My Summit 2010: Gen Y and World Leaders

Between June 23 and June 27, 2010, G8 youth delegates negotiated a youth communique that was presented to the G8 leaders and outlined their collective stance on four key issues: Nuclear non-proliferation and terrorism, food security, maternal and child health, and climate change. G20 youth delegates were privy to the G20 family photo, press conferences, inspiring speakers, and a program that allowed the G20 nations to understand just how powerful our generation is.

Last week I was in one of the most powerful rooms in the world, I’m sure of it. I was privy to a once-in-a-lifetime experience as a Canadian delegate taking part in the G8 and G20 Summits. It was awe-inspiring, incredibly empowering, and just too darn cool. 150 Millennials, all with incredible insight, well-formed opinions, and a collective vivacious spirit, were given the opportunity to draft a communique to represent the voice of a generation on the issues that are currently facing the G8 nations.

We all know that Millennials like to share their voices. We are confident with our words, passionate in the way we use them, and better yet, we’re not all talk; we take action, too. We’re committed to channeling our collective voice in way that constructively changes our own future for the better. And that’s exactly what we were doing at My Summit 2010.

Part of the awe that was omnipresent was the fact that we could joke, laugh and have fun, all while dreaming big for the future of our respective homes and native countries. Best of all, we shared our own strong, passionate, and lively viewpoints with the powers that be. In Canada, that meant having the opportunity to speak with the Governor General – Canada’s representative of The Queen.

Her Excellency The Right Honorable Michaelle Jean, more easily referred to as “the GG,” spent upwards of two hours listening to us. That’s right, listening to us.

She talked too, that’s for certain, but 80% of her time with us was spent listening to what we wanted to tell her about our future, our role in that future, and what changes we know are necessary for our generation to take on the burdens of the generations before us.

“Your reflections – every word counts,” were the words that greeted us as the GG began to address the delegation, saying also that, Our “presence here is vital” and that we must “seize the opportunity to make a difference.”

The spirit in the room was spell-binding. The energy at the summit was infectious. We clapped, we hooted and hollered. We cheered on our fellow delegates as we each took a turn at the microphone. Millennials have a high appetite for knowledge, and ideas, but also for change. The mantra in the room that day seemed to be “dream big.” Simple words; ones that we often don’t give enough credence to, but it was clear that these Millennials are definitely dreamers.

Canadian delegate Thomas Dehod pointed out that perhaps the right way to reflect President John F. Kennedy’s famous words is with a slight modification: “Ask not what the world can do for you, but what you can do for the world.”

So we proposed solutions – changes to involve more young people in government, support for economic development in ways that allow us to go into stable and rewarding jobs, ways to bridge the gap between the financially stable countries and the financially suffering. We had ideas for it all. Because, as Stephen Cheung, a delegate from the U.K. said, “There is no one issue more important to young people, all issues are important.”

What do 150 youth do with these kinds of words, interactions, and inspirations? We take them home to our own countries and we find ways to make change. We’re dedicated, inspired and ready to help out our generation. We’re no longer just the next generation; we’re the generation of today.

We’re connected, we’re relentlessly daring, and we’re ready to take action.

Kimberley Mosher attended My Summit 2010 and her coverage of the G8/G20 will be a continuing series on The Next Great Generation.

Check out G8 youth delegate Barbara Soetan