Global Children and Youth Action Summit and SIDS4 Conference

This Summit will bring together over 100 participants including, children and youth delegates aged 14-16 years old from SIDS countries. The GCYAS will be give SIDS Children and Youth the platform to share their perspectives on an intersection of social and environmental issues and their impacts, as well as to present new ideas, solutions and recommendations for the course of action.

The Summit will have many activities including practical and engaging master classes addressing several themes highlighted in the SIDS 4 Outcome document, discussions, project-formulation, and fundraising. The capacity-building elements embedded into the event will be defined in collaboration with partners such as the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) and several development agencies with the aim of identifying tangible actions that SIDS children and youth can take to champion the causes that are important to them. 

Objectives

1. Equip and mobilise Commonwealth SIDS children and youth as agents of change
2. Develop and facilitate action items and linkages among SIDS children and youth to respond to the multiple crises facing SIDS
3. Generate a children and youth-led global call to action to contribute to the resilience of SIDS
4. Develop a set of outcomes from a youth perspective that will feed into the ongoing work of the SID4 Conference and wider children and Youth voices, ideas, and suggestion to be reflected in the official SIDS4 Outcome Document and to feed into the CHOGM process
5. Adoption of the Children and Youth Outcome Statement at SIDS4
6. Finalise with partners and participants the Sustainable Mechanism, which will be the SIDS Youth Taskforce, for the agreed Children and Youth outcome paper. This will be the monitoring framework.
7. Present the paper to High-level participants and SG during the SIDS Conference

Youth-Led Youth Driven - Key Summit Activities

• Master Class: Engaging sessions covering themes from the SIDS4 Outcome Document, facilitated by experts in climate change, digitization, resilient territories, poverty reduction, and youth governance.
• Inter-generational Discussions: Forums bringing together youth delegates, ministers, and high-level officials for idea exchange on youth inclusion in critical issues.
• Negotiations with Donor Agencies: Youth engagement to secure support for projects developed during challenges and regional consultations.
• Inspire Me Dialogue: Evening dialogue with celebrity ambassadors sharing experiences related to climate change impacts or their work.
• Pre-Consultations: Virtual and In-person sessions leading up to the summit for youth from SIDS regions to formulate commitments and a Call to Action, to be presented at the UN SIDS Conference led by Major Group of Children and Youth .
• Challenges: Collaborative problem-solving platforms among youth from SIDS regions to create efficient and impactful solutions, aligning with sustainable practices.
• Cultural Fashion Show: Showcasing sustainable fashion created from recyclable materials, promoting environmental awareness.
• Skit & Video Creation: Goodwall Challenges promoting innovative ideas and practical solutions.