Cheesekids for Humanity News

Joburg ready to host One Young World Summit

Posted on 31 Oct 2012 / Tags: none

OYW

During the closing ceremony of this year’s OYW summit, held in Pittsburgh in the United States, the host city baton was passed on to the MMC for Community Development Chris Vondo, who could not hide his elation at Johannesburg being given the rare opportunity to organise an event of such magnitude and significance next year.

“As I take this baton, I pledge to you that when you come to Johannesburg, you will find a city committed to the youth, a city that is full of possibilities, a city that is ready for young energy to make a mark,” said MMC Vondo.

At the Pittsburgh summit, more than 1 300 young leaders from 182 countries shared their vision, views and ideas to create practical and achievable solutions for positive change in areas such as education, business, healthcare, sustainable development, human rights, transparency and good governance.

After the summit, OYW ambassadors work towards delivering positive outcomes in these areas in their own countries and communities. To date, almost four million people have been directly touched by the work of OYW ambassadors, who run or manage more than 125 projects and initiatives in 100 countries.

The OYW summit is unique in that it gives delegates the kind of media platform afforded ordinarily only to those who lead countries and corporations. It gives the youth the opportunity to speak alongside global leaders such as former US President Bill Clinton, Imran Khan, Jos Stone, former United Secretary-General Kofi Annan, Jamie Oliver, Pete Cashmore, Miller Matola and Fatima Bhutto.

Speaking on Joburg’s hosting of the 2013 summit, MMC Vondo said the gathering and what it epresented held significant meaning for Johannesburg and its residents.

“This summit is of particular importance to us. It is something dear to our hearts. Because we in Johannesburg know that while we may plan and toil, strive and create, unless we pay particular attention to our youth, we can never really become a resilient and sustainable city. We can never be the 'vibrant equitable African city' imagined in our Growth and Development Strategy.”

OYW is a London-based charity organisation that stages an annual youth summit that brings together some of the brightest young minds from around the world. Founded in 2009 by David Jones, the Global CEO of Havas, and Kate Robertson, UK Group Chairman of Havas Worldwide, OYW has become a formidable voice for the youth to discuss important issues with key global decision-makers.

“The attendance of President Clinton, along with international figures such as Sir Bob Geldof, Muhammad Yunus and Kofi Annan demonstrates the global significance OYW has attained. They are world-renowned leaders who can inspire the next generation of decision-makers and help shape their ideas into plans for concrete action,” said Jones

At the end of the closing ceremony, representatives of each of the 182 countries paraded their national flags before putting them down on stage as a gesture of unity.

For more information on One Young World, log onto www.oneyoungworld.com