The largest global forum for young leaders will convene more than 2,000 people from 190+ countries in Manchester this September.
Originally scheduled to take place in Tokyo, Japan, the decision to switch host city was made to ensure as many delegates as possible from across the globe are able to attend.
The Summit will take place at Manchester Central from September 5th to 8th, with the Opening Ceremony held at the internationally renowned concert venue Bridgewater Hall – home of the BBC Philharmonic. Over 2,000 young leaders from more than 190 countries will gather in the city for a variety of speeches, panels, workshops and networking sessions.
Since launching in 2009, One Young World has built a network of over 13,500 Ambassadors – young leaders whose work has directly impacted more than 30 million people globally. In 2020 for every $1 invested, One Young World Ambassadors deliver $16 of social value.
Manchester will also welcome high-profile leaders who work with the young Ambassadors and Delegates, sharing their experiences of making a positive social impact. In previous years, this group of political, business and humanitarian leaders have included Nobel Peace laureates, heads of state, campaigners and activists, such as Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus, the Duchess of Sussex, President Mary Robinson, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, the late Kofi Annan, and Emma Watson.
At the Summit, attendees discuss and explore solutions to an array of topics, including conflict prevention, ethical leadership, safeguarding our oceans, gender equality and ensuring health equity for all.
One Young World has become the definitive platform for young leaders – prioritising action rather than debate – and has partnered with more than 180 businesses, NGOs and educational institutions that are working to meet the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. It has been responsible for hugely impactful programmes over the past few years including the COVID-19 Young Leaders Fund, Lead2030 and One Young World Academy.
Kate Robertson and David Jones, Co-Founders, One Young World said: “We’re delighted to bring the One Young World Summit to Manchester in September. Whilst we are saddened to no longer hold the Summit in Tokyo this year, we send our huge thanks to their team and look forward to Tokyo hosting our Summit in the near future.
“From football and music to innovation, Manchester is known around the world as a city that truly inspires young people, not least in its efforts to become a fairer, greener place to live and work. We know it will be a truly inspirational host for the One Young World delegates and the team is excited to make the Summit in September the best one yet for everyone attending in-person and virtually.
“The world has changed so much in the last two years, and it has been heartening to see how many people are stepping up and taking action to lead us into a brighter future. This year our Summit will focus on some of the world’s biggest challenges such as conflict prevention, safeguarding our oceans, and ethical leadership. The time to act on these issues is now.”
Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, said:
“It’s great news that Manchester has been selected as a host city for this year’s One Young World Summit in September. Our city-region has a proud history of championing equality and justice, and our global community continues to attract people from all around the world to study, work, and thrive here.
“There is no better place than Manchester – the home of ‘deeds, not words’ – for exceptional young leaders, heads of state, activists, and business leaders to come together to find solutions to some of the most important issues facing our world. This is the largest global gathering of young people representing every single country in the world outside of the Olympics, and one of the most significant, and we are proud to be a part of that. I look forward to welcoming all the One Young World delegates to Manchester.”
Rishi Sunak, Chancellor of the Exchequer, said:
“It’s an absolute privilege and honour to welcome the One Young World Summit back to the UK. As we all recover from the impact of the pandemic, it’s more important than ever for young leaders from across the world to come together in the spirit of cooperation and help shape our future. Manchester is one of the UK’s most vibrant cities, a melting pot of culture and creative thinking. So I couldn’t think of anywhere more fitting to host this year’s summit.
“Thousands of delegates including the most inspirational young minds will come together to strike up new connections and share the new ideas that will have a lasting positive impact for the world. I’m enormously impressed by the ambition and innovation that One Young World Ambassadors have already demonstrated, with programmes to tackle climate change and global inequality, increase access to quality education, and improve the supply of clean energy and water. Already their work has helped millions of people around the world. And now this year’s delegates take on the responsibility to continue that work and help build a better future for us all.”
Shaun Hinds, CEO at Manchester Central said:
“It is an immense privilege to be the host venue for this year’s One Young World global forum. This is a summit which exemplifies the power that events have; their ability to unite people from all corners of the world to drive change for the greater good. We are incredibly excited to welcome these exceptional future leaders to Manchester and so proud that our iconic venue will form the backdrop to discussions - the impact of which the world will undoubtedly feel for generations to come. This is a huge win for Manchester and absolutely reflects our shared ambition and vision for our great city.”