What happens when more than 300 young people from over 50 countries come together with one shared purpose?
They don’t just exchange cultures. They exchange ideas, challenge perspectives, build lifelong friendships, and discover that the future isn’t something that simply happens – it’s something they create.
That was the powerful message behind the Youth Empowerment Seminar (YES) 2026, organised by Youth For Understanding (YFU), under this year’s inspiring theme:
Shape the Future – It Depends on You(th)
At a time when the world often feels divided, YES 2026 became a living example of what is possible when young people choose curiosity over judgement, collaboration over competition, and hope over fear.
The Youth Empowerment Seminar is one of YFU’s largest international youth events, bringing together exchange students, volunteers, facilitators and educators from across the globe for an unforgettable week of learning, leadership and intercultural dialogue.
Behind the scenes, 111 volunteers from around the world worked together with one mission:
To create an inspiring, meaningful and unforgettable experience for more than 300 young people.
And by every measure, they succeeded. Participants left not only with new skills and friendships, but with renewed confidence in their ability to make a difference in their communities and beyond. Throughout the seminar, participants explored topics that matter deeply in today’s interconnected world:
- Identity and self-discovery
- Creating a sense of belonging
- Building inclusive communities
- Leadership through empathy
- Working together across cultures
For Danila, one of the seminar’s plenary facilitators, what made YES extraordinary wasn’t simply the workshops or activities, it was witnessing hundreds of people actively living the values they were discussing. Rather than simply talking about belonging, participants created it. Rather than discussing collaboration, they practised it. Every individual contributed their own unique “puzzle piece” to something far greater than themselves.
“During the YES 2026, we said ‘yes’ to a lot of things that the world is saying ‘no’ right now.
Yes to get 50+ countries in the same place and have them discuss.
Yes to have them learn from each other.
Yes to have them arrive to a common ground.
Yes to have them build together.”
In a world where headlines often focus on conflict and division, YES reminded everyone that respectful dialogue, mutual understanding and international cooperation are still possible and perhaps more important than ever.
If YES 2026 showed us anything, it’s that the next generation isn’t waiting to inherit the future -they’re already creating it. If you would like to be part of the volunteer network. Reach out to info@yfu.au
