UNESCO UK World Heritage Site Youth Summit 2010
On the 1st October 2010, 45 young people will gather at New Lanark World Heritage Site (WHS) in South Lanarkshire for the first UK UNESCO Youth Summit in Scotland to discuss World Heritage in the 21st century. The aim of the Youth Summit is to explore what World Heritage means to young people in Scotland and how they can help to preserve and protect the internationally important cultural and natural heritage on their doorstep.
Youth delegations representing all five World Heritage Sites in Scotland; Antonine Wall, Heart of Neolithic Orkney, New Lanark, Old and New Towns of Edinburgh and St Kilda, will be joined by a delegation representing the Historic Town of St George World Heritage Site in Bermuda, a British overseas territory.
Part of the UNESCO World Heritage in Young Hands Programme, the UK World Heritage Youth Summit will be a unique opportunity for the youth participants to put forward their views and visions on the protection of World Heritage Sites and how World Heritage Sites in Scotland can engage with young people that live on their boundaries. The young people will work in groups to explore global challenges to World Heritage Sites, question World Heritage experts through ‘speed interviews’ and take part in a Dragon’s Den style exercise to find the top three recommendations for how World Heritage Sites in Scotland can better engage young people through education and outreach. Teachers who accompany their pupils will be encouraged to help their schools join the international UNESCO Associated Schools network which has a growing number of members in the UK.
Two creative directors, Steven Smith and Scott Hogg Robertson, will be facilitating the Youth Summit with the objective of creating a set of recommendations on what World Heritage Sites in Scotland can do to engage young people. These outputs will then be sent to all Scottish World Heritage Sites, Historic Scotland and Fiona Hyslop MSP, Minister for Culture and External Affairs in Scotland.
Anne Breivik, National Coordinator of UK UNESCO Associated Schools, said:
The Youth Summit is an excellent opportunity for young people to explore the unique natural and cultural heritage that Scotland is home to. Engaging young people in the protection and preservation of Scotland's five World Heritage sites is vital to ensure these sites remain part of our shared global heritage for future generations."
Christina Campbell from Sir E Scott School on the Isle of Harris, representing St Kilda World Heritage Site, said:
Preparing for the Youth Summit has made us think about our own culture and environment and why and how the unique qualities of St Kilda should be preserved for present and future young people to enjoy.”
The Youth Summit is organised by the UK National Commission for UNESCO. It is hosted by New Lanark World Heritage Site and sponsored by Historic Scotland.
Written: 24/09/2010 , last modified: 24/09/2010
