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Distinguished guests,
Mr. Gabriel Mvogo Saint, President of the International Youth Institute,
Mr. Ahmad Toor, Founder and President of HISA,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Dear participants,
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On behalf of the International Youth Institute, it is a great pleasure to welcome you to Paris, one of the most beautiful cities in the world!
My name is Florian, and I am joining you from France. I have the honor of serving as the Director General of the International Youth Institute, an organization committed to promoting youth leadership, international cooperation, and innovation.
First of all, congratulations to each and every one of you for being here!
Just think about that for a moment. Out of thousands of applications, only a select number of young people were chosen. You are here because you have something special to offer and because your potential has been recognized. This extraordinary opportunity could be the boost you need to turn that potential into meaningful action.
And trust us, these three days are going to fly by!
You have only three days. Three days to exchange ideas, challenge your perspectives, make friends, meet future business partners, and perhaps even connect with people with whom you will one day change the world.
So, allow us to share one important piece of advice: don’t waste a single moment being shy, judging others, or worrying about what people might think of you.
Instead, be curious. Be bold. Step out of your comfort zone. Talk to people you wouldn’t normally approach. Ask questions. Share your ideas. And, most importantly, remain open to the unexpected.
I know what I am talking about because I have also had the privilege of participating in international youth events.
Between 2014 and 2026, I took part in approximately twelve international youth forums. These experiences gave me the opportunity to travel across several continents, discover new cultures, and learn from inspiring speakers and exceptional leaders.
But looking back, as incredible as those experiences were, the most valuable thing I gained was not the places I visited or even the knowledge I acquired. It was the people I met.
Today, I have friends all over the world, and that is truly priceless.
Because when we build genuine relationships with people from different countries, we do more than expand our networks. We expand our understanding of the world. We discover new opportunities, challenge our own beliefs, and realize that despite our different backgrounds, we often share the same hopes, ambitions, and desire to make a difference and live meaningful lives.
Now, please remember what I said at the beginning: out of thousands of applicants, only a small number of you were selected. As we say in French, you are la crème de la crème!
You are therefore surrounded by exceptional young people, like-minded individuals who have so much to learn from one another and so much to build together.
So, please don’t leave Paris with just a few nice pictures. Leave with friendships, ideas, collaborations, and projects that will continue long after this festival.
And who knows? Perhaps the person sitting next to you today will become one of the most important people in your life tomorrow.
This is precisely one of the reasons why we believe in the power of international youth cooperation.
Together with some of the remarkable young people we have met through these international experiences, we are building something ambitious: the International Youth Institute, an organization with the ambition to become a global reference in youth leadership, international cooperation, and innovation.
Under the leadership of our President, Mr. Gabriel Mvogo Saint, the Youth Institute is committed to creating opportunities for young people to connect, develop their potential, share knowledge, and actively contribute to shaping the future of our societies.
As Director General, I am particularly proud of the partnership we have established with HISA to contribute to bringing you this exceptional experience here in Paris.
We would like to warmly congratulate Mr. Ahmad Toor, Founder and President of HISA, for his vision, leadership, and everything he has accomplished in bringing young people together from around the world.
Building an international platform that connects young people across borders requires vision, commitment, perseverance, and an extraordinary amount of work.
We also wish to acknowledge all the members of the HISA and International Youth Institute teams, who have worked extremely hard to make these three days as valuable and memorable as possible.
Their collective commitment deserves a big round of applause!
So, let’s give them a round of applause!
Thank you!
Dear participants,
Congratulations once again on being here and on taking this important step towards becoming the leaders you aspire to be.
We hope this festival will be the beginning of lasting relationships and meaningful collaborations with the International Youth Institute.
We invite you to stay connected with us through our social media platforms, follow our upcoming international initiatives, and, if you share our vision, consider joining our community.
There is always a place for ambitious, curious, and committed young people who want to turn ideas into action.
But for now, we are counting on you to make the most of this extraordinary opportunity, to make the most of these three days, and, above all, to make the most of one another.
The future doesn’t belong to those who simply wait for it.
It belongs to those who dare to shape it.
And we firmly believe that with young people like you leading the way, the best is yet to come.
Let’s shape the world we dream of, together!
Thank you, everyone!
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Florian Fimbel
Director General, International Youth Institute
