Round Table II: Law and Human Rights & Round Table IV: Social Affairs and Medicine
G200 Conference, Round Table II: Law and Human Rights& Round Table IV: Social Affairs and Medicine
G200 Conference, Round Table II: Law and Human Rights& Round Table IV: Social Affairs and Medicine
G200 Conference, Round Table III: World Politics and International Relations
G200 Conference, Round Table III: World Politics and International Relations
G200 Conference, Round Table V: Ecology, Environment, and Energy & Round Table VI: Design, Technology and Innovations
G200 Conference, Round Table V: Ecology, Environment, and Energy & Round Table VI: Design, Technology and Innovations
G200 Conference, Round Table V: Ecology, Environment, and Energy & Round Table VI: Design, Technology and Innovations
G200 Conference, Round Table VII: Education and Youth
G200 Conference, Round Table VII: Education and Youth
G200 Conference, Round Table VII: Education and Youth
G200 Conference, Round Table VII: Education and Youth
G200 Conference, Round Table VII: Education and Youth
G200 Youth Summit: Global Health Committee
G200 Youth Summit: Global Health Committee
G200 Youth Summit: Global Health Committee
G200 Youth Summit:Shaping the Labour Market Committee
G200 Youth Summit:Shaping the Labour Market Committee
G200 Youth Summit:Shaping the Labour Market Committee
G200 Youth Summit: ‘From Consumer Society towards Value-based Society’ Committee
G200 Youth Summit: ‘From Consumer Society towards Value-based Society’ Committee
G200 Youth Summit: ‘From Consumer Society towards Value-based Society’ Committee
G200 Youth Summit:New Strategies for Financial Sector and World Economy Committee
G200 Youth Summit:New Strategies for Financial Sector and World Economy Committee
G200 Youth Summit:New Strategies for Financial Sector and World Economy Committee
G200 Youth Summit:Technological Challenges Committee
G200 Youth Summit:Technological Challenges Committee
G200 Youth Summit:Technological Challenges Committee
International Young Parliamentarians` Debate, Mr. Andy Rossel, Secretary General and Chair of the Debates
International Young Parliamentarians` Debate, Mr. Robert Housmans, Parliamentarian, Limburg Parliament, the Netherlands
International Young Parliamentarians` Debate, Mr. Mathieu Traversy, National Assembly of Quebec and Ms. Mariangela Celeste Portaluri, Regional Council of Apulia
International Young Parliamentarians` Debate, Mr. Robert de Wit, Provinciale Staten Groningen and Mr. Johan Nissinen, Swedish Parliament
International Young Parliamentarians` Debate
Parliamentarians` Family Photo
Workshop 2 ‘The Power Within You’ led by Ms. Nkandu Beltz
Workshop 2 – Team Building
Workshop 3 ‘Personal Resilience in Challenging Times’ led by Mr. Chris Skellett
Young Leaders at Workshop 3
Workshop 3 ‘Personal Resilience in Challenging Times’
Official Closing Ceremony, Ms. Sedzani Siaga, Moderator
Official Closing Ceremony, “call over” of the participating countries – “Spain Is Here!”
G200 Youth Forum 2016 Official Closing Ceremony, Mr. Johan Ferreira, Student, University of Pretoria, South Africa - Head of Secretaries of the G200 Youth Summit
G200 Youth Forum 2016 Official Closing Ceremony, Ms. Sarah Tresedder, Student, Michigan State University - Secretary General of the Global Health Committee
G200 Youth Forum 2016 Official Closing Ceremony, Mr. Kane Versteeg, Student, Griffith University, Australia- Secretary General of the Shaping the Labour Market Committee
G200 Youth Forum 2016 Official Closing Ceremony, Ms. Kathrin Harb, Student, Leiden University, the Netherlands- Secretary General of the ‘From Consumer Society towards Value-based Society’ Committee
G200 Youth Forum 2016 Official Closing Ceremony, Ms. Jamie Crowe, Student, Griffith University, Australia- Secretary Generals of the New Strategies for Financial Sector and World Economy Committee
G200 Youth Forum 2016 Official Closing Ceremony, Ms. Kisha McPherson, Head of Secretaries of the Conference Platform
G200 Youth Forum 2016 Official Closing Ceremony, Ms. Sedzani Siaga, Senior Lecturer, University of Pretoria, South Africa - Secretary General of the Round Table I: Economics and Finance
G200 Youth Forum 2016 Official Closing Ceremony, Ms. Kiran Afsar, Student, University of Hertfordshire, the UK - Secretary General of the Round Table II: Law and Human Rights
G200 Youth Forum 2015 Official Closing Ceremony, Mr. Jagmeet Singh Bawa, Professor, Punjab Technical University - Secretary General of the Round Table III: World Politics and International Relations
G200 Youth Forum 2016 Official Closing Ceremony, Mr. Thabang Letlabika, South Africa - Secretary General of the Round Table IV: Social Affairs and Medicine
G200 Youth Forum 2016 Official Closing Ceremony, Mr. Hiroki Okachi, Bachelor, Student of Hokkaido University, Japan - Secretary General of the Round Table V: Ecology, Environment, and Energy
G200 Youth Forum 2016 Official Closing Ceremony, Secretary general of the Round Table VI: Design, Technology, and Innovations - Mr. Colin Hamilton , Student at the University of Hertfordshire, UK
G200 Youth Forum 2016 Official Closing Ceremony, Secretary General of the Round Table VII: Education and Youth Mr. Asaad Al Asaad, Director of Student Activity Center, Al Yamamah University, Saudi Arabia
G200 Youth Forum 2016 Official Closing Ceremony, Secretary General – Mr. Andy Rossel, Parliamentarian, Limburg Parliament, the Netherlands
G200 Youth Forum 2016 Official Closing Ceremony. Some Presents from the G200 Association
President and Founder of the G200 Association Ms. Ksenia Khoruzhnikova – Final Speech
Creating a Picture of the World of Tomorrow
Creating a Picture of the World of Tomorrow
Master Class from Ms. Ksenia Khoruzhnikova
Creating a Picture of the World of Tomorrow, Hidden Talents
Creating a Picture of the World of Tomorrow
Closing Gala Dinner and Bavarian Night
Closing Gala Dinner and Bavarian Night, Participants Wear Bavarian Dresses
Closing Gala Dinner and Bavarian Night, Alphorn Musicians Conduct Master Class
Closing Gala Dinner and Bavarian Night, Alphorn Master Class
Closing Gala Dinner and Bavarian Night, Dr. Hellmut Schmücker and Ms. Claudia Bill Conduct Dancing Master Class for Participants
Closing Gala Dinner, Dancing Master Class for Participants
Closing Gala Dinner, Dancing Master Class for Participants
Closing Gala Dinner, Dancing Master Class for Participants
Closing Gala Dinner ‘Zugspitzmusic’ Music Band
Closing Gala Dinner, Participants
Closing Gala Dinner, Mr. Chris Skellett and Ms. Sedzani Siaga
Closing Gala Dinner, Participants
Good Bye, Dear Participants! See You Next Year!

Video

 

Testimonials

Bongiwe Pricilla Mbinqo-Gigaba
Member of Parliament, South Africa
Bongiwe Pricilla Mbinqo-Gigaba

It’s a great opportunity for young parliamentarians all over the world to meet and share views of how to deal with issues in different places.

As a participant of G20 Youth Forum I’ve got information from others, what views, what people are doing, how best can we practice in our places and how we can improve our society.

It was a good experience and I think for next Forums it will be better to get more countries to share their ideas together.

Jenny Mikakos
Member of Parliament, Australia
Jenny Mikakos

I think the main purpose of the G20 Youth Forum is to bring together students, academics and young parliamentarians around the world to share ideas as to how we can make a better world. It is very important to have an understanding of the views of each social group fora successful policy.

It has been a very successful Forum. I wish to congratulate the organizers. I thought it was very interesting to be able to learn more from my colleagues at the International Young Parliamentarians’ Debate about the respective nations and native societies. We have decided many important questions and we will try to implement them in our countries.

Liv Holm Andersen
Member of Parliament, Denmark
Liv Holm Andersen

I expected to come here, to share a lot of ideas with representatives from parliaments and also from academic institutions. First of all I met some incredible people and second of all most importantly I got a lot of inspiration on my field which is social issues.

In our section we have very interesting papers and point of views. The greatest thing is to notice how really different systems and societies we representing. And at the same time we can agree on so many goals and aims for this world and for our countries to work on together. And that is very incredible, great.

I hope that Denmark will make really priority and send more not only MP but also representatives from local parliaments and more Universities because I think it’s a great opportunity to our young parliamentarians, youth and students to be inspired and to inspire others.

Maria Magdalena Matthys
Member of Parliament, South Africa
Maria Magdalena Matthys

I think it’s a very good cause for young people. In my vision the purpose of G20 Youth Forum is to encourage young people to learn and educate themselves, to unit them. I also think that it’s good opportunity for academics to come and share their experience. And also for young parliamentarians to be an example for the countries, they can encourage more youth, young people to participate in this program.

I talked about professionalism of women in South Africa and I’ve learnt a lot from other countries about agenda issues.

Alvin Botes
Member of the Executive Council, South Africa
Alvin Botes

One of the objective things of G20 Youth Forum is to insure a comprehension of network, to exchange intellectual and societal ideas among current youth leaders, formal youth leaders and those working on the youth agenda across the world.

One of my colleagues on the International Young Parliamentarians’ Debate presented me kangaroo – I’m from South Africa, I was in Russia and received an Australian kangaroo. It’s the exchange of ideas and network. So this little kangaroo symbolizes this.

It’s a good platform for intellectual debate and it should be held annually.

Bing Ren
Professor, Nankai University, China
Bing Ren

According to my understanding, G8 and G20 originally focused on the finances and economic issues. But through out of the years and particularly my personal participation this time I think the issue animation becomes broader than that. It is not only economy and finance, but social issues, environmental issues and arts, history. Very different areas comes together to discuss and make dialogue together.

I hope to involve myself in different kinds of platforms – I can speak out my opinion and suggestions – that makes my exchange here more meaningful.
I work in education, I pay attention to educating young people – so I find a lot of common problems around the world. That makes me inspired with the idea that we should participate in these meetings and thanks to G8 and G20 Alumni Association for inviting me hear.

And the other impressive thing is: I think G20 Youth Forum have made great efforts in organizing many people together and try to collect the ideas and also to make this activities more interesting and alive. That is also good impression for me.

Shinya Hanaoka
Associate Professor, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Japan
Shinya Hanaoka

When I go back to Japan I would like to inform about G20 Youth Forum other faculty members, also international division of our University. Then I will recommend some students from our faculty to join this Forum over the next two years.

Xinghua Liu
Assistant Professor, Nankai University, China
Xinghua Liu

This is very famous, impressive and huge youth forum, and also well organized. My first impression was that we can meet with different people from other countries. There are different cultures, different national dresses – for me it is good experience to meet new people from all over the world.

G20 Youth Forum is very good instrument for public all over the world in different countries to learn about G20, especially for the young leaders and youth elites in different countries. I think it will play very important role in the media, in the mobilization, press mobilization in different countries.

Hai Tao Huang
Lecturer of Zhou Enlai School of Government, Nankai University, China
Hai Tao Huang

Firstly, it’s very precious experience for me. I can meet people all around the world more than 60 countries. It’s very good opportunity to speak with them and to exchange ideas. And, secondly, communications is not enough – we can understand each other and then we can understand ideas of the whole world; especially I’m very happy to see that the future young leaders they gather together. This may be a good guarantee for the development of the world. They have fresh ideas – and this is very important.

Marçal Avelino Salazar Marques Mendes
Jurist, University of Minho, Portugal
Marçal Avelino Salazar Marques Mendes

The purpose of the Forum is very well constructed. I think it makes us like a prototype of government. It develops a capacity of communicating with people and with some ministers and with the government itself. It’s important for participants that they go home and make there some kind of experiments and be reasonable and capable to understand the solution to each country and for the whole world.

Connell Wise
Founder, Chairman of the Board & Chief Executive, United States Youth Chamber of Commerce, USA
Connell Wise

In my understanding of the main purpose of G20 Youth Forum it is the international cooperation between different countries of the world to basically bring a global understanding how the leaders economic and financial crisis are facing in the world and how to avoid those crisises.

Meaghan Anne Williams
Teaching Assistant, Queen's University, Canada
Meaghan Anne Williams

The networking opportunity is incredible and it’s very encouraging to meet young people from all over the world who are interested to talk in same kinds of issues, answering the same kinds of problems, working together, collaborating. Not just making new friends but hopefully making new peers, colleagues to work in these issues in future.

The conference has been incredible for learning more about what the academic world can do to facilitate change in the real world. Sometimes academia is so theoretical that you lose sight of what is actually going on. But this conference has proved that there are a number of individual academics working to harmonize that view.

Melina Djulancic
J.D. Candidate, University of Manitoba, Canada
Melina Djulancic

It is the nice opportunity to get together with the young people from around the world. For me it’s important that people discussing their ideas. Our group was concentrating on the young entrepreneurships and all important things around this field. Basically entrepreneurship in schools is one of our recommendations and easier access to capital for businesses.

Abraham Johannes Swanepoel
Student, North-West University, South Africa
Abraham Johannes Swanepoel

Thinking that we are the future leaders of tomorrow G20 Youth Forum gives as an opportunity to start to get used to discuss things, used to live in them and exchanging points of view with other people.

I think it is awesome opportunity just to meet other people, get up different points of view from different countries. As I’m from South Africa and we are still developing country to get point of views that is from developed countries. It gives me lot of knowledge that you can take back to your country and try to employ it in your country system.

Aya Fujita
Student, University of Tsukuba, Japan
Aya Fujita

G20 Youth Forum is: A lot of people from international society build a partnership, leadership and friendship.

I got a lot of intellectual involvements, we discussed about health care, child care and women empowerment. Each country has different background and situation; it’s very great to know about what country has the same and which are different.

Fei Yang Qi
MA Student, University of Birmingham, UK
Fei Yang Qi

The main purpose of G20 Youth Forum is young leaders working together and think about how to push the world by the small steps.

I think there are a lot of benefits in participating in G20 Youth Forum, for example team work variety, especially to make others think about your points and change your views in discussions.

Floris Busscher
Student, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Floris Busscher

I think the main purpose at our level – at a Youth Summits and at a Conference, is to bring together young people with ideas, with creativities and with innovations. To bring together, to exchange ideas and maybe together come to enhance ideas to create a synergy between the creativity of young people. Opportunities is to meet always amazing young people which enhance your network in international level and also to be inspired by people from other countries and to increase and enhance your own prospective, how you see things in a multinational way with different cultures and different political system influencing its positions.

The most interesting moment is an Opening Ceremony – lovely discussion between people from all different kinds of fields, from different countries who exchange ideas on education which is of course the kind of thing that applies to all of us. So to see it and try to feel the G20 spirit on the ceremony was the highlight.

Italo Ribeiro Alves
Student, President of the International Business Society, Quinnipiac University, Brazil
Italo Ribeiro Alves

One on my career paths that I have been potentially exploring will be diplomacy. I believe that dialoging with young people from all other the world I can practice my cultural and communicational skills and learn how to debate and understand the social issues.

Lindsay Ann Markle
Student, Purdue University, USA
Lindsay Ann Markle

The purpose of the Forum is to exchange ideas between other countries. It’s such a unique opportunity because everyone here comes with an open mind and it’s really interesting learn about other cultures. It’s really a unique experience – I’m really glad I came here.

I expected to hear different prospectives about government’s role and society and it met my expectations.

Megan Eleri David
Student, Cardiff University, UK
Megan Eleri David

The main purpose of G20 Youth Forum is sort of empowering young people to feel like they can make a change.

I was a moderator on my committee. And I’m very proud of the document which we were working on. I had a team who I’m really excited about. We have three main ideas on our recommendation: one about child care, one about women’s empowerment in work places with an education and one about social security in developing countries.

Stefan Vasilev
Student, Wageningen University, Netherlands
Stefan Vasilev

Definitely the main purpose is to communicate with a lot of people, to exchange ideas with the experts in your field, and also to send a message about our ideas.

Governments always appreciate opinions from young people who are thinking out of the box. I hope they will appreciate our recommendations too.

Victoria Pilbeam
Student, Australian National University
Victoria Pilbeam

I think it’s really great to bring a lot of young people together to talk about important issues. It’s always a good idea. Mostly it's important to meet amazing people who really like to be engaged and are really passionate about different issues.

We looked on the questions: young women’s’ careers and family. We made some pretty concrete recommendations.

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