One Young World Announces New Counsellors For 2012 Summit

LONDON, June 14, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- A star-studded list of global dignitaries have today pledged their support for the world's future leaders by announcing their role as Counsellors at this year's One Young World Summit in Pittsburgh, the first time the global event has been held in the United States.

Joining them at the Summit, which will take place from 18-22 October, just two weeks ahead of the US presidential election, will be 1,300 young delegates from an expected 190 different countries.

From politics to media, from royalty to political campaigners, the Counsellors will lend inspiration, support and guidance to the young delegates who will gather to debate and formulate solutions for the pressing issues the world faces. Other prominent names will be announced in due course and, at the moment, One Young World Counsellors for 2012 include:

In alphabetical order by first name:

• Arianna Huffington - founder and CEO, Huffington Post
• Bob Geldof - activist and musician
• Fatima Bhutto - author
• Imran Khan - politician
• Jamie Oliver - chef, broadcaster and campaigner
• Jimmy Wales - founder and CEO, Wikipedia
• Joss Stone - musician
• Muhammad Yunus – founder, Grameen Bank and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate
• Natalia Vodianova - model
• Oscar Morales – campaigner, founder of One Million Voices Against The FARC
• Pete Cashmore – founder and CEO, Mashable
• Rahul Gandhi – politician and general-secretary of the Indian National Congress

Unlike any other event in the world, One Young World gives young delegates the kind of media platform and access to world figures ordinarily afforded only to those who lead countries and corporations.

Since the first Summit was held in 2010, One Young World Ambassadors have been effecting change on a global level, directly impacting almost four million people through their work – which has included over 100 environmental and education projects around the world, such as The Big Ant Project in Kenya, which provides employment and educational opportunities for underprivileged young people by focusing on irrigation projects for agriculture.

To help reach its goal of ensuring that every country on earth is represented at the Summit, One Young World has this year given 100 places to support individuals from under-represented countries. The '100 Bar None' scheme will bring delegates from countries who have never before had a presence, such as Somalia, Iraq and the Ivory Coast, helping to make this the most diverse One Young World yet.

This year's event will take place in Pittsburgh - after a successful bid process, which was supported by former US Presidents Jimmy Carter and George H. W. Bush.

David Jones, One Young World co-founder and Global CEO, Havas, said:

"This is the first time in history where the world's youngest leaders actually understand more than anyone else about the biggest change happening in the world today - the digital and social revolution.

"Over the last 12 months we've repeatedly seen the power of social media to drive dramatic change. It's fantastic that this year we can count such digital pioneers as Arianna Huffington, Jimmy Wales and Pete Cashmore and we're incredibly grateful to them and our other Counsellors."

Kate Robertson, One Young World co-founder and UK Group Chairman, Euro RSCG, said:

"This is the most amazing and unique generation of young people that the world has ever seen and at a time when we are seeing such a failure of the world's current leaders to lead, the faster we empower the future leaders the better. One Young World aims to give them a global platform to effect positive change. We are hugely grateful to our prestigious Counsellors for lending the brilliant young delegates their time, wisdom and fame."

About One Young World

One Young World is a global youth leadership summit, bringing together 1,300 delegates primarily under 25 from 190 countries worldwide. Unlike any other event in the world, One Young World gives delegates the kind of media platform and forum afforded ordinarily only to those who lead countries and corporations. One Young World gives them a platform for their views, vision and ideas to create real resolutions for real change.  Supported by Counsellors including Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, Sir Bob Geldof and Muhammad Yunus, delegates tell the world what the leaders of tomorrow think and feel - and what they demand of the leaders of today.  Founded by David Jones, Global CEO of Havas, and Kate Robertson, UK Group Chairman, Euro RSCG, One Young World is a unique event that offers international decision makers powerful insight into where our world may be heading.

Last year the One Young World Summit was held in Zurich, Switzerland from 1st - 4th September. This year the One Young World Summit will be held in Pittsburgh, USA in October.

One Young World - where young leaders start leading.  

For more information about One Young World please visit: www.oneyoungworld.com  

SOURCE One Young World