The One Young World 2011, held in Zürich, has ended, and the 1200 delegates from 170 countries around the world are returning home to share impressions and experiences, with the call for a new beginning. (Photo: Norwegian delegate, Javad Mushtaq)
They are bringing with them from the Summit a message asking for real change now, and calling upon good leadership to take action on the worlds disturbing issues.
One of the Summit Councellors, Professor Mohammad Yunus, called the young leaders' generation the luckiest, most powerful and knowledgeable generation that has ever existed. "Every one of you have the power to make a change," he said.
The 2011 Summit program had interactive sessions and discussion plenary based on six key resolutions.
Global health being one of them; Norway's Crown Princess Mette Marit was co-chairing as counsellor for the speakers where HIV/AIDS was a burning issue amongst the young leaders. She also led a "Women Up" session earlier that day.
The other resolutions were Media, Global Business, Environment, Leadership and Interfaith Dialogue.
Norwegian delegate, Javad Mushtaq spoke on the Interfaith Dialogue.
He was chosen as Norway's best business student and student of the year 2010. He was chosen, not only for his school results, but also for his engagement in making dialogue between ethnic groups amongst the students. The 22-year-old has at his young age shown great responsibility and leadership in his student environment.
"I have a dream, I have a dream that we one day can live together in a respectful way".
Speaking of the terror attack that Javad Mushtaq witnessed the 22/7 in Norway, he describes how he as a Muslim also found himself prejudiced as he as many others thought it had ben a terror attack done by fanatic islamists, before the news broke that is was a young ethnic, Christian Norwegian who had carried out the attacks.
He said after the attacks he saw women in hijabs next to the ones without, the bishops and imams side by side and Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg and Crown Prince Haakon in the mosque. "That day we stood side by side." He described to the audience how many changes were made that day. He urged the young leaders to use dialogue and practice interfaith dialogue, and how many small changes will lead to a great change.
Before his speech at the summit, Javad Mushtaq had visited Zurich International School with Crown Prince Haakon and Pekka Himanen, where they led a "Dignity Session" The school has 1500 students from more that 50 countries, 8 of them from Norway.
Javad Mushtaq led a 45 minutes class for the students at the school.
One Young World is a global youth leadership summit, bringing together 1,200 delegates primarily under 25 from over 170 countries worldwide. Unlike any other event in the world, One Young World gives delegates the kind of media platform and forum afforded ordinarily only to those who lead countries and corporations.
Supported by counselors including Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, Sir Bob Geldof Muhammad Yunus and the Norwegian Crown Prince Cuple, delegates will tell the world what the leaders of tomorrow think and feel - and what they demand of the leaders of today.
Founded by David Jones, Global CEO of Havas, and Kate Robertson, UK Group Chairman, Euro RSCG, One Young World is a unique event that offers international decision makers powerful insight into where our world may be heading.
The Congresshouse in Zurich has been filled from the 1st until the 4th of September. Deligates have shared powerful ideas and moving stories have also been told.
As next Summit host city for 2012 was chosen Pittsburg, USA. Johannesburg will be the host city for 2013. The African deligates all started dancing and singing when the news broke and the beautiful closing ceremony came to an end with the whole venue joining in on the South African Anthem.
(Ynghild Solholm in Zürich for The Norway Post)
