The Global Co Lab Network
Engaging the next generation
The Global Co Lab Network, the Co Lab, empowers youth ages 13-35 with a focus on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It does this with an annual global video contest, Teens Dream, and virtual teen-led weekly gatherings, SDG Hubs that now number twelve, addressing racial justice, gender equality, mental health, quality education, climate change, hunger, plastic pollution, wildlife conservation, Spanish speakers for the SDGs, Turkish speakers for the SDGs, artists for the SDGs, and a Hub for recent Afghan teen refugees. See here for an overview of the Co Lab's work with teens. While its primary focus is teens globally, the Co-Lab also works to empower next-generation leaders and practitioners on all the SDGs. See "A Peace of Science" documentary for next-generation diplomacy practitioners.
The Global Co Lab Network has hosted over 60 Co-Labs engaging thousands of youth and stakeholders resulting in a series of initiatives, including Teens Dream, which empowers teens to act on the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals, engaging some 700 teens from over 40 countries in a video competition and hundreds more in teen-led virtual rooms called SDG Hubs.
" Thanks to the Co Lab’s brilliant, but simple model of bringing people of different backgrounds together to address common challenges and discuss new paths forward, we were able to launch the first in a series of Exchange Salons to engage emerging leaders in shaping the road that our international exchange community will take in the coming years. "
— Jennifer Clinton, Former President, Global Ties U.S.
The Global Co Lab Network builds on design thinking, mindfulness, peer coaching, and other techniques and has designed a very simple template that all can use to host a Co-Lab focused on empowering youth to be change agents, connecting them with collaboration-oriented experts, stakeholders, and organizations.
The Global Co Lab Network is proud to incubate projects:
Teens Dream was created out of series of Co-Labs with teens in the Washington DC area - a fun video contest that has engaged thousands of teens globally from over 40 countries on their ideas for change as they relate to one of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These teens are strongly encouraged to join our weekly virtual meetings led by teens called SDG Hubs that focus on moving action forward on each of the SDGs!
The Global Co Lab Network has partnered with the Smithsonian Conservation Commons and Smithsonian Affiliates on our global video contest and our SDG Hubs to build an Teen Eco Action Network that is tackling climate change, wildlife conservation, plastics, and hunger.
The Global Co Lab Network is proud to be supported by organizations and individuals from around the world.
Our Board of Directors, Advisory Council, Partner Organizations, Interns, and Fellows – supported by our Founding Director and many teen leaders, adult mentors and volunteers, represent tremendous expertise and passion and are critical in helping us advance our visiion of engaging youth to be change makers globally with a focus on the UN SDGs. Click here to see the team.
"Not only does the Global Co Lab Network provide a platform for youth, you lift us up in the way you engage with us. If more people did that, we would accomplish the Sustainable Development Goals faster."
