The Youth Global Forum 2016 will take place in Jakarta, Indonesia from Nov. 24 to 26 and Global Voices will be there.

The forum, organized by Youth Time International Movement (YT), a non-governmental, non-profit organization established in Prague in 2010, will bring together 150 young people from around to world to try to address some of the most pressing issues facing youth.

This year, the forum will look at realizing sustainable development in our ever-changing global market. The forum’s theme is The Interdependence Between Sustainability and Social Entrepreneurship – Creating a Sustainable Environment for Social Development Through Tech Innovation.

According to its website, the forum “will provide an interactive platform for young social innovators to openly communicate, share ideas and experiences with their peers from different cultural backgrounds and regions around the globe.”

As a Caribbean contributor from Guyana for Global Voices, I will be paying particular attention to forums on sustainable resource development — the ideas discussed could prove extremely valuable as Guyana's government attempts to develop one of the largest offshore oil reserves discovered in the world.

I will also be focusing on forums discussing youth education and employment. There is an acute youth unemployment problem in the Caribbean, and Guyana’s youth unemployment rate is the highest in the region. In fact, a May 2015 study by the Caribbean Development Bank found that Guyana’s youth unemployment rate has consistently hovered at around 40% since 2000. The study described the issue as “a critical development concern that requires urgent attention and durable solutions.”

Participation in the forum is open to young people between the ages of 18 and 32. It is still possible to apply to participate or present at the forum until September 25, 2016; participation in the forum is partially funded.