Make Your Voice Heard: Join the International Forum, We the Youth (IFWY) 2025

Omran Aburayya
Jun 11
2 min read

If you're a young changemaker aged roughly 18–35—or simply embody a youthful mindset—this is your moment. The International Forum, We the Youth (IFWY) is now open for applications. This prestigious platform empowers global youth to shape policy dialogues, spark social innovation, and co-create solutions under the theme “Our Sustainable Future: Peace and Cooperation”, culminating in a conference in Seoul in October 2025.

📝 Program Summary

Location: Regional Dialogues (July–August 2025) & Final Conference + Solidarity Concert in Seoul, South Korea (October 2025)
Organizers: Co‑organized by UNRISD and MBC, supported by global partners
Audience Level: Youth aged 18–35 or with a “young mindset” open to global engagement
Theme & Focus Areas:
- Our Sustainable Future: Peace and Cooperation
- Environmental Sustainability, Economic Transformation, Social Justice & Equality, Technological Innovation & Ethics, Solidarity & Democracy
Funding: Fully funded—round-trip airfare, accommodation, meals, visa support, certificates, lifetime IFWY membership, and entry to the global alumni network
Application Window
- Launch: May 14, 2025
- Phase 1: May 14 – June 16, 2025 (Catalyst application & voting)
- Results: June 2025
Eligibility: Youth 18–35 (or open-minded), with interest or experience in development, peacebuilding, social justice, sustainability, or innovation

🚀 Program Overview

IFWY is more than a conference—it's a movement that fuses vibrant youth culture with meaningful policy development. Across two stages:

Regional Dialogues (“Catalysts”)
- Engage in in-person policy workshops in Africa & Middle East, Asia & Pacific, Europe, Latin America & Caribbean, North America, and Korean Diaspora.
- Co-create region-specific policy solutions for sustainable, peaceful futures.
Final Conference & Solidarity Concert in Seoul
- 150 Explorers converge in October 2025 to refine global policy proposals alongside music, art, and cultural celebration at the “Unite4Peace” concert.
Navigator Mission
- A select group of youth take IFWY’s outcomes beyond the Forum, representing at high-level events like COP, G20, and UN summits.

🎁 Benefits

Full funding: Includes travel, lodging, meals, visas, and event access
Global Recognition: Earn IFWY titles—Catalyst, Explorer, Navigator—with lifetime membership in a powerful youth network
Policy Impact: Influence change by drafting policy recommendations at regional & global levels
Cultural Exchange: Engage in immersive festival experiences and cross-border dialogue
Advocacy Platform: Navigators gain access to international forums for continued youth representation

✅Eligibility

Age 18–35, or anyone with a “youth mindset”
Demonstrated interest or experience in sustainability, justice, innovation, peacebuilding
Must be available for in-person events, including regional dialogues and the Seoul Conference

📝 How to Apply:

Create an IFWY account on their platform
Submit a Self-Introduction: Written (≤500 words) or 1-minute video
Share a 3-Minute Policy Message: Video/audio via YouTube/Vimeo or written (≤1,500 words) on your chosen theme
Peer Review & Voting commences online; top 50 per region named Catalysts