Meet the SEWF 2022 Youth Advisory Group
“Young people bring that different perspective. Valuing the diversity of that is incredibly important [and] part of it is [in] designing resources that allow young people to access those opportunities”. – Matthew Goldsworthy, Youth Arts New Zealand, Aotearoa New Zealand
To build a more just world and impact-driven economy where diverse voices, perspectives and experiences are considered, at SEWF we value the innovations and solutions of young people, we want youth perspectives and we strive to involve young people at our decision-making tables.
This is why our SEWF Youth Advisory Group is made up of young social entrepreneurs from a diverse range of backgrounds, regions and sectors, who ensure that the plans and programming for SEWF22 and the Youth Forum are inclusive, engaging and provide opportunities for more under-30 social entrepreneurs around the world to increase their social enterprise knowledge, access new resources, increase their network, be inspired and more.
In 2021 we worked closely with 10 changemakers and Youth Advisors: Shomy Hasan Chowdhury (Bangladesh), Azima Dhanjee (Pakistan), Melat Gebregiorgis (Ethiopia), Jessica Ianniciello (Taiwan/International), Jordan Masys (Taiwan/International), James Okina (USA/Nigeria), Nine van der Poel (Netherlands), Sarah Roberts (Canada), Tegan Samija (Canada) and Kiera Wilkins (Scotland). Working closely with the then SEWF Event Director, Helen Harvey (now Director, Community & Curation) and the SEWF Youth Forum Lead Mirabelle Morah, several strategy meetings with the Youth Advisors provided insight on topics and pain points that young people wanted to listen to and solve the most. They shared recommendations and solutions to make for not just a memorable Youth Forum experience, but also made recommendations for the SEWF 2021 programme.
In partnership with Common Good Solutions and Social Shifters, the 2021 Youth Forum exceeded our initial expectation of 600 participants, with over 1,600 changemakers joining from over 90 countries including Australia, Canada, Iran, Mexico, Nigeria, Philippines and Turkey.
“And not just me, I’m sure I speak for many young people who are involved with SEWF in many different capacities. SEWF is an exemplary organisation. It’s an exemplary platform to show how to really facilitate that conducive environment for young people”. ⏤ Shomy Hasan Chowdhury, Awareness 360, Bangladesh
As planning for SEWF 2022 continues, we are delighted to announce our SEWF 2022 Youth Advisory Group to ensure young people continue to be involved in all our decision-making. While we welcome nine new Youth Advisors to the group in 2022, to ensure we build on learning from last year, we are delighted to welcome back three of our 2021 Youth Advisors: Shomy Hasan Chowdhury, Sarah Roberts and Azima Dhanjee, who is also on the SEWF Board of Directors. Our Youth Advisors are actively tackling some of the biggest issues within society; from creating employment and education models for young people to ensuring that rural communities have access to food and important life skills.
Invitation to join the SEWF 2022 Youth Advisory Group was extended to previous young speakers at SEWF 2021 and we would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who applied. We are grateful for the efforts and commitments of all our Youth Advisors, past and present. And once again, we welcome the SEWF 2022 Youth Advisory Group – Oluwatosin Ajibola (Canada), Angela Buscheska (Macedonia), Shomy Hasan Chowdhury (Bangladesh), Goto M Cooper (Liberia), Brady Cronin (Australia), Azima Dhanjee (Pakistan), Matthew Goldsworthy (New Zealand), Tony Joy (Nigeria), Michael Lim (Australia), Pablo Luengo Martin (Spain), Sarah Roberts (Canada) and Savera Weerasinghe (Sri Lanka).
View all members of the Youth Advisory Group and learn more about SEWF 2022.
At SEWF, our goal is not to propose a set of rules but rather, we want to facilitate a conversation and promote a greater understanding of social enterprise, respecting the efforts of all of those who work towards sustainable and inclusive economic development. SEWF exists to grow the global social enterprise movement and to accelerate our transition to a new global impact economy.