• 5 April
  
  

Youthwise 2023 kicked off with an official launch event titled “Securing the future: putting youth at the centre of policy change” at the OECD headquarters in Paris. The new group was welcomed by US Ambassador to the OECD John Markell, OECD Deputy Secretary-General Ulrik Vestergaard Knudsen, OECD Director for Public Governance and for Public Affairs and Communications Elsa Pilichowski, and TUI Care Foundation Executive Director Alexander Panczuk.

Over the course of the day, Youthwise members engaged in discussions with OECD experts in various fields including environment, education, employment, governance, science, and technology. These discussions aimed to explore opportunities for meaningful engagement between Youthwise and the OECD throughout the upcoming year.

Additionally, Youthwise met with representatives from the Italian and British delegations to the OECD, in their capacity as previous and current Chairs of the Ministerial Council Meeting (MCM), to explore avenues through which Youthwise can exchange with OECD Member Countries. This launch event marked the beginning of an exciting Journey for Youthwise 2023!

• 27 April
  
  

Youthwise 2023 participated in a virtual information session with the Deputy Director of Public Affairs and Communication, Julian Knott. During the session, Julian presented the structure and workings of the OECD and its various bodies and committees.
Youthwise then discussed their priorities for the year ahead and brainstormed ideas for their contribution to the MCM.

• 22 May
  
  

Members of Youthwise—Anahera, Kendra-Jean, and Samantha—had a meeting with representatives from the UK delegation to the OECD. As the Chair of the Ministerial Council Meeting (MCM), the UK invited Youthwise to submit a video and a written statement expressing their perspectives on the subjects that will be addressed during this year’s meeting. 

• 6 June
  
  

Youthwise members Claudia Verheyen and Beom Joon Baek were invited to attend the launch of the OECD’s Global Forum on Technology, held in the margins of this year’s Ministerial Council Meeting. Bringing together a broad range of country and stakeholder perspectives, this event sought to identify and elaborate on core questions on the development of responsible and values-based technology. It also served as a platform for inclusive dialogue to anticipate and respond to the opportunities and risks technology development brings. Claudia and Joon were invited to attend and make interventions in the breakout sessions on Emerging technologies to address climate change and foster resilient societies and Responsible, values-based and rights-oriented technology.

• 7-8 June
  
  

The 2023 Ministerial Council Meeting (MCM), chaired by the United Kingdom, with Costa Rica and New Zealand as Vice-Chairs, took place on 7 and 8 June at the OECD Headquarters in Paris. At the invitation of the Chair, Youthwise members provided their perspectives on the topics discussed during the meeting in a written statement, "Our future in Three," complemented by a video message. Following their participation in the Global Forum on Technology, Claudia Verheyen and Beom Joon Baek were present at a Youthwise stand during the MCM to present Youthwise and discuss their Statement with meeting participants.

• 9 June
  
  

The OECD hosted an event at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, as part of the European Youth Event. Youthwise members Vidmantė Krušinskaitė and Finja Eilts were nominated by the group to take part in the panel alongside representatives from survey company Qualtrics and social change foundation Bertelsmann Stiftung, plus an OECD expert on pathways and transitions in Upper Secondary Education. The discussion was enriched by many members of the audience who added their own perspectives and asked the panel questions on a wide range of topics, including education for migrants, the place of AI in education and barriers to access for skills development (in particular in rural areas) translating work experience onto a CV and the role of school in choosing a career. Youthwise’s input gave the panel an intergenerational perspective to the topics raised.