The 11th Jeju
International Youth Forum
27 November 2020, Jeju,
Republic of Korea – UNITAR CIFAL Jeju co-organized the 11th 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 11thInternational 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
11th 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.