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YFS 2019 PROGRAMME - 17.01.19
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Understanding Our World - Sustaining Our Future
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SESSIONTIMEGYMNASIUMARTS FACTORYTHEATRECONNECTION
CENTER
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8:30 - 8:55 amGuest Registration
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SESSION 19:00 - 9:45 amOpening Ceremony
Student Key Note: Lucas Rohan
Key Note: Marc Buckley
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9:45 - 10:00 amConnecting
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10:00 - 11:00 amPanel 2ATalk 2BTalk 2CArt Exhibition
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SESSION 2
TopicYouth Mental Health in Crisis:
Myth or Reality?
Carolyn Steel - Food and the Urban Paradox
Kees Christiaanse - Inversion & Subtraction
in Urban Design
Democracy is Fragile & Student Talk
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Description
Is this new, fast paced, “switched on” world we live in driving us crazy? Post-millennials or Generation Z are physically safer and more connected than ever before, but appear to be on the verge of a mental health crisis.

According to the World Health Organization, 10-20% of children and young people experience mental health problems. Internationally, adolescent mental health is affected by issues ranging from child poverty and forced migration, to smartphone use and interactions through social media. The phrase ‘mental health crisis’ is echoing around the globe as media outlets, governments and NGOs struggle with how to define and deal with this complex issue. This panel aims to unpack the current state of our mental health to ask if it’s possible to develop a toolkit to help us stay healthy.

(A) Our future is urban – but what does that mean? More than half of us live in cities, yet without the productive landscapes that feed us – territories we collectively call ‘countryside’ – we would not survive. We may think of ourselves as urban, yet in reality we still dwell in nature. Today, our failure to grasp this paradox threatens our future. Industrial agribusiness – which underpins modern urbanity – is causing climate change and mass extinction. If our future is to be urban, we need a radically new vision of what that means – and of how we might eat. Food is the key to the urban paradox – and to rethinking our future.


(B) The European city is a nucleus in a network of approximately 500 cities with an average population of 50.000-1.000.000 inhabitants and an average distance of 100 km. In-between, there is a cultural landscape which has many qualities despite its dense population. This cultural landscape is pervaded by efficient transport infrastructures. Despite some deficits, this centuries-old constellation has a high quality of life and urbanity compared to most other urban areas on earth. Above all, it is important to optimize this constellation and not just focus on individual compact cities. Today, we are commonly taught that at least 50% of the world's population is living in cities. However, it is forgotten that half of these 50% are likely to live in urbanized landscapes. Also, the majority of the European cities’ population lives on the outskirts of the city and not in the center. The urbanized landscape, for example the entire ‘Rhine banana’, is interesting because it contains a high density of population, urban facilities, industry and logistics, as well as a large proportion of agricultural land: a 'productive' landscape. This landscape cannot be designed, but only steered. The steering mechanisms consist rather of ‘braking factors’ that protect against over-urbanization than of propulsive building projects.



Democracy seems to be in trouble lately. Young people don’t vote, and populism is growing in several western countries. Digitalization brings up new threats to our democracy. More and more people don’t listen to each other and do not confront their ideas to people with different opinions but remain in their reality bubble. How can we bring them back to the discussion table because our democracy needs quality debate in order to make good decision for our future?

How can we bring citizens closer to our democracy and its tools? How can we heal democracy?
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SpeakersBérengère Fouqueray, Dr. Brandi Eijsermans,
Cathal Murphy, Ken Radford, William Stubbs
Carolyn Steel (A) / Kees Christiaanse (B)Anja Wyden Guelpa / Eva Dwyer (Gr. 9)
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11:00 - 11:10 amConnecting
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11:10 - 12:10 pmPanel 3ATalk 3BTalk 3CArt Exhibition
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TopicSustaining Our World -
Humanity’s Greatest Challenge
Bringing Light to the HimalayasThinking About Youth Mental Health
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DescriptionIn October 2018 the UN panel on climate change claimed that the worst consequences of global warming will occur much sooner than previously predicted. Due to the alarming rise of carbon levels in the atmosphere, worst case scenarios that were predicted to take place during the lifetimes of our children and grandchildren, are happening now. Icecaps are melting, the oceans are rising, and hundreds of animal species are threatened with extinction.

Media organisations are running out of hyperboles with which to describe the rapidly increasing nature of natural disasters. It’s time to ensure that ignorance is not an excuse and that education leads to action.

This panel will consider the best ways to sustain and improve our current environment and prevent further damage to the planet. Ultimately, we need to put a price on pollution.

There are 1.3 Billion people in the world living in darkness. Most of these communities don't even know what a light bulb is and are dependent on kerosene lamps for their lighting needs. In an age where we cannot live without electricity for one minute, where we are connected to the world every second, there are still a billion people whose life comes to a stop once the sun sets. The children are not able to study and even eating dinner is hard in complete darkness.

How can technology enable these communities to have access to clean energy and enjoy the same light that you and I do back in our homes? How can we leverage technology to allow students with access to education and provide them the same opportunities as a student in ISZL? The talk will also involve experience sharing by Sophia, a student of ISZL who led a team of 6 other students to electrify a remote village in the Himalayas and setup an innovation center for the students.

(A) Cathal Murphy has a personal passion for the issues of mental health which began with his own difficulties starting in his teen years. In this talk, he will share his own journey which he hopes will benefit the audience through resonance and understanding. He will describe the early signs of mental illness (seen in hindsight), the role that shame played in his story, opening up and seeking professional help, gratitude for his past and where he is now.

(B) Practicing hygiene for your mind We shower. We wash our hands. We brush our teeth. We all practice hygiene to preserve our health. So why don’t we practice mental hygiene to preserve our mental health? Film entrepreneur Francis Rafal talks about how his first company failed because he forgot to take care of the most important thing in his life – himself –, and he shares his learnings on how to become more resilient for today’s fast-changing world."
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SpeakersMarc Buckley, Oceane Dayer,
Marie-Claire Graf,
Simon Glover, Neeshad Shafi
Jaideep Bansal / Sophia KochCathal Murphy / Francis Rafal
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12:10 - 12:20 pmConnecting
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12:20 - 13:20 pmPanel 4ATalk 4BOFFYFS Sustainabilty Fair

Lunch
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TopicPlanning Today, For the Sustainable
Cities of Tomorrow
Sustainable Living: A How-to Guide for Youth
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SESSION 4Description
On a global level cities continue to grow as economic needs and the effects of climate change drive people away from less rural areas. Many overpopulated areas are at risk of running out of the resources that they need to sustain the lives of the people living there. According to the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, it’s estimated that by 2050, 70% of the world’s population will be urbanised.

As more and more people move from the countryside to live in cities, how we plan and design these urban spaces is becoming more challenging. How do we accommodate these new needs for transportation, mobility, safety, infrastructure, and pollution control? How can we create sustainable communities and to what extent do we have to rethink the way we plan where we live?

This panel will investigate the changing nature of urban planning and ask whether there is a one size fits all model to address the needs of an increasingly mobile population.

Our planet has a limited amount of resources capable of sustaining our current Western lifestyles for only a few more generations. Climate change research indicates the devastating impact that greenhouse gas emissions are having on the health of our planet, and if our current levels of consumption are not curtailed, both people and nature face the severest consequences. But what can we do? Sustainability is often heralded as the answer but the term needs to become more than an Instagram # and the concept of sustainable living seen as more than a genre of Pinterest posts.

This panel aims to provide you with an overview of the problem and some insights into possible solutions. We hope you leave with a how-to guide explaining the small steps you can take to live your lives more sustainably.
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SpeakersCarolyn Steel, Estefania Tapias,
Kees Christiaanse, Maren Kornmann
Andreas Handke, Kai Landwehr, Leslie Johnston,
Carolyn Newton, Rosanne van der Meer
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13:20 - 13:30 pmConnecting
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13:30 - 14:30 pmPanel 5ATalk 5BOFFYFS Sustainabilty Fair

Lunch
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TopicIs Democracy Dying?Sustainabilty Initiatives in Africa
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Description
Western Democratic values and norms appear to be vulnerable on a number of different fronts and at the same time many young people feel politically disenfranchised. Our world is undergoing rapid change with climate change, mass migration, fake news, and resurgent nationalism on the rise. Will our political systems and ideals up for the challenge? Is democracy really sustainable?

Governments, intergovernmental organisations, NGOs and the media struggle with these complex issues and we wonder how our world will function politically in decades to come. This panel aims to unpack the current state of global politics and to explore how young people can engage in preserving and deepening our democracies.

(A) Dr. Moinget Olekuney a medical doctor is one of eight Maasai chiefs in Northern Tanzania. In his presentation he will talk about the life and culture of the Maasai tribe and the challenges they currently face in an rapidly ching world. In his position as Maasai chief, his responsibly is not only to lead and guide his community but to also think about ways on how the Maasai can sustain their traditional culture in a global environment. Dr. Ole Kuney will talk about the important role that education will have in the future of this centuries old people.

(B) In a nation undergoing incredible change, South Africa is still trying to catch its breath as we face the economic and social challenges so prevalent in our country. In the wake of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, crime, violence and unemployment have all been amplified extensively. Living in South Africa, it is very apparent that the greatest inhibiting factor to its people fulfilling its potential is the prevailing fear that covers so much of our rural and semi-rural communities. Children and women in particular live in perpetual fear. Many of the injustices of the past have created an environment in which this fear is easily perpetuated.

Into this darkness, however, shines a beacon of light and hope. The Genesis Trust with its 15-community upliftment projects, shines a message of hope into the surrounding communities of Port Shepstone. Sustaining life in Port Shepstone begins with the creation of an environment that is safe for children and women in which to live and thrive.

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SESSION 5

SpeakersBen Buckland, Rosie Garthwaite,
Anja Wyden Guelpa
Ole Kuney (A) / Trevor Downham (B)
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14:30 - 14:40 pmConnecting
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14:40 - 15:40 pmPanel 6ATalk 6BTalk 6CArt Exhibition
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TopicIs the Circular Economy the
Solution to Our Problems?
How Can Youth Lead the Way to
Environmental Sustainabilty?
“The End is Nigh-ish:
All the problems we’ve yet to solve and some tips on how to do just that”
&
a Student Talk
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SESSION 6Description
Our current method of production and consumption is to “take, make, and dispose”. The linear manufacturing system works under the assumption that resources are infinite, but they are not. We are draining natural resources instead of making sure they are available for future generations.

The circular economy promises a complete redesign of our production and consumption cycle to ensure that we are recycling and upcycling the products we use. The long-term goal is to ensure that we can ‘return and renew’, to extend the life cycle of the products and materials we use. However, if it all sounds so simple, why aren’t we doing it? This panel aims to break down the reality of this approach and to question whether it really is the answer to all of our environmental problems.

Climate change threatens to undo and even reverse the progress made toward meeting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and poses one of the most serious challenges humanity. However, the education sector offers a currently untapped opportunity to combat climate change. There is a clear education agenda in climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies, which require learning new knowledge and skills and changing behaviors in order to reduce the vulnerabilities and manage the risks of climate change. Therefore, investing in quality education to combat climate change is an essential tool in achieving the SDGs.

At present, there is no coherent dialogue on how to expand the climate change agenda to include education as a tool in adaptation and mitigation strategies. However, leveraging education for climate change action is indeed possible through existing international agreements and relevant agendas. My briefs will presents how youth can practice to mobilize around in order to promote education for sustainable development and also integrate disaster risk reduction, quality learning, and environmental and climate change education.


The world is on fire, while the seas are rising. Our oceans are littered with plastic, as are most of our remaining fish. We’ve saved the panda, but lost countless more species. The internet is full of fake news and politics seems more broken every day. Disasters, both natural and man-made seem to threaten us every day - no wonder the world is increasingly depressed. Yet, things aren’t as bad as they seem.

In fact, they’re pretty good. In this talk we’ll look at how far the world has come and some of the big problems that youth today will have to tackle to have a prosperous future. Together we’ll look at a few key questions: How bad is the state of the planet? What role do youth play in changing the course of the world? And if you want to make effective change, how do you get started?
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SpeakersRoger Baumann, Katrin Muff,
Caroline Bryant-Bosa, Elena Philapova,
Gabriela Saade
Neeshad Shafi
Students: Marta/Romane (ISZL Alumni)
William Stubbs / Sarah Mackel (Gr. 10)
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15:40 - 15:50 pmConnecting
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SESSION 715:50 - 16:15 pmClosing Ceremony
Closing Address: Jaideep Bansal
Student Speaker: Franklin Lurie
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