In 2020, the second edition of the Young Activists Summit ‘The world we want, time for change’ honoured seven young activists who have made a real difference towards building a better future. The event was held online on 20 November 2020 to mark World Children’s Day.
#YAS20
THE WORLD WE WANT,
TIME FOR CHANGE
The coronavirus crisis has been a massive disrupter but also an opportunity to rethink the world we want for tomorrow.
Young people have the right to demand that the recovery plans they will fund be spent on rebuilding sustainable societies that protect the interests of present and future generations.
On World Children’s Day on 20 November, the Young Activists Summit (YAS20) brought together seven young activists who are advancing climate action, biodiversity, human rights, sustainable & ethical fashion issues.
#YAS20 was co-organised by the NGO dev.tv, the United Nations Office at Geneva, Radio Télévision Suisse (RTS) and its GenèveVision label, and by the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies.

DOCUMENTARY SERIES
On World Children’s Day, the Young Activists Summit launched a series of web-documentaries featuring activists, international experts, and other public figures around a number of themes, such as climate, biodiversity, human rights, sustainable and ethical fashion. These videos are being released in the context of a digital campaign which will culminate on 10 December, Human Rights Day.
Any questions? Contact us at info@youngactivistssummit.org
WATCH THE 2020 SUMMIT
TEACHING RESOURCES

DONATIONS
To support the 2020 Activists in advancing their cause, Sisley Paris generously committed to granting a donation to each laureate, thus enabling the Young Activists Summit to have a concrete and long-lasting impact on the ground.
CONTEXT
The coronavirus crisis has had seismic implications for populations and economies, and highlighted our current systems’ inconsistencies. But this massive disruption is an opportunity to rethink the world we want for tomorrow.
This unprecedented crisis has also shed light on some communities who have demonstrated a high level of solidarity and resilience. All around the world, young people have been at the forefront of solidarity initiatives and campaigns. Some remarkable projects to advance the well-being of today’s and tomorrow’s generations have emerged.
The youth has a key role to play in shaping a more sustainable, solidarity-based and resilient world.
In 2020, a global conversation of the world’s future was initiated by the UN on the occasion of its 75th anniversary. #YAS20 served to promote a similar approach and foster a dialogue across generations around the following question: “Which world do we want for today and tomorrow?”.
Achieving progress towards the values and causes advanced by the activists requires the support of adults, who have the skills and leverage to deliver change.
Young activists, decision-makers, and experts should work together to design and shape tomorrow’s world, a world which is respectful of and enabling for both current and future generations.
2020 could foster a drastic system change and provide a gateway towards a more sustainable, peaceful, fair, and inclusive future.





CO-ORGANIZED BY
dev.tv, non-profit NGO of media professionals
United Nations Office at Geneva
RTS, Radio Télévision Suisse
Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies
SPECIAL THANKS TO
Fondation Hélène et Victor Barbour
Fondation pour Genève
Migros
George Couri
Sisley Initiative
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
Swiss Confederation
Republic and State of Geneva
City of Geneva
European Union
Permanent Mission of Canada
Permanent Mission of the Federal Republic of Germany to the UN Geneva
Permanent Mission of Finland
Permanent Representation of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
Permanent Mission of the United Kingdom
Fight for Humanity
UNFPA, United Nations Population Fund
WITH THE KIND SUPPORT OF
TV5 Monde
Eduki
Act on your Future
Philantropic Adventures
Actua
Chantal Bernheim media consultant
Kofi Annan Foundation
UNEP United Nations Environment Programme
UNHCR, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
UN Information Centre Beirut
UN Information Centre Panama City
Yan Luong digital communication
Zoein Foundation
Donna Reitano, em4
House of Ocean
Les Jeunes IHEDN
180 Grad Wende