Youth Action Summit 2025 (CDA-YAS)

Four days in Brussels where ninety-five young leaders from seventy countries stepped inside the institutions that shape the world and left ready to shape it themselves.

COUNTRIES

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DELEGATES

FORUM DAYS

Milan, Italy

1–4 May 2025

95+ delegates from 70+ countries

Milan, Italy

1–4 May 2025

95+ delegates from 70+ countries

A Brussels forum built to turn ambition into action.

Hosted by CDA, the Youth Action Summit 2025 united 95 delegates from 70+ countries in Milan.The Summit focused on global diplomacy, leadership, and the Sustainable Development Goals. Delegates gained policy knowledge, leadership skills, and international connections.

Over four days, delegates joined policy leadership masterclasses, Youth Statements, and a high-level panel discussion. Each participant had the opportunity to share their voice and ideas. The Summit concluded with a graduation ceremony, building a global community of changemakers.

Inside the four days of Youth Action Summit 2025

Each program day moved delegates from arrival and orientation into institutional learning, policy practice, cultural exchange, and graduation.

Arrival, Accreditation & Welcome

Delegates arrived in Milan to complete accreditation and hotel check-in, collecting their credentials and materials. The afternoon featured media activities and interviews, before the official orientation and welcome ceremony framed the Summit’s mission and brought the cohort together for the first time over a welcome dinner.

Masterclass & Youth Statements

The first programme day featured welcome activities and a Masterclass on Strategic Policy Leadership and SDG Implementation. Delegates then delivered Youth Statements and took part in media activities.

Panel, Statements & Graduation

The Summit’s most substantive day combined a high-level panel discussion with two further rounds of Youth Statements, ensuring every delegate had a platform to present their perspective. The day — and the programme — culminated in the Graduation Ceremony, recognising each delegate’s participation and completion of the Summit.

Departure

The closing day was reserved for breakfast and hotel check-out as delegates departed Milan — leaving with new skills, shared memories, and a lasting global network forged over four days.

What Youth Action Summit 2025 achieved.

The forum combined access, policy learning, peer exchange, and project development into a measurable international youth leadership experience.

International delegates convened in Milan for four days of dialogue and leadership development.

Countries represented across the cohort, making YAS 2025 a globally diverse youth convening.

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Days of programming, from accreditation and orientation through to the graduation ceremony.

Rounds of Youth Statements, giving every delegate a platform to share their perspective.

Flagship masterclass on Strategic Policy Leadership and SDG Implementation.

High-level panel discussion connecting delegates with global affairs practitioners.

Turning Leadership into Lasting Action

The Youth Action Summit 2025 equipped emerging leaders with the skills, perspectives, and global connections to drive change. Across four days in Milan, delegates took part in policy leadership training, a high-level panel, and Youth Statements.

The Summit built a lasting network of changemakers across 70+ countries. The graduation ceremony marked the completion of the programme and the beginning of the CDA alumni journey. Delegates left better connected and prepared to create meaningful impact in their communities.