Young change-makers received a major boost as Virgin Unite announced a new collaboration with One Young World and the We Are Family Foundation, backed by Richard Branson and music legend Nile Rodgers.
The partnership, unveiled at Virgin Hotels London-Shoreditch, marks Virgin Unite’s 20th anniversary and commits over $1 million to support emerging global leaders.
Kate Robertson: Building bridges across generations
Kate Robertson co-founded One Young World with David Jones in 2009 and the organisation continues to be a flourishing phenomenon.
“More than ever, we are making a real impact with what we’re doing,” said Robertson. “Bringing the whole world together in one space matters — whether it’s the Olympics or One Young World, this unity truly makes a difference.”
From vision to action
The partnership will create new pathways for budding pacesetters to address critical global issues, from climate action to criminal justice reform.
Both Branson and Rodgers bring personal experience as youth activists — Branson founded Student magazine at 16 to give young people a voice on issues like LGBTQ+ rights and the Vietnam War, while Rodgers worked as a community organizer with the Black Panthers in New York City’s Harlem neighbourhood.
“There are so many problems that we have to deal with, and we can no longer be apathetic,” Rodgers told PA Media, at a launch event at Virgin Hotels.
“It’s time that we deal with climate change as a very serious issue, it’s time that we deal with waste, it’s time that we deal with even little things that used to just be a nuisance when I was a kid, like bullyism now has become a really big thing.”
Rodgers, who shot to fame after founding the disco band Chic and producing massive hits for artists like David Bowie (“Let’s Dance”), Madonna (“Like a Virgin”), and Daft Punk (“Get Lucky”), elaborated upon that notion, lamenting how he sees “kids taking advantage of kids all around the world.”
Like Branson and Robertson, he’d like to do something to change that.
Virgin Unite and One Young World have also launched the latest stage of The NewNow program, a scholarship for up-and-comers from the Global South that will fund 10 youth leaders working toward solutions to global issues.
Selected participants will receive scholarships to attend the 2025 One Young World Summit in Munich, where they will join more than 2,000 emerging leaders from across the globe and various industries.
“Many of the challenges we face today — from climate change to social inequality — are extremely complex. In 2018, Virgin Unite set up The NewNow, a collective of rising global leaders committed to tackling some of the toughest challenges for humanity and the planet,” Branson said.
“Together with One Young World and The NewNow, Virgin Unite is committed to empowering the next generation of young leaders as they begin their journey to create a brighter, more sustainable future.”
A global movement takes shape
The new partnership is a natural extension of One Young World’s mission to amplify fresh voices on the world stage and bring together opinions from people of all ages.
Gaining wisdom from previous generations, studying history, and opening more global narratives is another part of Branson’s agenda.
“If I had to choose one (thing), I suppose the Elders that we set up with (Nelson) Mandela and Archbishop (Desmond) Tutu, and Kofi Annan, and Mary Robinson would be maybe just the one that stands out from everything,” Branson said when speaking about his proudest Virgin Unite moment thus far.
The partnership launches as One Young World prepares for its 2025 Munich summit, which will welcome delegates from over 190 countries. Robertson believes the timing could not be better: “When you bring big figures together so that it looks like a conference like no other — that was really where we started. The quality and integrity of the people we bring together, and the quality and integrity of our own work, shows that we can put on discussions that matter.”
For Robertson, the collaboration with Virgin Unite represents a watershed moment. “I see these young leaders and how much they care,” she says.
Richard Branson’s history with One Young World
Branson has been a long-time counselor with One Young World, speaking at its summits, offering business advice. His first official speech with One Young World occurred at the 2013 One Young World Summit in Johannesburg.
“The best way of learning how to run a business is by experience,” Branson said in a video during the 2013 summit. “It’s just literally getting out there and trying it. And you may not succeed the first time. Keep trying until you succeed. And make sure you have a lot of fun doing it. I’ve had a blast throughout my lifetime challenging a lot of big companies. You only live once. Make sure you have a lot of fun doing it.”
