In many countries, young people are the majority. Many of these youth, including Frannie Léautier, Vice President of the WBI, are saying, “We are not the future; we are the now.” Leautier's message was well received as she opened the Youth-to-Youth (Y2Y) Community's U.N. Week Conference at the Preston Auditorium last Thursday. The conference, entitled Youth, Innovation, and Development: A Global Perspective brought together young people and development practitioners from inside and outside the Bank, fostering discussions on innovative ideas for development.

The purpose of the event, which was co-sponsored internally by the Children and Youth Unit, the Information Solutions Group, and the South Asia Social Protection Unit, was to recognize the achievements of young people in development and impress upon the larger development community that the youth are agents for change.

	Energy and Enthusiasm Throughout the entire day, the energy, spirit and enthusiasm of the young participants never waned. Representatives from external sponsors of the event, such as DB Youth, Americans for Informed Democracy and the Young Americas Business Trust, urged young people with innovative ideas for development to pursue them with passion and a solid business plan.
Annie Bertrand, co-founder of India Schoolhouse Fund, which she started with her Harvard Business School classmates

The five sessions during the event identified organizations that support youth involvement in development, highlighted the accomplishments of young people who have implemented effective projects in developing countries, discussed current and recommended youth development policies and ended with a break-out session for participants, who discussed challenges and opportunities in different facets of development.
                           
HR Vice President Xavier Coll concluded the conference by applauding the youth and saying, “You bring perspective, ideas, and passion to development,” and urged the participants to follow up on the ideas brought forth throughout the day and to establish solid networks.

Partnerships in Development During the conference, many of the participants agreed that while a personal responsibility exists with each individual to assist in development, the value of partnerships could not go unrecognized. This notion was reinforced by Ambassador Dennis Antoine of Grenada , and Chair of the Board of Directors of the Young Americas Business Trust who emphasized the importance of relating youth to society by saying that, “Youth is not a part of society, it is society.”

Frannie Leautier chats with Luis Viguria, Nahuel Velázquez and Rafael Pinto. (YABT)

Yerutí Méndez
Program Manager
Young Americas Business Trust
Organization of American States