WFF Commemorates International Youth Day with a 24-Hour Global Youth Events Marathon

In celebration of International Youth Day on 12 August, the World Food Forum (WFF) convened thousands of young people passionate about agrifood systems in a remarkable 24-hour youth events marathon. 18 hybrid events, both online and in-person, engaged participants from 21 countries across all regions of the world, united in the mission to transform global agrifood systems and positively contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

A highlight of the marathon was the Y20 Side Event in Brazil, hosted in collaboration with the Youth20 Engagement Group. The session gathered local youth perspectives for the upcoming G20 Summit in Rio De Janeiro, giving young Brazilians a chance to voice their views on reducing global hunger and poverty. The outcomes of the session will help shape Y20's contribution in this global process.

In Kenya, the pre–Local Conference on Youth (LCOY) Side Event brought together young people to discuss the connections between agrifood systems and climate change, exchanging ideas and solutions. Key speakers included, FAO Director of the Office of SDGs Stefanos Fotiou and Kenya's National Food Systems Convenor and the Co-Chair of the Inter-ministerial Food Systems Technical Working Group, Priscilla Muiruri. At FAO headquarters in Rome, the WFF National Chapter Italy held its first event, focusing on mobilizing youth-led organizations to establish a national youth agrifood platform. The theme was "Collective Action: Italy's National Chapter as a Catalyst for Youth in Agrifood Governance.”

In Ecuador, a vibrant youth fair featuring the FAO Country Office brought together young professionals from various agrifood sectors to network and showcase innovative solutions and projects with significant local impact. In Ghana, the National Chapter inspired students by highlighting the wide range of opportunities in the agrifood sector, offering practical examples and experiences for getting involved. Additionally, the WFF celebrated the launch of its 14th National Chapter in Bhutan.

Through these events, young people's voices, perspectives, innovations and experiences played a key role in shaping local and regional priorities, crafting policy recommendations to influence agrifood policies both locally and globally and in forming impactful national youth platforms that can unify and synergize youth efforts to catalyze context-specific positive impact and change.

Stay tuned for a closer look at each event from the WFF 24-Hour Marathon on International Youth Day in a comprehensive report. Don't miss out on the chance to learn more about WFF National Chapters, their activities and projects and how you can engage.