The momentum for youth-led sustainable development initiatives continues to build, with the Next Generation Foresight Practitioner-Young Voices (NGFP-YV) Awards 2024 currently underway and breaking records. This year has seen over 100 completed youth applications – a new high – and more than 400 young people engaged through the registration process. The growing interest is not limited to participants; over 80 professionals applied to be judges this year, also setting a new record.
This surge in participation reflects a growing recognition of the importance of youth voices in shaping our collective future. It also underscores the need for platforms like the NGFP-YV Awards that not only recognize young talent but also provide pathways for implementation and scaling of youth-led solutions.
As we eagerly await the announcement of the 2024 NGFP-YV Awards winners, we can be certain that a new wave of inspiring projects and ideas will emerge. These young innovators, with their fresh perspectives and unwavering commitment to creating a better world, give us reason to be optimistic about the future.
Now in its fourth year, the NGFP-YV Awards, a collaborative initiative between Teach the Future and the School of International Futures, is showcasing the incredible projects and ideas of young minds in shaping a sustainable future. In a world grappling with complex challenges, from climate change to social inequality, the power of youth to drive positive change has never been more crucial.
At Teach the Future, our mission is to help young people become more futures literate by teaching futures-thinking skills to students and educators around the world and inspiring them to influence their futures. Our aspiration is that every student is prepared to navigate an uncertain world and has the tools to imagine and create their preferred future. As we witness the surge of youth-led movements across the globe, from climate strikes to social entrepreneurship initiatives, it's clear that young people are not just the leaders of tomorrow – they are the catalysts for change today.
The NGFP-YV Awards provide a platform for these young visionaries, aged 12-17, to amplify their voices and turn their innovative ideas into reality. Futures thinking – the ability to anticipate and prepare for future challenges and opportunities – is at the heart of these awards. By encouraging young people to think critically about the future and develop projects that address pressing global issues, the awards are nurturing a generation of forward-thinking leaders equipped to navigate the complexities of sustainable development.
Please join us as we await the 2024 Awards announcement coming soon!
As always, we appreciate your support of this program and invite you to watch for news on social media and if you like what you see, please donate to help us keep our work on futures literacy growing.
Thank you,
Lisa Giuliani
Youth Foresight Project Director
Amna Habiba
Youth Innovation & Technology Director
Reference list entry:
UN SDG:Learn. (2024, February 22). Youth foresight in action: How Teach the Future's NGFP-YV Awards are shaping the future of sustainable development. https://www.unsdglearn.org/blog/youth-foresight-in-action-how-teach-the-futures-ngfp-yv-awards-are-shaping-the-future-of-sustainable-development/