Young Women's World Forum

Young Women’s World Forum

The Young Women’s World Forum, which takes place from Tuesday 19 to Sunday 24 October 2010, will bring together young women from around the world to discuss the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). They will draft a declaration which details their recommendations for discussion makers to push achievement of the MDGs forward as well as each creating a personal action plan to enable them to effect change in their country and their community after the forum. Each of WAGGGS’ 145 member organisations around the world have been invited to send two young women aged 18-25 to attend the Young Women’s World forum. Discussions will focus on three of the MDGs which were voted as priorities by members of WAGGGS from across the globe in a poll carried out last year. These three goals are “Ending Hunger”, “Gender Equality” and “Environmental Sustainability”.

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Aims of the Forum

At the Millennium Summit in 2000, 189 world leaders made a commitment to end poverty by the year 2015. They signed up to the MDGs, a series of eight time-bound targets covering key areas such as “universal education” and “maternal health” which are all pivotal to combating extreme poverty. However, many of these targets are currently off-track and will not be achieved if real action is not taken. Find out more http://www.endpoverty2015.org/

Girls worldwide say “Together we can change our world”

The Young Women’s World Forum hosted by Girlguiding UK is the first in a series of forums which will bring WAGGGS members together to discuss and take action on the Millennium Development Goals: in 2011 four simultaneous forums will take place at the World Centres and during the Girl Scouts Centenary in 2012 the USA will host the final Young Women’s World Forum in the series.

Throughout the Centenary celebrations from 2010-2012 the WAGGGS Global Action theme is: girls worldwide say “together we can change our world”. This educational programme encourages girls, young women and members of all ages to make a personal commitment to change the world around them. The Global Action Theme badge syllabus is available to download. The pack is full of activities to work on the Global Action Theme in your unit. Or why not hold your own local Forum and gain 10 points towards the Adventure 100 challenge.

The planning team

A team of seven young women from Girlguiding UK along with one volunteer from the WAGGGS Europe Region make up the planning team for the Young Women’s World Forum 2010. During the event a further 40 volunteers from Girlguiding UK will join them as event assistants, facilitators and translators to help deliver the Young Women’s World Forum. Along with the delegates of the forum they will have the amazing opportunity to share the 20:10, 20/10/2010 moment and celebrate the finale of Girlguiding UK’s Centenary together as well as looking forward towards the next 100 years of guiding.

Plans are progressing rapidly for the forum which looks set to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Watch this space for announcements of speakers and charity partners who will be joining us for the forum and details of how you can follow the progress of the forum as it takes place.

If you have any queries about the Forum please contact worldforum@girlguiding.org.uk