Young people have regularly been both subject of discussion and key panelists for activities in the LAC region of GDLN. They have expressed interest in getting involved in local development and seeking ways to create their own opportunities (see, for example, http://www.gdln.org/News-weekly/story-9-mar22.htm). On Thursday, July 15, a new voice joined this young choir - the Youth to Youth Community initiative (Y2Y) - through its global dialogue, "The World Bank's Y2Y Initiative: Seeking Opportunities for Collaboration with the LAC Region".

Introduced to GDLN LAC by Nancy Rodriguez of the World Bank's Children and Youth division, Y2Y is an attempt to bring together young staff in the World Bank with those from other organizations worldwide and to have an impact on the work of the Bank. After meeting with youth leaders from around the world last year, World Bank president James D. Wolfensohn committed the Bank to mainstreaming youth participation and engagement in its work and the concept for Y2Y was born. Through seminars, networking events, and by providing advice to the Bank on issues that impact youth, young employees of the World Bank seek to form partnerships with their peers in other countries, so ensuring that a broad range of perspectives are incorporated.

Joining this global dialogue were panelists and peers from Ecuador, Colombia, Panama, El Salvador and Washington, representing organizations such as IDB Youth (www.iadb.org/exr/mandates/youth/index2.htm), Young Americas Business Trust (www.ybiz.net), and the Global Gateway (http://topics.developmentgateway.org/youth).

The session had several important outcomes. Y2Y raised awareness of their mission and sparked enthusiasm on the part of regional participants to join the program. Mohammed Ali Loutfy, Washington panelist from the World Bank's Social Protection team and Y2Y member was particularly impressed that participating countries were "really concerned about how they can improve this initiative and (become) more involved, as representatives of organizations with projects on youth issues". He also appreciates their "willingness to improve the situation at the local level, such as the Peruvian participants' concern to involve disabled youth".

What's next for Y2Y? Dialogue participants from across the region have exchanged contact information and are planning a series of GDLN dialogues for later in the year. If there is a particular youth issue that you would like to see explored through GDLN, let us know at YABT (Rafael Pinto - ybiz2@oas.org) or GDLN LAC youth entrepreneurship programs (brabin@worldbank.org).