From 19 to 20 February, the First Global Youth Forum of Associations al Clubs for UNESCO took place in Almaty, Kazakhstan, attended by more than 150 participants from 60 countries around the world.
The Forum was organised by UNESCO and the World Federation of UNESCO Clubs and Associations, with the support of the Kazakhstan National Federation of UNESCO Clubs, the National Commissions for UNESCO of Kazakhstan and France, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and Akimat Almaty.
Italy was represented by AIGU President Gianluca Buoncore, on behalf of AIGU and the Italian Federation of UNESCO Associations and Clubs. Over the course of two days, delegates from associations and clubs for UNESCO from every region of the world, together with representatives of government, academic and business circles, including UNESCO experts, discussed key issues such as capacity building, youth empowerment, the ethics of artificial intelligence, digital technology, sustainable tourism, climate change, inclusion and the arts in education.
u003cstrongu003e19 February 2025u003c/strongu003ernu003ca href=u0022https://youtube.com/live/ixQ7lr6uaxQ?feature=shareu0022u003ePlenari Sessionu003c/au003ernrnu003cstrongu003eu003cspan style=u0022font-family: arial, sans-serif;u0022u003eu003cspan lang=u0022EN-USu0022u003e20 February 2025u003c/spanu003eu003c/spanu003eu003c/strongu003ernrnu003cspan style=u0022font-family: arial, sans-serif;u0022u003eu003ca href=u0022https://youtube.com/live/suhClm7G8Vs?feature=shareu0022u003eu003cspan style=u0022text-decoration: underline;u0022u003eu003cspan lang=u0022EN-USu0022u003ePanel Discussion 1, Atelier 1u003c/spanu003eu003c/spanu003eu003c/au003ernu003c/spanu003ernrnu003ca href=u0022https://www.youtube.com/live/zS_8c3dNryQu0022u003eu003cbu003eu003cspan lang=u0022EN-USu0022u003eu003cspan style=u0022font-family: arial, sans-serif;u0022u003ePanel Discussion 2, Atelier 2, Closing Sessionu003c/spanu003eu003c/spanu003eu003c/bu003eu003c/au003ernrnu003ca href=u0022https://youtu.be/2dCDw-JLnigu0022u003eu003cstrongu003eFINAL VIDEOu003c/strongu003eu003c/au003e
President Buoncore was invited to speak during the plenary session Building Youth Capacities as a Driving Force for a Sustainable Future, presenting AIGU’s experience as a global best practice with a speech entitled Building Future through Youth Engagement. AIGU as an International Best Practice among Youth Associations, speaking about the founding of AIGU, its mission of actively engaging young people through UNESCO values, the achievements of our main events such as EDU, the Italian Youth Forum and Heritage&Youth, and the challenges that await us in the near future on the themes of education and peacebuilding.
As part of the event, several high-profile guests visited Kazakhstan, including UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Ms X. Abbing, the world’s leading expert on artificial intelligence, Dr W. Holmes, members of the Executive Board of the World Federation of UNESCO Clubs and Associations, and others.
A key outcome of the event was the adoption of the Youth Roadmap of Associations and Clubs
for UNESCO for 2025–2030: Building a Sustainable Future Together. This document will define the strategic directions for the development of the movement, represented in 94 countries by more than 5,000 organisations, as well as expanding opportunities for young people and strengthening the network of Clubs for UNESCO leaders around the world.
The Global Youth Forum in Almaty represents a first, hugely important event: a moment of dialogue and exchange among young people from all over the world who believe in UNESCO values and devote their time, energy and resources to bringing them to civil society and building a sustainable and peaceful future together.
Heartfelt thanks go to the Italian National Commission for UNESCO and the Italian Federation of UNESCO Associations and Clubs for giving AIGU the opportunity to represent Italy.
