Unscripted
Authentic intergenerational dialogues
The challenge
Young people are still too often left on the sidelines
Young people are increasingly present at major global summits, but their involvement can still feel highly curated, with a small number of familiar voices invited into spaces where decisions are being made.
The challenge was to create a more meaningful form of intergenerational dialogue, where young people could participate as equals and their lived experiences could genuinely shape the conversation.
The idea
Take away the scripts and change the dynamic
Project Everyone and the United Nations Youth Office created Unscripted, a new youth-centred event format designed to bring young people and senior leaders together in a more open, informal and participatory way.
Instead of panels, speeches and prepared talking points, young people drive the discussion while senior leaders from business, philanthropy and policy act as ‘Connectors’, listening, questioning and sharing their own experiences.
The result is not young people speaking to leaders, but generations speaking with each other.
what happened
A new model for intergenerational conversation
With support from SAP, Unscripted was first piloted at Goals House during UN General Assembly week in New York in September 2025.
Following its success, the format travelled to Riyadh for the Misk Global Forum in November, where 40 young people came together with 10 Connectors to explore solutions for people, planet and peace.
The events created space for honest conversations, new perspectives and genuine connections, laying the foundations for Unscripted to grow into a regular global series.
Result
2
pilot events delivered in 2025
2
global cities, New York and Riyadh
40
young people took part at Misk Global Forum
10
Connectors joined them in Riyadh
“The space felt genuinely collaborative and hopeful, a testament to the work your team put in to bring everyone together.”
Mete Coban MBE
Deputy Mayor of London for Environment and Energy