Here is everything you need to know this month!
Community Updates
1. International Youth Day
On International Youth Day, 12 August 2025, Natalie Pierce reflected on the community’s 15-year journey, sharing five key lessons and making a strong case for moving beyond tokenistic inclusion toward genuinely championing and scaling youth-led initiatives.
In a special episode of the Global Shapers Live Show, we welcomed Sebastian Buckup (Managing Director, World Economic Forum), Karolina Eklöw (Community Champion, Nordics and Baltics), and Chimdi Neliaku (Abuja Hub), who shared powerful examples of how institutions like the World Economic Forum, The Foresight Institute, and Nigeria’s government are partnering with young leaders.
2. Host a SHAPE in 2026-2027
SHAPEs are regional events created by Shapers for Shapers. This year, we invite you to share your initial interest in hosting your region's next SHAPE event with your Community Champion by 31 August 2025. Read the SHAPE Guide & FAQs before sharing your interest and make sure your team has the capacity to deliver an event of this scale within the next 2 years.
3. Forum Spaces: Virtual Trainings
Following the upgrade from TopLink to Forum Spaces, we invite all Curators to join a Virtual Training on Tuesday, 9 September at 10:00 AM (CEST) or 4:00 PM (CEST) and connect directly with the Forum Spaces team. We also encourage Curators to review the Forum Spaces Guide containing detailed instructions on how to manage your Hub's page.
4. Share Your Impact Story
As we celebrate 15 years of the Global Shapers Community, we’re collecting impact stories from active Shapers and Alumni. Share your hub’s milestones or personal achievements, from high-level events and recognitions to impactful projects, using this content capture form. Your story could be featured across our social media, newsletter, or upcoming reports.
5. Feedback for GSAS25 Virtual Programme
Next Generation Now: Youth Dialogues, the open-access live programme at the Global Shapers Annual Summit 2025, has already reached over 13,000 views. To help us improve next year’s sessions and ensure a memorable experience for all hub members unable to attend in person, please share your feedback on what you enjoyed and what could be better.
- Leading with Purpose and Courage ft. opening plenary highlights (LinkedIn / YouTube)
- Youth Economy and Skills for Tomorrow ft. regional video and SI (LinkedIn / YouTube)
- Next Generation Social Innovation ft. summit highlights and UpLink (LinkedIn / YouTube)
- Intergenerational Climate Leadership ft. closing plenary (LinkedIn / YouTube)
6. LinkedIn Newsletter
Issue 3 of Generation Now, our LinkedIn Newsletter, is out now! Each edition brings you powerful insights and emerging trends that reflect the priorities of young people today.
World Economic Forum Events
7. World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2026
We can't wait to welcome Global Shapers back to Davos-Klosters, Switzerland in January 2026. It's that time of year again! Applications to attend the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting 2026 are open until Sunday, 14 September 2025 at 23:59 CEST. To prepare an outstanding application, review our FAQs and video application tips!
Impact Opportunities
8. Contribute to the Global Risks Report
The Global Risks Initiative invites you to participate in the Global Risks Perception Survey, the cornerstone of the World Economic Forum’s flagship Global Risks Report 2026: 21st Edition. Your insights on issues from climate change to frontier technologies and international cooperation are critical in shaping the global narrative amid growing systemic complexity. Complete the survey by Friday, 26 September.
9. Shapers for Climate – COP30 Presence Mapping
Ahead of COP30, we want to identify which Global Shapers will be in Belém. Through the cross-hub collaboration Shapers pelo Clima, the Community is supporting the Belém Hub by organizing meetups, providing logistical assistance, and fostering collaboration among Shapers attending or interested in climate action. Complete the form and indicate if you would like to join the project to help amplify the Community’s impact at COP30.
Community Spotlight
10. Project CHAMP
Project CHAMP, led by the Thimphu Hub in collaboration with Save the Children Bhutan, empowers schoolchildren with knowledge of their rights and responsibilities. Through interactive sessions on constitutional rights, children in conflict with the law (CICL), and legal procedures, the project fosters awareness and accountability. So far, the project has sensitized over 680 children and co-published a booklet on CICLs, 'Locked Stories: from Conflict to Connection.'
11. Forum Stories
- How air pollution affects healthy ageing and what to do about it, Pranidhi Sawhney & Adam Skali
- How climate proofing our built environment can safeguard future generations, Muhammad Hassan Dajana & James Balzer
- 3 ways regulation can prevent deepfake greenwashing, Goodness Esom
- Why we must harness technological convergence for a greener AI energy future, David Timis
- How Africa can shape its trade future beyond AGOA, JJ Enoch
- How the World Health Organization’s ‘One Health’ framework can benefit from mission-oriented policy, James Balzer
- 3 simple, low‑cost ways to ease South Asia’s water shortage, Sikander Bizenjo & Eric Shahzar
- Is this how you can ensure climate justice in the age of AI? Anurit Kanti
- From politics to innovation: how South Asia’s youth is rewriting its growth story, Murchana Roychoudhury
- 5 pathways towards an optimistic future, according to today's youth, Sakshee Singh & Hélène Colin
- Empowering the youth frontline in the fight against antimicrobial resistance, Shiloh Paswani & Mansoor Aamir
- Sustainable Urban Behaviour: the missing piece for nature-positive transformation in cities, Luis Antonio Ramirez Garcia
- From hustle culture to systems change: How youth in the Global South can lead social innovation, Antara Choudhury & Vivin Rajasekharan Nair
- How the World Health Organization’s ‘One Health’ framework can benefit from mission-oriented policy, James Balzer
- How Europe and Africa can unlock tech opportunities through stronger collaboration, Nii Simmonds & David Timis
We believe in a world where young people are central to solution-building, policy-making and lasting change.
- Access all Global Shapers resources, guides and tools at wef.ch/gsc-guides
- Read our newsletter in your preferred language using a translation extension
- Pitch your ideas for Forum Stories (English)