Berlin Youth Summit
JUNE 27-28 2023
ABOUT
The Berlin Youth Summit, organized by Digital Communication Network Global and World Learning is a three-day workshop for 60-70 Gen Z digital communicators and influencers from Europe.
The summit will center on digital communication and youth new media by digital natives as we commemorate the 60th anniversary of John F. Kennedy's famous "Ich bin ein Berliner" speech. This speech provides a starting point for reflection on the importance of communication and the power of words and images. It is an important symbol of hope, unity, and democracy that continues to inspire people around the world. The workshop is a unique opportunity for GenZers to connect with their peers, learn from each other, and build skills to become effective communicators and advocates for the issues they care about.
Day 1:
Day 2:
The forum is organized by World Learning and Digital Communication Network Global with funding from the State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
FORMAT
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DAY 1
The first day of the workshop starts with a tour of Berlin to help participants understand the context of Kennedy's speech as it relates to the history of the city. Based on the visit, participants will focus on how to convey important lessons of history in ways that speak the GenZ digital language. A social media challenge will be implemented (follow us on Instagram!)
DAY 2
The second day will include a keynote talk with Yusuf Omar, Co-founder atseenstories as well as interactive skill-building sessions on digital advocacy and communication techniques including Social Media and Social Change, The Power of Storytelling, Building an Inclusive Digital Community, New Media, Speaking the Language of the Platforms, Gaming for Social Good, Personal Branding in the Digital Age, and Navigating the Metaverse. The sessions will be live-streamed!
DAY 3
The third day will focus on applying those advocacy and communication tools, in relation to important topics for GenZ. The participants will be invited to work on a digital campaign on one of the five following topics: Authoritarianism, Climate Change, Mental Health, Human Rights, or Freedom of Speech. The aim of the campaign is to educate and inspire communities about a pressing social issue and encourage them to take action. At the end of the Summit, each group will present a 10-minute campaign on their chosen topic. The campaign will use a variety of digital tools and techniques acquired throughout the Berlin Youth Summit to empower Gen Z to be agents of change in their communities and beyond. Sessions will incorporate interactive elements such as gamification, role-playing, and group problem-solving to engage the participants.
SCHEDULE
JUNE 26
Day 1
Registration & Icebreaker Activities
Opening Remarks
Nikos Panagiotou, President DCN Global, Franak Viacorka, Vice President DCN Global, Roxana Stan, Gen, știri editor
Keynote: "The future of Storytelling"
Yusuf Omar, Co-founder, Unseen Stories
Coffee Break
Skill Building Sessions | Part 1
1. Thinking Big: Using a Systems Change Perspective to Create the Most Impactful Campaigns
Emily Lawson and Shafat Khan, Ashoka
2. Gaming as a Tool for Storytelling
Saqina Latif, Managing Director, Persona Theory Games, Buddy Anwardi, Founder, Persona Theory Games, Malaysia
3. Gen Z's Guide to Building a Personal Brand
Phoebe Dodds, Co-Founder, Food for Thought, France
Erifili Gounari, Founder & CEO, The Z Link, United Kingdom
4. Will AI Replace Social Media Managers at Work?
Olivia Drost, Founder, Olive Media, Poland
Jessica Grabowska, Poland
Lunch Break
"Ukraine Today"
Yulia Reshitko, DCN Global Team, Ukraine
Skill Building Sessions | Part 2
1. The Power of Digital Storytelling: Finding your Digital Generational Voice
Meagan Loyst, Founder and CEO, Gen Z VCs, U.S.
2. Navigating the Metaverse and Web 3.0
Dimitris Dimitriadis, CEO/Founder, The FutureCats, Greece
3. Building Online Communities
Akil Logeswaran, Former Senior Program Manager, Meta,Germany
4. The Science of Being an Influencer: The Secrets of Social Media Algorithm
Chelsie Hall, CEO, Founder, ViralMoment, U.S.
Coffee Break
DCN Global Showcase
Day 2
Panel Discussion:
What it Means to be Gen Z in the Digital Age?
- Meagan Loyst, Founder and CEO, Gen Z VCs, United States
- Erifili Gounari, Founder & CEO at The Z Link, UK
- Gerard Quebe, Project Director, Pau Costa Foundation, Spain
Coffee Break
Parallel Sessions
Each workshop group will design and share a campaign based on the historical topics from the first day paired with the thematic areas of the following sessions (in direct relation to the 5 topics of the campaigns)
1. Human Rights
Dr. Karina Alexanyan, Founder and CEO, Humanication.io, United States
2. Climate Change
Climate Activists, Ashoka, Germany
3. Freedom of Speech and Disinformation
Basia Erling, Spiders Web and Financial Times, Poland
4. Combatting Authoritarianism
Radu Vancu, poet/philosopher, Romania
5. Mental Health
Daisy Morris, Founder, The Selfhood, United Kingdom
Lunch Break
Preparation of Campaigns
Campaign Presentations and End of Summit
DCN Showcase Follow Up
Speakers
