We are not waiting
Amplifying youth-led initiatives for systems change
Photo credits: Pedro Inacio / Pexels
This project is a joint initiative by The 50 Percent and UNESCO-MOST BRIDGES UK Hub that centres young people aged 14–35 as designers of alternative systems already in motion, showcasing real-world initiatives.
WHAT ARE WE BUILDING
An open-access anthology
6 themes, 6 chapters, the aim is to launch at UNESCO MOST Forum 2027.
A webinar series
2 youth-led sessions over the 6 themes in 2026.
THE SIX THEMES
#RegenerativeEconomics
Re-weaving the future: networks and economies that make the world anew
#CircularLiving
Living circular futures: small changes, big difference
#MutualAid
Communities of care: youth-led networks built on solidarity, not charity
#ArtForChange
Stories that move systems: art, culture and storytelling as tools for transformation
#ClimateJustice
Building resilience through ecological resistance and restoration
#PeaceBuilding
Between fracture and repair: youth-led peacebuilding and social cohesion
AN OPEN-ACCESS ANTHOLOGY
‘We are not waiting’ will produce an open-access anthology of six chapters. This will not be just a collection of essays, but a durable, policy-relevant record of youth-led systems change in practice.
What makes it different:
- Written, reviewed and edited by young people themselves.
- Grounded in real-world practice.
- Published in open-access format.
SUBMIT YOUR ABSTRACT
Whether you are organising your community, restoring ecosystems, building alternative economies or using art to shift narratives — your experience is what this anthology is looking for.
This call is open to anyone aged 14–35 who is actively working on one of the six themes. You do not need to be an academic or an established writer— and you do not need to have all the answers. What matters is that you are doing the work.
You may submit as an individual or as part of a small team.
Write in your own voice, clear and simple. Abstracts should be no more than 500 words. Contributions from the Global Majority and indigenous communities are especially encouraged.
If your abstract is selected, you will be invited to develop a full piece of approximately 2,000 words for the anthology. You will not be alone in the process, our editorial team will support you every step of the way.
Deadline: 31 August 2026
A WEBINAR SERIES
This series will bring youth-led projects that are already modelling ethical, ecological and socially just futures. Each session will be grounded in real-world action and hosted, moderated and shaped by young people.
The sessions will build an intergenerational learning space where young people teach, and where their leadership is recognised for what it is: faster, ethical and aware of planetary limits.
Webinar: We are not waiting
An open Q&A session to introduce the project, walk through the call for abstracts and answer any questions before submissions open.
Date: 18 June 2026
Time: 09:00 – 10:00 ET | 15:00 – 16:00 CEST | 16:00 – 17:00 EAT | 21:00 – 22:00 PHT
Webinar: Building new systems: from regenerative economies to climate justice and circular living
An open conversation with contributors exploring three of the anthology’s core themes: re-weaving the future through networks and economies that make the world anew; building resilience through ecological resistance and restoration; and living circular futures, where small changes make a big difference.
Join us to learn more about what we are looking for.
Date: 7 July 2026
Time: 09:00 – 10:00 ET | 15:00 – 16:00 CEST | 16:00 – 17:00 EAT | 21:00 – 22:00 PHT
Webinar: The human side of systems change: peacebuilding, mutual aid and cultural transformation
A conversation with contributors delving into the final three chapters of the anthology: how young people are rebuilding fractured communities through everyday acts of peacemaking; the structures of mutual aid and collective care that refuse to replicate dependency; and the power of creative practice, narrative and culture to drive systemic change from the inside out.
Join us to hear from the editors and bring your questions.
Date: 28 July 2026
Time: 09:00 – 10:00 ET | 15:00 – 16:00 CEST | 16:00 – 17:00 EAT | 21:00 – 22:00 PHT
About the partners
The 50 Percent at the Club of Rome works to place youth leadership at the centre of systems change. It supports and amplifies the work of young people who are already building the transitions that older institutions are still debating.
The UNESCO–MOST BRIDGES UK Hub generates humanities-informed research from the ground up, working with inclusive knowledge systems to drive social transformation and inform policy and practice.
