Background to the SAIIA Young Leaders Conference 2014
In 2011, the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) brought together a group of outstanding learners from across the country to Durban to participate in their own negotiation session at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 17). Participant delegates created the SAIIA South African Durban Youth and Children’s Protocol (322.11 kB) which was presented to the Minister of Women, Children and People with Disabilities.
To continue to build on the work of our 2011 participants and to create more spaces for young voices to be heard, SAIIA created the first Young Leaders Conference in 2012.
This year another group of talented high school learners will be selected from five provinces to participate in the third annual SAIIA Young Leaders Conference to be held from 30 November to 5 December 2014 in Johannesburg. As part of the 2014 conference, learner delegates will host their own negotiation sessions on the social, economic and environmental issues connected to newly proposed Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The negotiations will culminate in the presentation and the handover of the 2014 SAIIA Young Leaders Declaration at a special event on 4 December in Pretoria.
During the conference, representatives of government, the United Nations, various diplomatic missions, civil society organisations, businesses, and universities will be joining us as speakers, mentors and observers to the conference. Visits to cultural sites, corporate, government, and organisational offices are also being arranged for delegates.
Selection of participations for the SAIIA Young Leaders Conference 2014
Learners can be invited to participate in the SAIIA Young Leaders Conference in the following ways:
- Being part of a team that is selected as the Best Delegation or being selected as a Best Presenter in the SAIIA Environmental Sustainability Project
- Being part of a team that is selected as the Best Delegation: Gold Award or being selected as a Best Speaker: Gold Award in the SAIIA Model United Nations programme
- Being part of the first place team in one of SAIIA’s Inter-schools Quizzes
- Being selected as a SAIIA Young Ambassador
A select number of high school learners who have demonstrated a commitment to spreading international awareness and understanding will be invited to participate in the SAIIA Young Leaders Conference through our SAIIA Young Ambassadors programme. As conference delegates, SAIIA Young Ambassadors will be assigned to a committee for the 2014 conference, and will join other learners in creating the 2014 SAIIA Young Leaders Declaration. All costs for attending the conference, including accommodation and travel, will be covered by SAIIA.
After the conference, SAIIA Young Ambassadors will be asked to organise at least one event at their school, and/or in their community to share what they have learned from the conference.
Requirements for SAIIA Young Ambassadors
- Active participant in school and/or community activities
- Available to attend SAIIA Young Leaders Conference in Johannesburg from 30 November to 5 December 2014
- Passionate about global issues
Previous participation in at least one of SAIIA’s youth programmes (Environmental Sustainability Project, Model United Nations, or Inter-schools quiz)
How to Apply
Interested learners need to complete the following application form and motivation letter by Friday 10 October 2014. Completed applications must be emailed to youth@saiia.org.za or faxed to 086 295 1064.
Download the application forms in Microsoft Word SAIIA Young Ambassadors Programme 2014 or in PDF SAIIA Young Ambassadors Programme 2014
