The theme of the programme was “ Mainstreaming Youth in the Post-2015 Agenda”. The opening ceremony of the WCY2014 was held on 5 May 2014 in Hambanathotta, Sri Lanka. Members participate at the historic conference to voice the cause of co-operatives at the biggest global platform for, by and on youth to create awareness on co-operatives among the leaders of tomorrow.
The conference was attended by 1500 delegates from over 150 countries. It was graced by the presence of a score of Ministers in charge of Youth Affairs from various countries and the President of the Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.
Other guests included the President of the United Nations General Assembly, UN Secretary General’s Special envoy on youth and youth ambassadors from around the world. Leading from the front, for the ICYC, was the Chairperson of the ICYC , Dr. Sukesh Zamwar who made a lasting impression on the case of the co-operative alternative for a better world at the Roundtable Plenary on 8 May 2014 where he shared dais with Ms. Reiko Tsushima, ILO Youth and Mr. Thilanga Sumathipala, Member of Parliament of Sri Lanka on the theme – ‘What we Want’ and topic: ‘Full Employment and Entrepreneurship’, to highlight the case of co-operatives under the committees’ general agenda of advocating for the ‘co-operative difference’.
The ICYC (ICA Committee on Youth Co-operation) also organised a Parallel Event on 9 May 2014 under the same title of ‘the co-operative difference’ and educated the culturally and ethnically diverse crowd on movements around the Asia and Pacific region.
Besides the aforementioned sessions, the ICYC undertook the works to organise and manage an exhibition booth at the WCY2014 and received visitors young and not so young alike. The booth showcased coop and coop based products from the participating countries of the ICYC.
The outcome document of the WCY2014 was discussed extensively and after around 50 hours of negotiations by the National Youth Delegates (nominated from Governments), this was adopted and named as ‘the Colombo Declaration’ .