Switzerland to host 2016 summit for young Global Changemakers
Global Changemakers was created in Switzerland in 2007 with the aim to empower youth to catalyze social change. In its eight-year existence it has become one of the largest and most active youth networks globally with over a thousand selected members and over a 130.000 followers on social media. We start with an intense selection process and then organize training events for the selected Changemakers. At these events we provide tools and a network. After the events, we support the initiatives young people come up with. This way, we build long-lasting relationships with our Changemakers.
In 2014 Global Changemakers became an independent, Swiss-based organization. Thanks to the support of the Mercator Foundation Switzerland, we will host the first Swiss Global Youth Summit (GYS 2016) this summer, from July 24-30. Breaking past records, the selection process of the GYS 2016 attracted over 4000 applicants globally. From this group, we selected 60 of the best young community workers, volunteers and social entrepreneurs from 30 countries, including 20 youths from Switzerland. We will bring them together at a conference centre overlooking the Swiss hills for a week of skill building, networking and innovating.
During the week participants will have the opportunity to share, their stories; their failures and their successes as Changemakers. Of course they will also be trained on project management, fundraising and social media, as well as presentation skills and on a whole list of other skills. The speakers and workshop leaders are mainly coming from Swiss companies, government and organisations. As Part of the summit, we will be discussing the role of Switzerland as a peace-building nation, we will have a sustainability walk through Zürich and we will create a banner with the Changemaker´s message that will be exhitbited somewhere in Switzerland.
After the event has taken place, participants will have the opportunity to apply for start up funds to implement the ideas developed during the GYS. Global Changmakers, with the help of partners like Start Some Good, Thompson Reuters et Coaching for Causes, will be providing these initiatives with mentoring and support in order to ensure these ideas become ground-breaking projects that bring about a positive change. So far, we have supported 300 Changemaker projects, all over the world.
You can follow us, and the GYS-2016 on our website and through Facebook and Twitter.
Katherine Hermans, Director Global Changemakers
After receiving her MA, Katherine started out as a journalist writing about social and environmental issues. Since 2008 she has been working for Global Changemakers and initiated the program to become an independent Swiss organisation in 2014. Katherine is currently writing her dissertation on youth-led development at the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership.
