đź“Š Key Insights from the World Bank Group Youth Summit
- The summit gathers more than 600 youth leaders annually from over 100 countries.
- This year’s theme focused on innovation in climate action, digital transformation, and the creative industries. (World Bank)
- The majority of youth delegates emphasize co-creation with communities as the most effective path to lasting impact.
Walking into the World Bank headquarters in Washington, D.C., for their annual Youth Summit, we felt both humbled and energized. As founders of NEST4US, we were honored to join hundreds of young leaders, innovators, and changemakers (some old and new friends!) from across the globe to explore how youth can shape global sustainable development.
The sessions were eye-opening. We engaged directly with multilateral leaders and specialists who emphasized that development cannot be imposed from the outside. One panelist said, “Systems designed for communities without them will always fall short.” That statement resonated deeply with us because it echoed what we see daily in our work at NEST4US: true impact requires collaboration and understanding of the diverse communities around us.
During a breakout discussion, we shared how, “At NEST4US, we have learned that when solutions are co-created with the people directly affected, the results are transformative.” Several participants later told me that they were inspired by the idea of “scaling kindness,” a phrase that has become a guiding principle for our organization and one of our core values.
The summit was also a reminder of the interconnectedness of global issues. Food insecurity, climate change, education, and mental health are not separate challenges—they are interwoven. As we reflected, we thought back to our The Climate–Hunger Connection: Why Reducing Food Waste Helps the Planet blog, where we recognized that solving the climate crisis requires both bold innovation and community voices at the center who are all making waves in a myriad of fields.
Leaving Washington, D.C., a place very close to our hearts, we carried with us not just new knowledge, but a renewed determination to bridge local action with global advocacy. At NEST4US, we remain committed to building systems that center community voices, empower youth leadership, and scale compassion worldwide.
—Shreyaa and Esha Venkat, Founders of NEST4US, 2025
