One Young World

One Young World Counsellor Professor Thuli Madonsela, Chair of the Centre for Social Justice at Stellenbosch University, welcomed Premier Alan Winde and President Cyril Ramaphosa, President of South Africa, who delivered today’s keynote address for the 7th Social Justice Summit. We’re proud to champion the work of the Centre for Social Justice, and excited to welcome Prof. Madonsela to the One Young World Summit in Munich on 3 November 2025! #OYW25

Nazanin Boniadi is joining us at the One Young World Summit, Munich 2025 🇩🇪 From acclaimed actor to fearless human rights advocate, returning One Young World Counsellor @nazaninboniadi’s journey is one of courage, conviction, and compassion. Born in Iran and raised in London, Nazanin is using her global platform to amplify the voices of those silenced by injustice. Her powerful advocacy for women’s rights and freedom in Iran has inspired millions around the world, earning her recognition as one of the leading voices for change in her generation. Beyond her celebrated acting career, with roles in Homeland, Hotel Mumbai, and The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, Nazanin’s work as a human rights defender with @amnesty has emerged as a key global voice for Iran’s “Woman, Life, Freedom” movement. At the Summit, Nazanin will share her insights on resilience, activism, and the power of storytelling to transform society. We are honoured to welcome her to Munich as a One Young World Counsellor. 💙 #OYW25 #Iran #HumanRights #Advocacy

We are honoured to welcome Shigemitsu Tanaka to the One Young World Summit in Munich! He was four years old when the atomic bomb struck Nagasaki, 6km from where he lived. None of his family was injured, but the bombs’ effects lasted for years. His mother developed thyroid and liver problems and later died from liver cancer. Other family members also suffered and died because of the bombing’s aftermath. Witnessing the devastating effects of nuclear bombs, Shigemitsu Tanaka made it his life’s mission to not let weapons become the new normal. He has been campaigning against them since 2000 and has served as the President of the Nagasaki A-bomb Survivors Council since 2018. He is also the Co-Chairperson of Nihon Hidankyo, which won the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize for its work to achieve a world free of nuclear weapons. It marked a significant day, as stories of the hibakusha, the survivors, were shared with the world. Videos from the ceremony went viral, spreading awareness of their lived experiences and critical warnings against nuclear weapons. We are looking forward to hearing Shigemitsu Tanaka share his urgent message to young leaders to help achieve this mission. 🔔 Stay tuned as we reveal more iconic leaders joining the Summit! #OYW25 #OneYoungWorld #Leadership

Two rugby legends. Two generations of leadership. One shared mission to inspire the next. 🏉 We’re honoured to welcome @francoispienaar and @tendaimtawarira ‘The Beast’ as Counsellors for #OYW25! Francois, who captained South Africa to its historic 1995 Rugby World Cup victory, is a symbol of unity, resilience, and transformation. Beyond the field, he has become a respected businessman, philanthropist, and founder of the MAD Leadership Foundation, empowering young South Africans to reach their full potential. Tendai, one of the most celebrated Springboks of all time, lifted the Rugby World Cup in 2019 and continues to lead with purpose through The Beast Foundation and his role as UNICEF Regional Ambassador. His mission? To unite, build, and inspire youth across Africa and beyond. Together, these champions of sport and humanity embody the spirit of leadership, mentorship, and service — and they’re ready to empower the next generation at #OYW25. 🌍 Stay tuned as we reveal more world-class leaders joining us in Munich! #OYW25 #OneYoungWorld #FrancoisPienaar #TendaiMtawarira #TheBeast #Leadership #YouthEmpowerment #SportForChange #Changemakers

🌍✨ Exactly 21 days to #OYW2025 in Munich, Germany 🇩🇪. I’m beyond excited to return as a One Young World Ambassador 🙌🏽, a proud Z Zurich Foundation Scholar, and one of the Action Accelerator Pitch Winners💪🏽! Last year in Montréal 🇨🇦, I had the honour of carrying my country’s flag 🇰🇪 before thousands of changemakers from over 190 countries 🌎. A surreal moment that reminded me how our differences unite us in purpose, compassion, and courage 💙. That experience completely reshaped how I view leadership as a daily commitment to serve 🌱. Fast forward, through the Action Accelerator Programme, I’ve learnt to turn inspiration into execution. From “Find Your Solution” to “Create an Action Plan,” I have applied every lesson directly to my work at Vermi-Farm Initiative, where we empower smallholder farmers 👩🏾🌾👨🏾🌾, especially women and youth, to build reliable, climate-resilient incomes 🌦️💧. The mentorship sessions, including one with Paul Polman on Leadership and Resilience, have refined how I scale with integrity, measure impact, and lead with empathy. To my friends attending #OYW for the first time💚; prepare your heart as much as your mind 💭💫. Don’t rush to network. Connect with purpose. Be open to unlearn and relearn 🧠💬. One of the best lessons I took from Kara (Dickstein) Wenger from FUL Coaching (through the Z Zurich Foundation post-summit workshops) is having intentional leadership that begins with inner clarity 💯. So take time to reflect after each day. Journal, breathe, and let the energy of those moments shape your next bold move 🔥. This mindset carried me through the #AFS2025 in Dakar 🌍, helping me show up grounded, focused, and true to my mission. I’m deeply grateful to everyone who has walked this journey with me 🙏🏾. My mentors, fellow scholars, the entire One Young World and Z Zurich Foundation family, and most importantly, the communities in Igoji 🌱 who continue to inspire every step I take❤️🫶🏼. As we countdown to Munich🧭, I look forward to conversations that will transform us, the collaborations that will outlive us, and the courage to keep choosing hope again and againg for the communities we come from💚. #VermiFarmInitiative #SocialImpact #ClimateResilience

Rio Ferdinand is joining us at the One Young World Summit, Munich 2025 🇩🇪 From Premier League champion to powerful changemaker, @rioferdy5’s journey is one of leadership, resilience, and impact. As a legendary centre-back for Manchester United and England, Rio lifted every major domestic honour, made over 300 appearances for his club, and captained his country — all while setting new standards for excellence on and off the pitch. Beyond football, Rio continues to inspire through his honest storytelling and advocacy. His BAFTA-winning documentary Being Mum and Dad opened conversations around grief and mental health, and his later work has tackled racism, identity, and community in powerful new ways. In 2012, Rio founded @rioferdinandfoundation to empower young people across the UK, Ireland, South Africa and beyond to unlock their full potential. We are thrilled to welcome a cohort of changemakers sponsored by his foundation to champion leadership, opportunity, and inclusion on the global stage. ⚽ Stay tuned to know who is coming to the Summit this year! #OYW25 #OneYoungWorld #RioFerdinand #Leadership #YouthEmpowerment #Inclusion #Changemakers

Today, we celebrate Kate Robertson, Co-Founder and CEO of One Young World. 💙 On Kate’s birthday, we reflect on 14 transformative Summits and look ahead to #OYW25 in Munich, a testament to her dedication to empowering young leaders around the globe. Growing up in apartheid South Africa, Kate was inspired by the leadership of figures like Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Nelson Mandela. Guided by those values of unity and shared humanity, she co-founded One Young World to create a platform where young changemakers could connect, collaborate, and amplify their impact. Happy Birthday, Kate! 🎉

Meet five young leaders who are developing solutions to make education accessible 📖 In 2024, conflict forced 103 million children out of school. For girls, the barriers are even greater: 119 million are denied schooling worldwide. At One Young World, we believe education can transform communities by increasing economic opportunities and social stability. Without it, cycles of inequality and instability continue. The challenge is clear: how do we unlock education for all, everywhere, and ensure it’s inclusive of the most marginalised? We’re thrilled to welcome these five Delegates to the #OYW25 stage to share their innovations in ensuring inclusive education: 📚 Hussein Oraby - CEO of SDS Egypt LLC 📚 Kajole Nayal - Présidente officielle of Heart Beat 📚 May Asagba - Founder and Chief Executive Officer of CAIN Educational Foundation 📚 Noris Moreno Rojas - Founder of Más Resilientes 📚 Sydney Montgomery - Executive Director and Founder of Barrier Breakers, Inc. 🔔 Follow along on our social channels from 3 to 6 November to see the Summit highlights #EducationForAll #YouthLeadership #EqualAccess #OneYoungWorld

How can young leaders drive global cooperation for a safer world? 🕊️🌍 According to the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists, the 2025 Doomsday Clock is set to 89 seconds to midnight — but optimism is growing. Half of the respondents to our Global Consultation Process, 2025, believe peace in their region is possible, up by nearly 20 points from last year. At #OYW25, we are honoured to welcome these five inspiring Delegates to the stage to share how they are creating a more peaceful world for all: 🌟Daniel Zapata Castro - Innovation Leader at Corporación Ayuda Humanitaria 🌟Dr Dumazedier Kabasele - Neurologist and Mental Health expert 🌟Emmanuel Lanko Isidore Soro - Founder and CEO of Children's Smile 🌟Martina Vollmer - Cybersecurity Lead Architect Digital Identity at Siemens 🌟Shirene Yaseen - Founder of Arabic Mate As the global community for young leaders, we can’t wait to see how their leadership will shape our shared future. 🔔 Follow along on our social channels from 3 to 6 November to see the Summit highlights #YoungLeaders #Leadership #GlobalPeace #Peacebuilding

How can we use AI and other new technologies responsibly? 🚀 The AI revolution is here. By the end of 2025, 95% of consumer interactions are expected to be assisted by it, and 65% of all businesses will be using AI for at least one function. With rapid technological change, we must ask how to use it responsibly. Ethics, inclusivity and education are key considerations in this revolution. How can we ensure AI helps, and not hinders, the wider population? This year we’re welcoming five inspiring Delegates to the #OYW25 stage to share their innovative ideas and impactful work: 💡Amelia Miller - Founder and CEO of ivee 💡Anna Mae Yu Lamentillo - Founder at NightOwl AI 💡Floretta M. - Co-Founder and CEO of Violetta 💡Franco Rodriguez Viau - Co-Founder and CEO of Satellites on Fire 💡Zain Samdani 🧢 - Founder and CEO of Exoheal 🔔 Follow along on our social channels from 3 to 6 November to see the Summit highlights #Leadership #AI #ResponsibleTech #YoungLeaders #OYW25