Grads join World Leaders at the G20 Summit

This Summer, three Envision Grads joined four other young people from the UK for the G20 Summit in Toronto, Canada to discuss some of the world’s biggest issues.

James, Steven and Barbara were granted the incredible opportunity to have afternoon tea with the Prime Minister David Cameron, as well as the Chancellor and the High Commissioner to Canada to discuss important issues that G20 world leaders are currently tackling. These issues included: climate change, maternal health, nuclear non-proliferation and food security. Young people from all over the UK also voted on issues that they found to be the most pressing, so that the UK’s seven delegates could give the rest of the UK’s young people a voice.

Barbara Soetan, a Grad and co-host of the Envision@10 event in July said, "Being part of the UK delegation to the G8 and G20 summit set a precedent for future youth participation at this level and offered a unique opportunity to engage with the key issues and put forward tangible recommendations. There were a lot of important lessons to learn from the process of negotiations and country collaborative working and the plenary sessions made host to an amazing line-up of speakers and experts. Key highlights of the trip included an intimate plenary session with the Rt. Hon Michaelle Jean, Governor General of Canada, bumping into President Obama on the escalators just before his press conference and being invited to tea with the Prime Minister where we offered another opportunity to discuss climate change and youth unemployment as top priorities."

James Mummery, one of the UK’s seven delegates and also an Envision Grad said “I really enjoyed the summit, more than I originally thought I would. The other 6 delegates were really inspiring people to learn from and I think that everybody should be given an opportunity like this.”

To find out more about their unique experience, head to the My20Summit blog.  And if you want to receive the latest youth opportunities direct to your inbox, let us know!