One Young World was launched with the dream of young people changing the world, and that’s exactly what the organization is doing. Founded in 2009, One Young World is a nucleus for nourishing change and has grown into a powerful platform for budding activism and leadership development.
“What we really try and focus on is not just identity,” says Ella Robertson McKay, managing director of One Young World. “And to not reduce people to labels, but to amplify people to all of their multifaceted identities that they feel that they can come to One Young World and advocate for a place of lived experience and for that to be seen as an added value.”
One way One Young World is elevating diverse voices is through its annual summit, which brings together delegates from over 190 countries. These gatherings provide a unique opportunity for nascent leaders to connect, share ideas, and learn from established world figures. Past speakers have included luminaries like Kofi Annan, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and many others.
What One Young World’s Ambassadors Are Saying
One Young World’s ambassadors are at the heart of the mission and they’re doing some extraordinary things. Ambassador Will Pearson, for example, co-founded Ocean Bottle, an organization working to prevent plastics from polluting the sea.
“So we really wanted to make an easy way for people to contribute something to kind of a global scale,” Pearson said. “And I’m really pleased to say as of December, we hit our billion bottle milestone. We’ve now collected a billion plastic bottles in weight.”
Ambassador Nadia Osman revealed in a TikTok video how her ambassadorship positively changed her life. “The one tip I can give younger leaders who are trying to include more women in the ecosystem is be brave,” Osman said. “Take up opportunities and participate in the social impact of your own community.”
As a social tech enterprise business owner in Sudan, Osman is using skills she says she picked up through One Young World in her daily operations.
“I care about employment problems as well as having more women included,” Osman said.
“One Young World ambassadors are the leaders of today,” ambassador Flory Achammer said in a One Young World YouTube video.
From climate change to poverty to disability awareness and battling racism to supporting educational resources, One Young World’s leaders are making their mark in every corner of the Earth. One Young World has impressively mobilized more than 177,000 people to take action against climate change, provided 3.8 million with health care education, helped more than 478,000 gain access to clean water and sanitation, and mitigated 2.52 million carbon dioxide emissions since 2018.
This global representation allows One Young World to tap into emerging trends and issues long before they hit the mainstream. Robertson McKay notes, “We were talking about essentially all the key themes of the Me Too movement back in 2013, and all businesses are talking about extremism at the moment – we’ve been working on countering violent extremism since 2016.”
Beyond the summit, One Young World works year-round to maintain engagement with its more than 17,000 ambassadors who receive support through funding, mentorship programs, and networking opportunities to drive change in their communities.
One Young World’s commitment to diversity and inclusion is evident in its scholarship program. Currently, about one-third of summit attendees participate on fully funded scholarships. The organization has set an ambitious goal to increase this to 50% by 2030, ensuring that financial barriers don’t prevent talented people from participating.
One Young World also recognizes the importance of partnering with established institutions and corporations to drive change. It works with over 500 businesses, including major players like BMW, L’Oréal, and AstraZeneca. These partnerships provide valuable resources and platforms for participants to implement their ideas on a larger scale.
However, this nonprofit isn’t content to rest on its laurels. It continually seeks to expand its reach and impact. Plans are already in motion for a 2025 summit in Munich, and Montreal’s summit is set for this September.
Robertson McKay emphasizes the commitment to year-round engagement: “We know that One Young World is not just four days, but that programmatically, we are offering things to young leaders all year round.” This includes the Global Leadership Programme and an Action Accelerator program designed to help blossoming trailblazers turn inspiration into concrete action.
Its success stems from its ability to bridge generational gaps and create meaningful dialogue between established leaders and emerging talent. The organization has hosted figures like Queen Rania of Jordan and Harry Potter actor Emma Watson alongside young activists from around the world.
As global challenges continue to mount, organizations like One Young World play a crucial role in nurturing the next generation of leaders. By providing a platform, resources, and connections, it is helping to shape a more inclusive and effective approach to international problem-solving.
A Lasting Impact for All
For those inspired to get involved, One Young World offers multiple avenues for engagement. Change-makers can apply to attend the annual summit, with numerous scholarship opportunities available. Businesses and organizations can sponsor delegates or partner with the global community to support emerging leaders. Even those unable to attend in person can engage with online content, sharing stories and helping to amplify voices.
The message is clear: Solutions to our most pressing global challenges lie in empowering and elevating the upcoming generation. Through its summits, programs, and partnerships, One Young World is working to ensure that these voices are heard and ideas are translated into meaningful action.
