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Young people are driving change around the world ¡ª from climate action and peacebuilding to technology, education, human rights and entrepreneurship. At the same time, many young people still face barriers to participating in decisions and processes that shape their lives and futures.

The first-ever Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Youth Townhall will bring over 1,000 participants together in Heidelberg, Germany, to build intergenerational trust, strengthen connections and create new opportunities for collaboration.

Convened by the United Nations Youth Office together with partners, the Townhall will bring young people, governments, the United Nations, civil society, the private sector and others into one space. At its core, the Townhall seeks to:

1. Strengthen inclusion and diversity ¡ª broadening participation in global youth engagement by reaching young people and communities too often excluded from international spaces and processes.

2. Reduce fragmentation across the ecosystem ¡ª creating stronger connections and collaboration between the many actors working across the global youth agenda.

3. Shape a collective path forward - enabling stakeholders to transform dialogue into commitments, build partnerships, and agree on actionable measures to accelerate progress on youth priorities, their participation in decision-making and global cooperation.

The Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Youth Townhall responds to a growing need for more inclusive and meaningful ways for young people to participate in decision-making.

The Townhall is anchored in the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Youth Compass, the flagship initiative of the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Youth Office to strengthen meaningful youth participation across the United Nations and beyond. It is envisioned not only as a one-time gathering, but as a recurring platform that supports collaboration, learning and partnerships over time ¡ª all with a view towards mainstreaming meaningful youth participation at all levels, and across all spheres of the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ¡¯s work.

The Townhall will put intergenerational dialogue and co-creation at the centre of the convening.

Alongside larger sessions, the programme will feature fireside chats, roundtables, small-group discussions and other interactive formats designed to build intergenerational trust by fostering meaningful exchange between young people, decision-makers and participants from different generations and sectors.

Selected contributions from partners across the United Nations, civil society, academia, the private sector and other fields will help inform parts of the programme and bring a wider range of perspectives into the conversation.

It will also offer organizations and partners structured spaces to showcase their work, initiatives and opportunities, and connect directly with young people.