This global community of Young Advocates will come together for intensive training at an international Youth Forum in Beijing during the Paralympic Games, providing the Young Advocates with the skills to be the actual legacy of the games - spreading the Paralympic Spirit, long after the games have finished.

• The Youth Forum will be attended by the Young Advocates, including 120 young people from China and Hong Kong, 100 from the UK and 20 from other countries.

• The group will spend 6 days living on campus, participating in a forum designed to promote cultural/disability awareness, discussion/debate and leadership/communication skills.

• Many exceptional applicants from the UK have been accepted onto the project so far, each representing different backgrounds and communities. We have been working with a broad spectrum of organisations such as Tower Hamlets borough council, Lewisham Youth Aid, Edinburgh Leisure, and HSBC to identify applicants.

• As care workers or social workers and students or teachers, our Young Advocates will ensure that what they learn at the forum will cascade through their local communities.

• Our international Young Advocates come from the U.S.A., Australia, Israel, Jordan, Kazakhstan, and Tajikistan.

Youth Forum Timetable:

September 4th International Young Advocates arrive.
September 5th Chinese Young Advocates arrive.
September 6th YAP Opening ceremony, featuring an icebreaker session. The YAP mission statement and purpose will be defined by the YAs. The opening ceremony will be followed by recreation time, after which all Young Advocates will travel to the Bird’s Nest to watch Paralympic Opening Ceremony.
September 7th Workshops commence. In the evening, a Chinese-themed party will be held by the Chinese Young Advocates and the Chinese Disabled Persons’ Federation.
September 8th Workshops continue. A British-themed party held by British Young Advocates in the evening.
September 9th Visit to Great Wall at Mu Tianyu, followed by a shopping tour of Beijing
September 10th Workshops continue, with a final practice session
September 11th Mini Paralympic Festival organised for participants by Young Advocates participating in the Leadership and Organisation workshop.  Action planning meeting discussing the future of YAP. In the afternoon will be the YAP grand showcase featuring workshop performances, a closing ceremony, and a VIP reception at the British Embassy.