Case Study
One Young World 2023
25 years after the Good Friday Peace Agreement was signed, Belfast became the latest host destination for one of the most powerful Global Youth Activism events, One Young World.
The event brings almost 2,000 young leaders together in a forum that allows them to discuss key societal issues including mental health, the food crisis, education, the climate emergency and peace and reconciliation. What makes the event truly special is that the chosen young leaders represented over 190 countries to date and their post event pledges have impacted over 41 million people.
CPI has a long track record with One Young World, having delivered the event in the Convention Centre in Dublin in 2014. For 2023, Belfast City had an amazing team who CPI worked with on compiling a comprehensive bid centred around the Anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement and a city with such a promising future.
The bid video for OYW 2023 highlights the vision that the City presented alongside CPI.
The event had some incredible speakers including the amazing Queen Rania of Jordan. Her words resonated with the crowd, and showed the power of a shared global vision for peace, as she talked about the inspiration that Northern Ireland’s peace process had provided to King Hussein of Jordan.
Connection to Belfast
Volunteering
The magnitude of the One Young World Summit meant we needed to bring together a volunteer team, and each year, approximately 250 young individuals step up to embrace this critical role. The Belfast edition was no exception, as CPI collaborated with Volunteer Now to issue a compelling call for volunteers. The community’s overwhelming response allowed us to assemble a dedicated team capable of supporting CPI in every aspect of the conference. From extending a warm welcome to attendees at Belfast Airport to providing onsite support at the ICC and facilitating events across the city, our volunteers played a pivotal role in ensuring the seamless execution of the Summit. This collective effort not only highlighted the hospitality of Northern Ireland but also exemplified the spirit of One Young World, where individuals from diverse backgrounds unite to create a positive and impactful global experience.
Jenny Cruess Callaghan
CPI Account Director on One Young World
Sustainability
In its unwavering commitment to sustainability, One Young World has embedded eco-conscious practices into its core operations, aligning with the urgency of the Paris Agreement and maintaining the ISO20121 Sustainable Events certification. From their very first touch point at registration, badges and lanyards were made from paper and sustainable cotton. Delegates were also gifted reusable water bottles to use at water and refreshment refill stations which were located throughout the ICC.
The ICC as a venue was also chosen due to its situation within walking distance of most summit venues and Belfast hotels, prioritized sustainability. Delegates were encouraged to use public transport, which was subsidised due to a Partnership with Translink, Belfast’s public transport providers. Multi-purpose bins facilitated recycling, processing, and sorting onsite. The ICC catering emphasized locally sourced produce, offering biodegradable containers and wooden cutlery. Any surplus food was donated to local food banks to reduce waste.
The primary exhibition featured container stands crafted from re-board, an eco-friendly recycled material. To complement the setup of the exhibition, hanging artworks were created using PVC Free Banner. To furnish the space, rental furniture was utilized, and booth designs were enhanced with natural elements like plants. Digital Signage was also utilized throughout the space to avoid excess printing.
Ezekiel Nyanfor
One Young World Liberia Ambassador
