With the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, our lives have changed dramatically. For 4-H youth around the world, meeting with friends has been difficult. Overseas trips have been impossible. We would like to create an opportunity to stay connected and keep our global 4-H community strong. We hope that this digital Summit will be an opportunity to meet new people, connect with old friends, build a sense of belonging and practice leadership and communication skills. Through interactive tools and engaging presentations, this digital Summit will be hosted through Youtube and Zoom, and will be open to any 4-H country.
Objectives
• To motivate and engage the global network of 75 countries including 4-H youth, leaders and professionals during these difficult times.
• To share experiences, connect and re-establish a sense of belonging to a global movement.
• To learn about new programming, share insights and exemplary cases from 4-H around the world.
• To explore new directions for the 4-H movement in a Covid-19 era where digitization may be the “new normal”.
As the world faces the unprecedented challenge of responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, 4-H must commit to act with urgency and determination to respond to this crisis. We are deeply concerned about the devastating impacts that we are already seeing on some of the world’s most vulnerable populations and countries, where the pandemic is exacerbating high levels of pre-existing needs. We are seeing poverty levels growing, food supplies falling and prices soaring, children missing vaccinations, meals, and schooling, while sexual and gender-based violence are increasing. This pandemic calls for 4-H’ers a concerted and coordinated global action based on unity, solidarity and effective international cooperation.
As the COVID-19 spreads across the world, all meetings, events, activities and school classes that once brought young people together have been suspended.
The pandemic has forced the whole world into lockdown. Feeling socially isolated can impact people’s mental wellbeing.It can make people feel sad, anxious, lonely and depressed. This summit wants to make sure that during this time, 4-H members all over the world have ways to stay connected, even if you can’t see others in person. We’re lucky to live in a digitally connected world, especially when travelling becomes difficult.