What is the G8 Youth Summit?The G8 Youth Summit is an annual event that brings together highly motivated students from the Group of Eight nations to participate first-hand in the international negotiation process. Each year the Youth Summit is held in the host country of the actual G8 Summit, and began in 2006 in St. Petersburg, Russia. This year Canada will be hosting the “G8/G20 Youth Summit,” marking the first year that youth from G20/Non-G8 member states are invited to participate. Besides national delegations from all the G20 member states, the summit will also include youth delegates to represent international bodies such as the EU, UN, IMF and the World Bank. What is the aim of the summit?The summit aims to simulate the international negotiation process as closely as possible while striving to reach innovative solutions to global challenges. Each student delegate is expected to be well-versed in their government’s policy on the topics to be covered but is challenged to think creatively. Furthermore, the youth summit seeks to raise awareness of the importance of the G8 Summit and foster an environment where students from different backgrounds can discuss their points of view and reach a consensus on pressing global issues. Who participates?Each country’s delegation consists of graduate and undergraduate students, along with recent graduates, ages 18 – 30 who take on the roles of government officials. The students are recruited from universities within the G8 countries (Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, UK, USA, and Russia) and from the O5 countries (Brazil, China, India, Mexico, and South Africa). Participants are either citizens of the country they represent or are students studying in the country they represent. This year’s summit will also incorporate participants from Indonesia, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Argentina, South Korea, and Turkey. What is SAID?The Student Association for International Dialogue, or SAID, is a non-profit organization with a goal of promoting an understanding of international diplomacy through experiential learning for students in the United States. To this end, SAID is responsible for recruiting, selecting, and organizing the US delegation to the Youth Summit each year. How can I get involved?
If you would like to be considered for a position on this year’s team you may apply online here.
If you would like to make a tax-deductible donation and help send the US delegation abroad for the Youth Summit you may do so by clicking here or send your contribution to:
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Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japan 2008
President Brian Fox in front of Brandenberg Gate, Germany 2007
St. Petersburg, Russia 2006
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