The World Assembly of Youth (WAY) is an international organization established in 1949 to coordinate national youth councils and organizations globally. It aims to promote cooperation and understanding among youth from different nations, addressing various issues that affect young people.

History

WAY was founded during a conference held in London, where youth leaders from national youth councils of UN member countries convened to discuss the need for a universal youth organization. The draft charter was prepared in early 1949 and ratified at WAY’s first official meeting in Brussels in 1950, attended by representatives from 37 countries. Since its inception, WAY has evolved to include 140 member organizations from all continents, with its headquarters currently located in Melaka, Malaysia[1][2][3].

Objectives and Activities

WAY’s primary objectives include:

• Promoting Youth Issues: Focus areas include democracy, human rights, environment, health, community development, and leadership training.
• Facilitating International Cooperation: WAY provides a platform for youth representatives to exchange ideas and collaborate on programs addressing common challenges.
• Advocacy: The organization represents its members in international forums, particularly within the United Nations system, where it holds special consultative status[1][2][3].

Structure

The governing body of WAY is the General Assembly, which meets every four years to set policies and elect officers. Membership is categorized into full members (national youth councils), associate members, observers, and consultative members. The organization operates in three official languages: English, French, and Spanish[2][4].

Funding

Funding for WAY primarily comes from membership fees and contributions from member organizations. Various UN agencies and private foundations also support its projects[1][3].

In summary, the World Assembly of Youth plays a crucial role in fostering international collaboration among youth organizations while addressing pressing global issues affecting young people today.

Citations:
[1] https://www.hati.my/world-assembly-of-youth-way/
[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Assembly_of_Youth
[3] https://www.ngohub.asia/organizations/world-assembly-of-youth
[4] https://www.way.org.my/apply-for-membership
[5] https://uia.org/s/or/en/1100022589
[6] https://my.linkedin.com/company/world-assembly-of-youth
[7] https://bw.linkedin.com/company/world-assembly-of-youth
[8] https://www.globalhand.org/en/browse/regions/Asia/all/organisation/21458?search=Malaysia

World Assembly of Youth (WAY)