We are thrilled to announce that 50 young educators from 27 different countries were awarded full scholarships to participate in the 2024 AFS Youth Assembly Educators Academy this August in New York City. This initiative, guided by skilled facilitators from AFS-USA, provided participants with an opportunity to delve into intercultural issues and the fundamentals of globally competent teaching. The scholarships for this program were made possible thanks to the generous support from bp, a global energy company.
The AFS Youth Assembly is an annual event and a global platform that has cultivated an international network of young leaders and changemakers through exchange, education, action and impact for 20 years. The young educators first joined a dynamic and collaborative Academy and then continued their experience at the AFS Youth Assembly conference which gathered more than 600 young leaders (ages 18-32) from 80+ countries to explore the theme “Forge Our Shared Future.” Find out more.
During the Academy, educators explored teaching resources focused on education for sustainable development and global citizenship education. They reflected on their own teaching contexts, developing innovative ideas to foster multicultural classrooms. The diverse group of participants enhanced their self-awareness and empathy for different cultural backgrounds, perceptions, and behaviors, leading to a deeper understanding of global educational challenges.
The collaborative environment of the Academy encouraged educators to share diverse views, experiences, and best practices while forging local and global connections with fellow educators passionate about Global Citizenship Education. A key outcome of the Academy was the planning of intercultural projects aimed at connecting classrooms across different parts of the world, all centered around the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Young educators participating in this program also had the chance to join the International Youth Day Celebration organized by AFS Intercultural Programs and Permanent Mission of Malta to the UN, in collaboration with the United Nations International Organization for Migration (UN IOM), UNESCO and UN Habitat. Powerful youth voices took the stage, sharing their realities, impact and hopes for the future inspiring everyone to take action in their communities and the world.
During the AFS Youth Assembly, these educators had the chance to join dozens of different panels, workshops and interactive sessions exploring the future of education, climate action, food security and tackling humanitarian crises.
The 2024 Youth Assembly truly demonstrated the power of education and youth engagement in advancing a secure, inclusive, and sustainable future. Applications are now open for the 2025 AFS Youth Assembly, which will take place on August 8-10, 2025 in New York City.