When you’re young, life is defined by being in between. Between childhood and adulthood. Between school and work. Between who you are and who you hope to become. Governments and organizations worldwide are beginning to recognize the importance of investing in human capital. Yet, as they focus on the gap between our present and future, too many young people fall through the cracks.
Today, our world is home to 1.8 billion young people—one-third of the global population. We’re the largest generation in history, born into a time of extraordinary change. Unprecedented shifts like climate-driven migration and the rapid rise of artificial intelligence demand that we acquire new skills or risk being left behind. Yet, for millions of us, especially in the Global South, this future feels out of reach.
Some of us are caught between a world of innovation and one of stagnation, where 200 million adolescents remain out of school. This generational crisis demands action. But solutions must do more than cater to youth—they must include us. After all, no one understands our challenges, needs, and dreams better than we do.
That’s why Generation Unlimited (GenU) isn’t just a collaboration of governments, civil society, the private sector, and UN agencies—it’s a partnership with young people at its core. And at the heart of this youth-centered approach is the Young People’s Action Team (YPAT).
What is YPAT?
The Young People’s Action Team (YPAT) is a global network of young changemakers, innovators, and activists who work directly within GenU’s governance structure. As members of the YPAT we ensure that our voices and the voices of young people—particularly from marginalized and vulnerable communities—shape key decisions at local, regional, and global levels.
We are part of the third cohort of Global YPATs to date, our current team represents 67 young leaders from over 38 countries, nominated by more than 50 public-private-youth partners. Local chapters of YPAT are also thriving in GenU Accelerator and priority countries, embedding youth voices at every level of action.
To ensure young people play a strategic and tactical role in co-creating solutions, GenU engages us, the Global YPAT, in consultations for its flagship global solutions. Each solution now benefits from a dedicated micro-structure, where YPAT members provide tactical input, share recommendations, and co-create alongside GenU teams. This intentional approach ensures that we are equal contributors to GenU’s impact.
How YPAT Drives GenU’s Mission
At Generation Unlimited, young people aren’t just participants—they’re at the table where decisions are made. The Young People’s Action Team (YPAT) plays a vital role in ensuring youth voices influence GenU’s priorities and programs.
Over the past year, our YPAT community has convened in over 15 coffee chats, fostering connection, shared learning, and collaboration across the network. These informal gatherings build community and inspire innovation, as members we share updates, discuss challenges, and celebrate our successes together.
Additionally, as YPAT members we have taken part in 10 mentorship sessions with GenU Board Members. These sessions are far more than opportunities for us to learn—they are spaces where ideas flow both ways, as young leaders and seasoned decision-makers we work together to create solutions.
Our contributions to strategic discussions have also been transformative. Recently, GenU hosted three major strategy discussions where we, as YPAT members, were able to contribute to the 2025-2030 strategy, meet CEO, Kevin Frey and multiple ally organization directors to share our insights.. All these inputs are conveyed directly to the GenU Board as we have two youth representatives on the GenU Board—one of whom is a YPAT member. We also have two elected YPAT representatives on the Global Leadership Council (GLC), so youth voices are amplified in all the spaces where decisions happen. This is not token representation; it is meaningful participation that reflects GenU’s commitment to youth centrality.
As YPATS we were also part of the high-level delegation during the UN General Assembly 2024 (UNGA). Our delegation of eight YPATs and youth entrepreneurs from Nigeria, Egypt, Uruguay, South Africa, Kenya, India, Turkiye, and Lebanon, participated in events including the Summit of the Future, GenU's Global Leadership Council (GLC), GenU's side events including "Green Rising: Driving Green Youth Action in Communities" and "Time to Act: Preparing Youth for Work in an AI-Powered World", as well as partner events. The delegation was not only granted access to these high level events, but we engaged as keynotes as well as in panel and breakout discussions. In total our delegation participated in a total of 37 speaking/moderation opportunities to share our work, knowledge, and engage in intergenerational dialogues with key stakeholders.
YPAT in Action: Championing Youth-Led Change
The Young People’s Action Team led from the frontlines of change in 2024, turning our vision into action. We embody what it means to lead with diversity, resilience, and purpose, ensuring that young people are not only heard but are driving solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges.
Over the past year, we have launched advocacy campaigns, led local initiatives, and influenced key decisions that directly impact our peers and our communities. From tackling digital divides to driving climate action, our leadership proves that young people are not the leaders of tomorrow—we are leading today.
"I’m always grateful to be part of GenU as a YPAT because GenU leads by example, truly putting young people at the center of all their work. I know how empowering it is when your voice is truly heard and what you say is genuinely acted upon. That’s what I’ve experienced as YPAT, where our ideas have shaped GenU’s 5 Year Strategy and so much more."
This impact is not confined to borders. YPAT fosters global collaboration, uniting youth leaders to exchange ideas, co-create solutions, and strengthen partnerships across cultures. This collective action proves that when youth voices lead the way, real change is not only possible—it’s inevitable.
Combating Tokenism: Working With Youth, Not Just For Youth
The YPAT exemplifies what meaningful youth engagement should look like. By collaborating with us as equal partners, GenU rejects tokenism and instead embraces youth agency. Every consultation, every strategy, and every solution is informed by the lived experiences and insights of the young leaders GenU serves.
This is more than participation—it’s youth centrality in action. It’s a model that ensures programs are effective, equitable, and sustainable, because they are created not just for young people, but with us.
YPAT is more than a team—it’s a movement that proves when young people are empowered, anything is possible. Together, with youth and for youth, Generation Unlimited is creating a future where every young person can thrive.
As we look forward to 2025, it is our turn, it is our time, and together, we are building our future.
