“We need to develop our ability to think and question the status quo. We need to ask ourselves why things are the way they are, how they can be improved.” - Elizabeth Chukwu, Youth Council.
Echoing the passion of’Elizabeth Chukwu, young peace researcher, member of the Youth Council and Nigerian Youth Fellow, young people from all over the world met at the LearningPlanet festival of this year to engage in a lively dialogue on the reorganization of education, the culture of peace and the management of societal change.
Youth leadership at the opening of the festival
This year's festival kicked off with an opening of Divya Sharma, a young scholarship holder, member of the Youth Council, social impact consultant and disability rights advocate, during the session ” The UN on your doorstep”: Quality education. She passionately defended equal access to quality education, and stressed the importance of critical thinking, awareness-raising and inclusive governance in shaping a better future. These themes were highlighted at the Building bridges for a better future“ round-table discussion”, Divya declared: “The education system is too structured: “The education system is too structured. It limits collaboration between fields, and that's why we see it working in isolation. To break down these barriers, students need a platform that allows them to take initiative and collaborate with each other.”
To reinforce the festival's impact, Daniel Persky, a young scholarship holder and member of the Youth Council, played a key role by participating in person at the Learning Planet Institute and actively contributing to the UNESCO Learning Expedition, bringing valuable information to the discussions. Daniel also took part in the “How will we learn in the age of AI?” alongside the founder of the Learning Planet Institute, the Dr François Taddei, who has explored the future of education in a world dominated by AI.
Youth-organized events: drivers of change
The LearningPlanet 2025 festival featured not one, not two, but three events led by Learning Planet young leaders, with over 500 entries, each showcasing the dedication and creativity of young change-makers.
- Learning Planet Youth Design Challenge Virtual Expo - An impressive 1,062 participants from 105 countries registered, resulting in the submission of almost 300 final programs. This year's 12 finalists presented their learning programs for reimagining education, through the themes of engagement, fulfillment and sustainability. Following these presentations, the’Youth Design Challenge virtual exhibition provided a dynamic space for participants to exchange ideas, share views and discuss their innovative programs, fostering a global dialogue on the future of education and training. To find out more, click here.
- The Ripple Effect: Youth Driving Positive Peace Across Intersections - A powerful, all-youth-led panel exploring youth peacebuilding efforts, celebrating diverse contributions, and examining how we can collectively foster a positive global culture of peace. The session featured speakers from around the world, including. Felipe Gobatto Scheibler, Christelle Barakat, Dennis Lallienzuol, Weronika Knowska and Liana Liu Ioannides, The event was hosted by Elizabeth Chukwu of the Youth Council.
- Building bridges for a better future: Youth collaboration for educational transformation - brought together the Educational Planet Youth Council from around the world to rethink education systems, challenge systemic barriers and explore how young people can drive meaningful long-term change. Moderated by Matthew Persky, This session focused on reimagining education systems to meet global challenges and drive significant long-term change.
The discussion highlighted key issues, including the lack of critical thinking and real-world skills, with education often emphasizing memorization over problem-solving. Inequality in education, with marginalized communities facing limited access and resources, and the disconnect between education and pressing global issues were also highlighted by many members of your youth council.
As Winnie Pon, our soon-to-be 17-year-old Youth Council member, “access to education is deeply imbalanced: “Access to education is deeply imbalanced - some communities have far more resources than others. Closing these gaps is not the job of one person, but of a team and a community.”
Sean Park, a Youth Council member with a passion for sustainable development and financial education, agrees: “Systemic change takes time, but that doesn't mean we should wait - we should act where we can. .”
Young voices shape the future
The LearningPlanet 2025 festival was a powerful reminder that young people are not just participants in global discussions, they lead them. As Sayed Amjad, member of the Youth Council of Afghanistan:“We know first-hand the problems associated with education, but we also know the solutions and how to implement them effectively.“
From educational reform to local peace initiatives, the message was clear: the ‘Learning and peace must be accessible, intersectional and deeply rooted in everyday realities.
With every session, every story shared and every solution proposed, this festival reinforced the fact that young people aren't waiting for permission to create change - they're already doing it. The challenge now is to build on this momentum, ensuring that young people continue to shape policies, communities and the future of education. As we move forward, our commitment remains: to listen, support and act - because the world is already shaped by those who dare to reimagine it.
Find out more about LearningPlanet's young scholarship holders , click here.
