Offcial Opening of the 16th School for Young Leaders

The 16th School for Young Leaders, founded by Gjorge Ivanov, officially began with an online opening session, marking the start of a two-week leadership program taking place from November 3 to November 16, 2025.

This year’s School is implemented in a hybrid format, with online sessions running until November 7, followed by a full in-person program from November 9 to November 16, 2025, hosted at Hotel Inex Olgica.

Under the overarching theme “A Youth-Driven Agenda for a Sustainable World,” the 16th edition is dedicated to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Agenda 2030, highlighting the vital role of young people in shaping fairer, more inclusive, and more sustainable societies worldwide.

Opening Addresses

The online opening featured keynote addresses by prominent national and international figures:

• Gjorge Ivanov, Founder of the School for Young Leaders
• Stefan Andonovski, Minister of Digital Transformation of the Republic of Macedonia and alumnus of the School
• Gerardo Berthin, President of Freedom House
• Felipe Paullier, United Nations Assistant Secretary-General for Youth Affairs, who addressed participants via video message

In his address, President Ivanov reflected on the relevance of the Sustainable Development Goals as the only globally agreed framework capable of responding to today’s interconnected crises. He emphasized that while many challenges remain unresolved, young people possess the most valuable resources—hope, energy, creativity, and opportunity—to drive meaningful change. He highlighted the importance of using artificial intelligence as a tool, not a substitute, stressing that future leaders must offer what technology cannot: emotional intelligence, ethics, intuition, creativity, and humanity, and must build synergy with AI rather than compete against it.

Minister Andonovski underlined that true transformation begins with inner leadership culture—how leaders think, decide, and act when no one is watching. He emphasized that leadership must be continuously reinvented by each generation and encouraged participants to redefine integrity, merit, and courage in public life. Drawing from real-life examples, he illustrated how the School’s alumni network actively shapes society beyond the program itself.

Gerardo Berthin welcomed the 16th School as a prestigious and internationally recognized leadership platform, stressing the urgent need for young leaders to defend democratic institutions, protect the information ecosystem, and promote inclusive participation. He called on participants to turn ideas into concrete action during the program.

In his video address, Felipe Paullier emphasized that leadership today is not confined to positions of power but is demonstrated through everyday actions—standing up for justice, nurturing dialogue, caring for the environment, and building bridges across differences. He encouraged participants to see themselves as catalysts for transformation within their communities and beyond.

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