Vatican City, October 31 - SDSN Youth in collaboration with the Pontifical Academy of Sciences (PAS), will host the Vatican Youth Symposium at the Casina Pio IV in Vatican City. Youth Leadership for Integral Human Development - Laudato Si’ and the Sustainable Development Goals
This conference brings together more than 50 young leaders, from over 30 countries and a variety of disciplines to co-generate solutions for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Youth leaders have an important role to play in instilling the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Paris Climate Agreement, and Laudato Si’ among the new generation worldwide. The Vatican Youth Symposium is a forum to strengthen global youth movements for sustainable development. Attendees come together to learn from both experts and each other in sessions covering topics such as advocacy, leadership, entrepreneurship, and moral engagement to fortify global youth movements for sustainable development.
The Vatican Youth Symposium will be opened by Professor Jeffrey D. Sachs, Special Advisor to United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on the SDGs and the Director of SDSN, and Monsignor Marcelo Sánchez Sorondo, Chancellor of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences. His Holiness Pope Francis has also been invited to attend.
The 2018 Symposium addresses challenges youth face by training young leaders in global development, specifically, young innovators, entrepreneurs, and activists who will become champions for their causes and catalyze social movements around the biggest issues of our time. With the support of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences (PAS) and SDSN, leaders from civil society, faith communities, businesses, and academia, will facilitate sessions offering their guidance and partnership with the youth leaders. Representatives from organizations such as the Omni Institute, Global Citizen, World Business Council on Sustainable Development, among others, will provide valuable dialogue and discussions with youth leaders on practices and lessons they can utilize to mobilize on SDG projects.
SDG solutions discussed and generated at the Vatican Symposium will be wide-ranging and multifaceted given the interconnected nature of the 17 SDGs. The Symposium will have a special focus on raising global awareness for SDGs, education, and expertise for SDGs, entrepreneurship and innovation for SDGs, and Philanthropy and Financing for SDGs. The Symposium will provide a space for professionals and young leaders to share experiences, success stories, and best practices in order to empower participants to commit to concrete solutions and deliver meaningful change in their local communities.
The Vatican Youth Symposium was made possible by the generosity and support of Dr. Betsee Parker.