Yesterday, on January 15 2015, a global campaign backed by over 1,000 organisations launched with a LOT of noise.
action/2015 has burst into life because this year our leaders will make decisions that will steer all of our futures – affecting both people and planet. If they get it right, we could virtually end extreme poverty within a generation. If they get it wrong… well that’s why action/2015 exists – to make sure they don’t.
At events all over the world, groups of 15 year olds met with representatives from their governments to hand over a letter signed by more than 30 high profile names including Malala, Bono, Shakira and Desmond Tutu. It asks world leaders to create a “grand new global contract for our one human family – and then deliver on it together.”
Taking in Tanzania, Germany, the UK, Paris, South Africa, USA, Nigeria and Belgium, here’s just a few of the highlights.
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15 year olds from across Tanzania met with Vice President Dr Mohamed Gharib Bilal in Dar es Salaam. In the group was Eva, who kicked of the year with this message to ONE members: http://bit.ly/1E77N1T. Photo: ONE -
In the UK, ONE Youth Ambassadors incorporate Nelson's Column in Trafalgar Square, London, into their 2015 photo. Photo: ONE -
UK Prime Minister David Cameron met with two of Britain’s leading youth activists, Katie Knight and Bhavi Elangeswaran, both 15, at 10 Downing Street. They handed him a letter to all world leaders from high profile activists including Malala, Bono and Desmond Tutu. Photo: Save the Children / action/2015. -
15 year olds in the USA met at the White House in Washington DC before meeting with Deputy Secretary of State Heather Higginbottom. Photo: ONE -
15 year olds from across Germany and Belgium came together in Berlin, infront of the Brandenburg Gate. They later met vice-president of the parliament Claudia Roth and visited the development ministry to ask questions to German development minister Gerd Müller and EU commissioner for development Neven Mimica. Photo: Marco Urban/ONE -
An incredible 165 15 year olds came together in Soweto, South Africa, to meet Minister of Sports and Recreation Fikile Mbalula. Photo: ONE -
Young people from across France came together in Paris, and met with Nicolas Sarkozy, former President and head of UMP; Annick Girardin, Secretary of State for Development; Patrick Klugman, Deputy Mayor of Paris in charge of International Affairs and Guillaume Chabert, Chief of Staff for the Minister of Finance. Photo: ONE -
Almost 100 15 year olds from Koninklijk Lyceum in Antwerp learnt about the fight against extreme poverty and then wrote down their own wishes for a fairer world. Photo: ONE -
15 year olds in Nigeria met with Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala to deliver their message and ask for action this year. Photo: action/2015 Nigeria -
In the UK, Labour leader Ed Miliband met with 15 year olds to chat about the new goals to end extreme poverty. Photo: action/2015