Conversations that Matter: A Model of Youth-Led Intergenerational Dialogue on Rights and Freedoms

“Do not speak about us, without us.” This is a mantra often used to ensure that marginalized groups are not left out of important global conversations. This saying applies equally to the participation of youth in global conversations. In this session, participants are invited to participate in an intergenerational conversation facilitated by youth of diverse cultural and religious backgrounds involved in advocacy at local and international levels. The conversation explores the particular issues that youth are passionate about regarding human rights and freedoms, such as climate justice, gender equity, and threats to democratic processes, among others. Through this experiential learning process, participants learn how to engage with and listen to youth on issues that matter most to them in order to develop solutions to global problems that are relevant, effective, and meaningful. The conversation circle model emphasizes deep listening and cooperation.