About the Program
WFUNA believes that youth play a crucial role as collaborative allies in achieving the UN’s aspirations and carrying out the objectives outlined in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The WFUNA Youth Network serves as an unstructured alliance comprising UN Youth Associations and UNA youth sections and programs globally. Established as the official network for UN youth associations, UNA youth sections, and youth programs worldwide, the WFUNA Youth Network functions as a hub for cultivating global youth collaborations, offering information on various opportunities, and providing a platform for enhancing the skills and capabilities of our young members. Youth constitute a crucial demographic for WFUNA, UNAs, and UNYAs, and our foremost focus is to harness the abilities and passion within our extensive youth network. We are committed to enhancing the skills and providing the necessary tools for them to actively participate as global citizens. To achieve this objective, we initiated the WFUNA Youth Seminar Series.
WFUNA Youth Seminars are hosted by a national UNA or external partner. They rotate geographically to make it easier for young people in a particular region to attend. We have organized seven WFUNA Youth Seminars to date in: Norway, Argentina, USA, India, Malaysia, and Uganda. Through the Youth Seminars, the WFUNA Youth Network brings together United Nations Associations Youth Associations and their Sections, Youth Programs, United Nations Youth Associations and other relevant Organizations. In this spirit, the Youth Seminars Series were devised not only as a capacity building space, but also as a feedback mechanism for young people engaged with WFUNA and other active youth who hold the aspiration of being global citizens and ambassadors for sustainable development. They have focused on topics such as raising awareness of the Sustainable Development Goals, SDG16 on Peaceful, Just and Inclusive Societies and Youth, Peace and Security, and are paired with project management workshops to allow young people to design and implement small scale projects after taking part in the seminar and returning to their countries of origin.
- FYI these are here
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Oslo, Norway
The first Youth Seminar was successfully hosted in Oslo by UNA-Norway from 1-3 October 2010. Fifteen participants came from 13 UNAs and UNYAs around the world: Armenia, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Georgia, Italy, Mexico, Nepal, Norway, Republic of Korea, Russia, Suriname, and Sweden. A wide range of topics was covered, with a special focus on best practices, tactics and strategies for youth programming, fundraising and outreach, collaboration with WFUNA, and prospects for inter-regional and international networking and cooperation amongst UNAs and UNYAs.
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Buenos Aires, Argentina
The second Youth Seminar was held in Buenos Aires, Argentina, from 29 June-1 July 2011, and successfully co-hosted by UNA-Argentina with fourteen participants from 9 UNAs and UNYAs around the world: Argentina, Republic of Korea, Uruguay, Mexico, New Zealand, Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Russia, and Chile. During the seminar, a wide range of topics were covered, with a special focus on best practices, tactics and strategies for youth programming, fundraising and outreach, collaboration with WFUNA, and prospects for inter-regional and international networking and cooperation amongst UNAs and UNYAs. The youth participants were also joined by Monique Coleman, the UN’s International Year of Youth Youth Champion.
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Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
From November 30 to December 3, 2016, over 60 youth delegates from 15 countries gathered in Malaysia for the WFUNA Youth Seminar 2016: Kuala Lumpur hosted by UNA-Malaysia. The event aimed to facilitate discussions and enhance the capacities of WFUNA Youth Network members to support the implementation of UN Sustainable Development Goal 16. Through this Youth Seminar, the participants tackled topics such as “Breaking down Goal 16,” the rights of indigenous communities in Malaysia., project management fundamentals and leveraging tools for UN SDG16 projects at the national level and project implementation. There were also workshops held by WFUNA Youth Advisory Council Representatives. Concluding the Seminar, Youth delegates prepared and shared presentations on projects related to SDG16, and had the opportunity to tour the UNESCO Heritage Site, the city of Melaka.
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Kampala, Uganda
The WFUNA Youth Seminar Kampala took place in Grand Global Hotel from November 22 to 24, 2017. The seminar brought together over 80 young women and men from 13 different countries (Canada, Chad, Democratic Republic of Congo, Finland, Kenya, Malaysia, Nigeria, South Africa, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda) either as UNA youth representatives or as external guests. The main objectives of the Seminar were to promote UNSCR 2250 on Youth, Peace, and Security and to enhance the capacity of the WFUNA Youth Network to support its implementation.
During this Youth Seminar, participants discussed peace and security challenges and opportunities in today’s world from local, national and regional levels, and how they impact youth across contexts. Participants heard from a variety of speakers that discussed topics such as the foundations and components of UNSCR 2250, Youth preventing violent extremism, disarmament, and gender. Additionally, as this youth seminar took place in Uganda, one of the topical discussions centered on peacebuilding perspectives from notable representatives from Uganda.
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New York, United States
From August 9th to 11th, 2012, WFUNA’s Youth Seminar on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) took place in New York City. WFUNA hosted 11 youth representatives from 9 United Nations Associations, including Brazil, Malaysia, Mexico, Republic of Korea, Suriname, Tanzania, United Kingdom, United States, and Nepal to participate in this seminar.
The seminar, spanning three days, concentrated on fostering practical expertise in project management, fundraising, and capacity building. Throughout the event, attendees had the opportunity to gain insights from exemplary practices and generate innovative concepts for potential projects aligned with the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Collaborating in teams, participants actively developed a tangible project, culminating in a final presentation on the seminar’s last day.
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Jaipur, India
WFUNA conducted a Youth Seminar in Jaipur, India, at Jayshree Periwal International School in 2015. Government representatives from India, UN officials, and WFUNA leadership gathered to participate in this seminar. This seminar focused on the theme of “Taking Ownership of the Post-2015 Development Agenda,” and empowering youth in their potential for action in this area. The Youth Seminar included cultural exhibitions, activities, and workshops enhancing skills in areas such as fundraising and social media.
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