UNITAR CIFAL Jeju

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As critical thinkers, change-makers, innovators, communicators and leaders, the young generation is increasingly engaging with each other on a number of platforms both online and offline. Provided with the necessary knowledge and opportunities needed to reach their potential, young people can be a driving force for promoting sustainability in this new era of globalization.

CIFAL Jeju / JITC organizes a number of programs including international youth workshops, forums, and Global Citizenship Education (GCED) to invite Korean foreign students alike to understand the commonality of the global issues and to become active promoters of more peaceful, tolerant, inclusive, secure, and sustainable societies.

Jeju International Future Generation Forum
The Forum aims to foster youth global leadership by promoting actionable engagement in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals. Participating young leaders take the in-depth discussion on up-to-date issues such as youth employment, education development and health and well-being. The youth are given unique opportunities not only to build collective minds but also to vitalize city diplomacy by building a hub of social networking through cultural exchange.

Jeju International Youth Forum
CIFAL Jeju organized Jeju International Youth Forum from 2016 to 2021 with the aim to promote Jeju to the world and to connect talented teenage youth across the globe. The event was conducted with a focus on strengthening the leadership skills of the talented young people, exchanging different perspectives on critical global issues and enhancing the cultural understanding of each other.

[2020.11.27~29] The 11th Jeju International Youth Forum

2020.12.18

The 11^th Jeju International Youth Forum

27 November 2020, Jeju, Republic of Korea – UNITAR CIFAL Jeju co-organized the 11^th Jeju International Youth Forum, which was co-hosted by Jeju Special Self-Governing Province, with Jeju Special Self-Governing Provincial Office in Jeju, Republic of Korea.

The 11^thInternational Youth Forum took place from 27 November to 29 November 2020 under the theme of ‘From Policy to Action: The Engagement of Global Youth Leaders in Rapidly Changing World’. There were 195 participants (147 students and 48 teachers) from 28 cities across the world including Jeju’s sister and friendship cities, member cities of international organizations, and East Asian cultural cities.

Youth around the world have been most impacted by COVID-19 on such fronts as education, public health, biodiversity and social participation, when there are no clear and immediate solutions available yet. Since youth engagement and participation in the course of navigating the uncertain and unknown world has become imperative, UNITAR CIFAL Jeju has provided a platform for our young leaders to have a deeper understanding of their role in securing sustainable development targets in the midst of global pandemic.

Organized as an on-and-offline hybrid forum for the first time in its history, the forum was joined by participants who were physically present at the venue in Jeju and those who called in virtually. Opening messages were all pre-recorded and streamed via Youtube, including keynote address delivered by Deputy Director-General Ms. Hyoeun Jenny Kim of the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI). Though the setting was new to all participants, and that the time allowed for discussion was limited due to a huge variation of participating cities and the resultant time difference, 147 students were able to produce their findings in a more creative way. It could be evaluated as an in-depth immersive engagement that helped young participants build global citizenship.

On the last day of the 11^th Jeju International Youth Forum, participating students shared self-filmed videos that showcased their city, culture, and themselves. The 3-day forum had to adapt to the global pandemic situation, but it still fostered youth leadership development and helped participants to form friendships, trust beyond borders, and better understand different cultures.

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