What is Model G20?
Model G20 Global Youth Leadership Summit for High School Students
Students from around the world will join together and expand their knowledge of our global community, build their skills in communication, strategic thinking, and leadership. They will represent member states of the G20, international organizations, engagement groups, and invited countries while solving the most pressing global challenges, and exploring joint solutions.
One of the Biggest Global Youth Leadership Summits for High School Students
Participating Schools Globally
Asia
China and HK/Macao/Taiwan District (220+), India (15), Indonesia (5), Japan (13), Pakistan (7), Russia (3), Saudi Arabia (5), South Korea (5), United Arab Emirates (3), Vietnam(2)
Africa
Egypt (10), South Africa (2), Swaziland (2)
Europe
France (5), Germany (3), Ireland (1), Italy (1), Netherlands (3), Portugal (1), Spain (2), Singapore (3), Turkey (3), United Kingdom (2), Ukraine (3)
North America
El Salvador (8), United States (135)
South America
Argentina (2), Colombia (8), Mexico (33), Peru (5)
Oceania
Australia (2), New Zealand (1)
Speakers
Featured prominent speakers and experts from top-tier educational institutions of the world
PROFESSOR DAVID C. KING
Professor in Public Policy at The Harvard Kennedy School
Professor Julie Battilana
Alan L. Gleitsman Professor of Social Innovation, Harvard Kennedy School
Joseph C. Wilson Professor of Business Administration, Harvard Business School
Dr. Moriba Jah
Professor in the Department of Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics at University of Texas Austin’s Oden Institute
Professor Gerald Torres
Professor of Environmental Justice and Professor of Law at Yale University
Faculty
Dedicated educators and scholars direct and support all delegates throughout the summit
Peter Dufresne
Chair of Model G20 Committee Ph.D, University of Cumberland
Martha McMorran
Academic Co-chair, Model G20 Committee
Ed.M., Harvard University
Alex Krasser
Academic Co-chair, Model G20 Committee
Ed.M., Harvard University
PATRICIA LOZADA
Chair of Model G20 Committee
MPA, Harvard Kennedy School
VICTORIAL JOHNS
Curriculum Designer, Master of Art
American museums of Nature History
“What a tremendous group of students you have. It gives you a tremendous hope for the world to actually see these people, and they are the future.”
Susan Solomon
Lee and Geraldine Martin Professor of Environmental Studies, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
“I am pleased to see young people like you participating and engaging with today’s most pressing issues. As young leaders of tomorrow, you are tasked with the important mission of ensuring that the new generation is well-equipped to improve the world we live in.”
Gabriela Ramos
OECD Chief of Staff and Sherpa to the G20
“Knovva truly creates an experience where skills like communication, research, self-confidence, public speaking, cultural awareness, and being an overall global learner […] are emphasized on a daily basis.”
Layton Lynch
High School Teacher in the U.S
“I am totally impressed by the sophistication of the questions asked during the Q&A sessions. I teach in college, medical school, school of public health, and I would guess high school students wouldn’t have as sophisticated questions as they have. It is great to hear what students have to say. It is challenging to figure out these problems, and it is great to watch young leaders take action.”
Prof. Don Goldmann
Chief Medical and Science Officer, Professor Emeritus of Immunology and Infectious Diseases
“Model G20 increases unity and our sense of togetherness and decreases conflict. I think students learned a practical way to bring change to a society at the government level. When you bring people together, particularly young leaders and those that are still forming their sense of the world, you make for a better world. Really supportive of the intention of this gathering!”
Jonathan Fantini Porter
Chief of Staff for Management, U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Alumni
Omar S.
Model G20 ’19
COLUMBIA university ‘24
Omar became one of Model G20’s greatest advocates after traveling to the Model G20 Summit in Beijing, where he was awarded the top honor of Most Outstanding Delegate. Of his time at the summit, Omar gushes: “Just thinking about Beijing makes me miss it. I learned so much and made so many dear friends. Working with members of my generation opened my eyes and refreshed me; there’s nothing we can’t achieve when we work together.”
ALVIN C.
Model G20 ’17, ’18, ’19
Massachusetts Institute of Technology ’24
Alvin has participated in three Model G20 Summits and loves the summit portion of the program the most. “During the last three days we had to research our topics depending on our ministry. I was the health minister, so I had to research about pollution and how it affects public health.” We’re sure Alvin is putting his research skills to good use at MIT!
Federico R.
MODEL G20 17’
Harvard university ‘23
At the 2017 Model G20, Federico took home a well-deserved award for Most Outstanding Delegate. Since attending, Federico has gone on to serve as an Economic Development and Neighborhood Committee member for the City of Boston, where he worked to allocate city funding to area youth.
Jennifer Z.
Model G20 ’18, ’19
Columbia University ’23
Jenn has participated in the Model G20 Summit numerous times and even made it to our next level program, MG20 Task Force, where she was able to work with the Y20! She is a true leader in every sense of the word, who commands everyone to listen whenever she speaks. With motivation and drive beyond her years, she’s ready to change the world.
Sebastian S.
Model G20 ’17, ’18
Princeton University ’24
During his time at the Model G20 Summit, it became apparent that this young leader was going
places. With a full plate of activities in high school — including National Honor Society, soccer, mock trial, political awareness club, science team, and orchestra — we’re thrilled that he made the time to attend our groundbreaking summit
Sarah B.
Model G20 ’18, ’19, ’20
Boston University ’24
Sarah was a Deciding Committee member at the last Virtual Summit, as well as the voice, face, and inspiration for our first student-featured program video this past fall. Sarah is a compassionate, intelligent, and above all intellectually generous soul whose presence in the
Summit was an exceptional asset to her colleagues.
Rohit C.
Model G20 ’18, ’19
Georgia Institute of Technology ’23
Rohit has been with Knovva Academy since 2017, and was honored to become a Knovva Academic Mentor for our Knowledge in Action course this past summer. He has attended multiple Model G20 Summits, amounting to an ambassadorship with the program. “As a
delegate, the people you meet all have secret talents. When you get to see those talents, you just say to yourself: ‘Wow! That’s why I want to come back every year!”
Kiara O.
Model G20 ’18, ’19
Dartmouth College ’24
A legend of the Model G20 community, Kiara has attended the Model G20 Summit in Boston and the Model G20 Task Force in Argentina. She has also acted as a voice for the Summit to
the world at large. Of her time with Model G20, she says: “I have never seen a group of such motivated teenagers who want to promote change in our society. The MG20 delegates are beyond passionate and being around them has influenced me in ways beyond compare.”
Hear from our students
“During the summit, I really learned how to be a strong leader, which is not just limited to instructing people on tasks, but is listening to the needs of your team and motivating everybody to work hard.”
– Tara O.
Model G20 ’20 Alum
Hear from our students
“It’s really just such an amazing thing because it allowed me to share and listen to new ideas, or focus on current global issues. And by discussing all these issues with my peers during Model G20, I was able to gain a lot of new perspectives. And it really opened up my thinking. And I really want to thank Knovva Academy for making this opportunity for us to form connections with people around the world as global citizens.”
– Jacob Z.
Model G20 ’20 Alum
Hear from our students
“Looking toward the future, I’ve been able to determine I’m really interested in a career in journalism, which uses a lot of what Knovva’s Model G20 Summit teaches you … using public speaking skills, the ability to work with others, and the ability to collect lots of data and information. I really do think Model G20 prepares you for a future career.”
– Noah B.
Model G20 ’20 Alum
Hear from our students
“Knovva has given me a lot of opportunity to work with other people and understand a lot of time management skills, a lot of collaboration skills that I think will be important, especially as I’m going into the political science field. I never would have met so many friends if it wasn’t for Knovva’s Model G20 conference. I really appreciated getting the chance to meet other people, other people are great, and they give me so much hope for the world going forward. So that is one thing that I think would benefit anyone.”
– Isaac B.
Model G20 ’20 Alum
Hear from our students
“I didn’t have any expectations but was blown away and really satisfied by my development throughout the Model G20 conference. I found the responses and conversations challenging, and it made me think in a visualized way. I told all my closest friends about Model G20 because it helped me think out of the box.”
– Angelica P.
Model G20 ’20 Alum
Knovva in the Press
FIVE BOSTON LATIN STUDENTS JOINED THE 2017 MODEL G20 SUMMIT
20 STUDENTS,12 COUNTRIES AT Y20 LEADERSHIP SUMMIT IN TOKYO
“FRESHMEN ARE TOLD THERE ARE FOUR WORDS THAT DON’T EXIST…
160 TEENS,18 COUNTRIES AT 2020 GLOBAL YOUTH LEADERSHIP…
WAREHAM STUDENTS RETURN FROM LEADERSHIP SUMMIT IN CHINA
EYE-OPENING, INTRIGUING, ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME EXPERIENCE…
