Me and One Young World Summit in London

When I first hear about One Young World Summit in London, I was so awestruck by the theme of the program. The idea to bring 1500 young people around the globe who were under 25 by 2010 amazed me. All the delegates were chosen according to their leadership quality. I was also selected as a delegate speaker from Nepal although I am a first year student of undergraduate studies in Asian university for Women in Chittagong Bangladesh. My social science professors and one of my friend, Janice inspired me to apply for the program and helped me on some other technical stuffs. In the beginning, every delegate was asked to pay 3000 Euros by doing fundraising or finding their own sponsor. As the organizer request, I also did some fundraising with my friends and family and pay some money to the organization; however I was unable to pay the full amount. Finally, the organizer searched a sponsor for me and the gentle man named Bill Leo from London sponsored rest.

Regarding the Summit: I and Ritesh Thapa, another delegates from Nepal reached the London city airport hotel on February 7th, 2010 although the program was officially started from February 8-11. However, Kasfia Rahman, the only one delegate from Bangladesh was placed to Holiday-Inn Express hotel on the same day. The next day, the program informally started from 9am in the morning by distributing the OYW batch to all the delegates and speakers. Moreover, the 36 speakers were taken to the excel center for the rehearsal of the speech. Then after the lunch program, all the delegates and the speakers were taken to the trip along the Themes River for the country flag presentation and the official opening ceremony of One Young Summit on Old Billingsgate.
Created a Global Issues Resolution by the OYW Delegates in London

The opening ceremony starts on February 8th, 2010 with the speech of Archbishop Desmond Tutu which realized me how lucky I am to be there as a delegates speaker from Nepal. Bob Geldof and Boris Johnson delivered a five minute speech with a warm welcome and the importance of choosing the London for the summit. Finally, the two initiators, David Jones, Global CEO of Euro RSCG and Kate Robertson, Chairman of Euro RSCG and the cofounder of One Young world, appeared on the stage with a big smile to welcome us and announced the official inaugurate of One Young World Summit. The speech was also focused on the importance to setup global youth gathering called One Young World and their future plan. The program was wrapped up with the terrific performance by Corinne Bailey followed by the supper of delegates in the Old Billing Gates. Finally, the delegates were taken to the hotel with the help of instructors.

On February 9th, 2010, I woke up as the instructors asked all the delegates to complete our breakfast in our assigned hotel and get ready to go to excel center by 8am. After attending the program, I realized how hard the two people, David Jones and Kate Robertson must have worked to take this initiative. On the first day, the six chosen delegate speakers among all the delegates speak on each plenary session. The sessions were The Protection of the Environment, The Role of Global Business in Shaping the Society, and the Interfaith Dialogue on World Religion and Spirituality where Kofi Annan, Professor Muhammad Yunus, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and HRH Prince Haakon of Norway were some of the counselors and the speakers of the day. Question and answers session and voting system regarding resolution were followed by the each plenary session. There was also an online voting facility where thousands of young people around the world vote for the resolution. After the voting system, I and Ritesh had an interview from BBC Nepali Sewa how to empower, encourage and inspire youth in Nepal.

On February 10th, 2010, I was asked to reached excel center as soon as possible because I was the first speaker on the changing power of media. The main focus of my speech is how and why it is important to find the women journalist’s identity on media, their challenges and to disclose some sustainable solution to empower them. My speech was based on the case study of women journalists in Nepal and my online journalism experience. Therefore, I woke up at 5am and practice a speech for an hour and went to the excel center along with another delegates speaker, Trishna Jaisi from Bhutan. The three plenary sessions were on The Changing Power of Media, Politics for a Positive Future, and Global Health Challenges where Oscar Morales, Elio Leoni-Sceti, Tony Fernandes, Carol Stone, Prof. Nick Haysom, Rachel Haltom-Irwin and Martin Davidson were some of the counselors of the above plenary sessions.

After all the six plenary sessions, BBC broadcast live to 6o million people around the world on BBC World Have Your Say. It was for about 45 minutes. In the mean time, we have some presentations about self dignity and poverty. After the entire program, we have a super in the excel center followed with some special deserts and drinks. Finally, we were coached by to the hotel and the same day, I was picked up by Lady Judy Moody Stuart, the board member of AUW to her home. The next day I had a meeting with the representation of SAB Miller and at night I went to attend a lecture in Cambridge University which was organized by National Trust.

In general, the program was extremely enjoyed during the speech, question and answered sessions and live broadcast from BBC. The most important achievement that I have gained from the summit is the commitment from young people to change their community and work together with likeminded people. I remembered a delegate from Canada came to me and asked whether it is possible to volunteer in Nepal or not. He was interested to volunteer in an orphanage or any organization which works for children. Currently, there have been several groups that have already formed through face book such as One Young world Latin America, Once Young World Asia Pacific etc. Hopefully, next year the same delegates will gather together somewhere in Paris, Washington or South Africa to present what they have done after attend the Summit.

I wrote this for star magazine which published from Bangladesh.
I hope pulsewire familu will also enjoy reading this.