Reflections on Youth Forum Switzerland 2025

Group photo from Youth Forum Switzerland 2025

Bringing together over 1,000 students, educators, and changemakers from around the world, Youth Forum Switzerland 2025 was a day of bold ideas, important conversations, and a powerful reminder of the impact young people can have when given the space to lead.

On 17 January, ISZL hosted our eighth annual Youth Forum Switzerland — a day designed to elevate youth voice and spark meaningful dialogue about the future we’re shaping together.

Environmental and Social Impact Leader Jaideep Bansal opened the forum with a powerful keynote that challenged students to think big and to step up with confidence. ISZL student Eugenie P. followed with a speech that reflected the core of the day: that young people are not just the leaders of tomorrow — they’re already leading today.

The programme was as diverse as it was thought-provoking. Sessions explored everything from artificial intelligence to the future of leadership, economic development, and climate justice. But one of the most memorable and moving moments of the day came during a powerful conversation with Holocaust survivor Egon Holländer. Speaking to a room full of students, Egon shared his story — not to dwell on the past, but to remind us why we must never forget. His message was clear: in a world facing new forms of division and injustice, we all have a role to play in standing up for what’s right.

Other standout sessions included:

• Power of Youth: TED-style talks delivered by students from international schools across Switzerland, each connected to a different UN Sustainable Development Goal. Their ideas were thoughtful, creative, and practical — a testament to the power of student-driven leadership.
• Navigating the Future: A look at how artificial intelligence is already reshaping society, led by industry experts like Dr. Michael Gerlich, Grace kwak Danciu, and Yariv Adan, who encouraged students to ask tough questions about ethics, opportunity, and impact.
• The Future of Leadership: A conversation featuring Emma Benameur, Yasmina Rauber, and Madalina Manoiu about how leadership is evolving — and what skills, values, and mindsets the next generation will need to thrive.
• Global Perspectives on Justice: A panel that looked at injustice through the lenses of law, education, and activism, showing how change starts with awareness and grows through action. Speakers included Ghada Oueiss, a Lebanese Journalist for Al Jazeera; Catherine McDonald, a Fellow of the Business and Human Rights Journal; and Michael Ashworth, a risk management and technology expert.
• Throughout the day, the Art and Student Experience space gave students the chance to engage with the themes of the forum through creative expression — from installations to photography to poetry.

And true to ISZL’s values, the forum placed a strong emphasis on sustainability, with conscious choices made to minimise waste and reduce the event’s environmental footprint.

By the end of the day, it was clear that Youth Forum Switzerland is about more than just listening. It’s a space for learning, exchanging ideas, asking big questions, and moving forward together. For everyone involved, YFS 2025 was a reminder of what’s possible when young people and adults come together with curiosity, purpose, and a shared commitment to making real, meaningful differences.

The International School of Zug and Luzern’s Youth Forum Switzerland (YFS) – is the creation of a group of globally engaged high school students, who attended the World Economic Forum Open Forum Davos event in January 2017.  Their transformative experience inspired them to organise an event in the same spirit, with the aim of giving youth a voice in issues that will impact their future.