Global Youth Leaders Convene in Edinburgh for '90 Youth Voices for the Future' Initiative
Edinburgh welcomed a cohort of young global leaders last week as part of the British Council's "90 Youth Voices for the Future" program. From July 3-5, 20 international young leaders from Iran, Nepal, Brazil, Cyprus, Estonia, Philippines, Czechia, Ireland, Albania and Ghana explored the Scottish capital, engaging with local initiatives and policymakers. They focussed on cultural connection and the arts as powerful tools for community engagement and social change.
The programme is part of the British Council's 90th Anniversary celebrations and has been designed to build connections and inspire young leaders to drive positive change in their communities worldwide. Taking place during an exciting week for civic engagement in the UK, the young leaders had a packed schedule of engagement in Edinburgh with highlights including:
- A visit to the Scottish Parliament, exploring Scotland's approach to youth engagement in politics.
- An interactive session at The Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh, where they met with experts and learnt about sustainable urban development and Edinburgh's innovative green initiatives
- A visit with Whale Arts in North Edinburgh, showcasing community-led arts initiatives
- A Black History walking tour with the Caribbean association to learn about Edinburgh’s deep links with the Caribbean and the City’s role in the Transatlantic Slave trade.
- A visit to CodeBase, Scotland's largest technology incubator, where the group learned about the intersection of technology, innovation, and social impact.
- A meeting at British Council Scotland, where they heard about the organisation’s role in connecting Scotland to the world – and the world to Scotland – through the arts and education, and discussed the importance of building trust and mutual understanding in today’s fractured world.
Peter Brown, Director, British Council Scotland spoke about hosting the 90 Youth Voices Group in Edinburgh: "We were thrilled to welcome these exceptional young leaders to Edinburgh and to work with friends and partners to showcase our city's, history, creativity, innovation, and global reach, and to provide opportunities for mutual learning. I’ve no doubt we’ll see continuing impact from the connections made in the months ahead, here in the UK and beyond”.
The UK general election provided a timely backdrop for discussions on democracy, civic engagement, and the role of youth in shaping political futures. The young leaders had the opportunity to observe the electoral process in action, gaining insights into the UK's democratic system and the dynamics of Scottish politics through visiting the Scottish Parliament and engaging with the Scottish Youth Parliament.
Bukky Adebowale from Ireland spoke about what the group learned at CodeBase: "The visit highlighted the importance of understanding AI and tech and how these things can help transform injustice and contribute to wellbeing in society. Especially pertaining to tackling health, using data for good, and making important policy that can mitigate bias in areas such as the media".
With a focus on cultural connection and the arts, the group visited WHALE Arts, a community-led arts charity and social enterprise in Wester Hailes. The young leaders had discussions with local artists and community members and explored the intersection of art, social justice, and urban regeneration.
Amanda Costa from Brazil shared her thoughts on the experience: "I was really impacted by the dynamics of WHALE arts. I realized that we are all artists, we just need to allow ourselves to exercise this muscle more frequently and intensely. In my opinion, the arts are a powerful tool for strengthening local communities, as they create safe and courageous spaces to discuss complex issues, such as social inequalities, privileges and climate change."
The participants described Edinburgh as an inspired backdrop to discuss urban development, sustainability, and the role of the culture in building global connections. Helping to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the British Council, the 90 Youth Voices programme continues the British Council's commitment to fostering international understanding and empowering young people to become agents of positive change in their communities and beyond.
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