Group Photo of the Online Gathering
21 May 2026, UNESCO Regional Office for East Asia brought together alumni from 2023, 2024, and 2025 cohorts of the International Youth Forum (IYF) on Creativity and Heritage along the Silk Roads in a vibrant online gathering. The event officially launched the IYF Silk Roads Cooperation Grant, serving as a platform for cross-cohort exchange and idea sharing, which aimed at transitioning youth’s ideas into tangible action.
Thegathering kicked off with opening remarks delivered by Director of UNESCORegional Office for East Asia, Prof. Shahbaz Khan, whose insights set aninspiring tone for the event.
Prof. Shahbaz Khan delivering Opening Remarks
IYF Silk Roads Cooperation Grant
The online gathering officially launched the IYF Silk Roads Cooperation Grant. A concise introduction to the grant was shared with all participants. This Grant is designed to support cross-country, youth-led teams in transforming their heritage-related conceptual plans into sustainable actions.
The Grant is aligned with four core thematic areas, including:
Inclusive Heritage and Social Cohesion
Digital Frontiers and Heritage Entrepreneurship
Innovative Heritage Protection
Expanded Network Impact
It hopes to bridge the gap between ideas and implementation, foster South-South cooperation, and position culture as a driver for sustainable development.
Poster of IYF Silk Roads Cooperation Grant
IYF Alumni Talk
The latter part of the online gathering was dedicated to alumni sharing, where 10 IYF alumni from different countries and cohorts took turns to present their post-forum milestones. The session showcased the real-world impact of the IYF network, highlighting how participants have successfully translated forum dialogues into tangible grassroots actions.
The shared journeys were as varied as they were inspiring:
Youth Leadership and Advocacy: Several alumni shared their evolving roles as community organizers, sharing how they have mobilized local youth to take leadership positions in Maldives and Angola. An alumna from Algeria detailed her expanded influence as a local tourism ambassador, utilizing local platforms to promote responsible travel and share authentic heritage narratives with global audiences.
Project Entrepreneurship: From the successful inauguration of a Malagasy alumnus’ new heritage-focused project to the promotion of community cultural storytelling by a Singaporean alumnus, from a Nigerian alumnus joining the residency program dedicated to advancing African civilization, devoted to preserving Yoruba culture, to a Ugandan alumnus striving for water security in northern Uganda, their actions demonstrate the entrepreneurial mindset proactive spirit fostered by the forum.
Research and Academic Progress: Participants from Hunan, China shared significant breakthroughs in their ongoing research projects. These efforts focused on exploring the intersections of heritage conservation, sustainable development, and modern digital methodologies, further contributing to the body of knowledge surrounding the protection of heritage.
Photos of IYF Alumni Talk
This online gathering not only strengthened the bond among IYF alumni across different cohorts and regions, but also marked a crucial step in translating the forum’s dialogue into tangible impact. With the launch of the IYF Silk Roads Cooperation Grant, more young leaders will have the opportunity to turn their passion for heritage into sustainable action and to further contribute to global cultural heritage protection.