On the Margins of the Summit of the Future 2024:
Interfaith Youth Responses to the Century’s Biggest Challenges: Faith-Based Contributions to the Summit of the Future … as pivotal agents of change, youth are essential to the achievement of our shared goals for a safe, resilient, and sustainable future for all humanity. This side event of the Summit of the Future enables Interfaith Youth to be heard and the consideration of the crucial role of youth in building communities of the future.

Concept Note

Background

As pivotal agents of change, youth are essential to the achievement of our shared goals for a safe, resilient, and sustainable future for all humanity. At this crucial juncture, where the international community is forging a better path forward through the Pact for the Future, the official side event, Interfaith Youth Responses to the Century’s Biggest Challenges: Faith-Based Contributions to the Summit of the Future, will provide a dynamic platform for youth and diverse religious leaders, and experts to articulate their vision and explore actionable solutions for a brighter tomorrow. The side event is co-organised by Religions for Peace and the Islamic Cooperation Youth Forum (ICYF), in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Faith for Earth Coalition, the Republic of The Gambia and Uzbekistan.

Discussions will focus on the crucial role of youth, inspired by faith and core values, as agents and catalysts for addressing global crises and building communities of the future. It will touch on fostering faith as a source of and a foundational inspiration from which springs the fountains of hope, peace, mental wellbeing for ensuring a healthy environment for all within a framework of holistic development. The event will also highlight how youth faith-based actions demonstrate a holistic approach to creating, innovating, and collaborating for inclusive solutions in a world afflicted by wars, conflicts, environmental challenges, and other humanitarian emergencies.

Objectives

Religions for Peace and ICYF, in collaboration with key partners, will convene diverse religious leaders, interfaith youth, and experts to:

Demonstrate how youth are motivated and empowered to take initiative in addressing major global challenges through reflections on faith-based values and teachings; • Highlight and recognise successful youth-led projects and initiatives that have made a significant impact on their communities and beyond; • Address the importance of mental health and environmental sustainability in creating inclusive and prosperous societies;
Encourage and promote effective partnerships between civil society organisations, including faith-based organisations, other sectors of society and youth groups, to foster a united approach to humanitarian and global issues.