Imagine a world where the sky is always clear, the air is fresh, and trees stand tall and strong. The oceans are full of life and free from pollution.

Everywhere you look, people gather with joy, helping and uplifting one another. Everyone has enough to eat, and no one is left behind. Schools are filled with children who are safe, eager to learn, and confident that what they learn today will help them thrive and tackle tomorrow’s biggest challenges.

In this world, everyone treats the planet like their best friend. Nature is treasured, filled with the sounds of birds, flowing water, and buzzing insects, not overwhelmed by noise. Forests are vibrant and green. And there’s no conflict – everyone respects the wisdom of ancestors and lessons from the past, knowing that peaceful living is not just possible, but how we’re meant to be.

This future is not just about the planet, it’s also about people. In this version of the story, every person has the power to change the world for good. Maybe they’ll invent a never-ending source of clean energy or make sure that everyone, no matter where they live, has access to fresh water. Movement is unimpeded, opportunities are global and whenever someone needs help, there’s always a friendly hand to hold.

This is the future we’re dreaming about – a future where even the smallest voices can make the biggest difference, and the world is big enough for everyone to share. There is enough for all.

We have created a learning agenda titled The Future We Build, filled with all the top line issues facing young people and future generations, as our first step towards sketching out how this dream turns into guaranteed reality for those who will be young in the twenty-first century. It is our guidebook. It explains the value of working with and for young people for a better present and optimal future, how to be kind to the planet, and how to make sure no one is left behind.

These dreams on paper are part of something even bigger – the 2100 Roadmap, a framework inspired by the Unlock the Future coalition. Like stepping stones across a river, the Sustainable Development Goals – those big goals we’re aiming to hit by 2030 – help us build a fair and just world where everyone has what they need. The 2100 Roadmap reminds us that our journey doesn’t stop in 2030. We need to keep hopping across those stones, making the world better and better for everyone, everywhere, all the way to the year 2100 and beyond.

We’re not just waiting for this incredible future to arrive – we’re building it right now.

Why?

Rather than simply making another document for people to read, we designed The Future We Build to work as a guide – to help us all learn, explore, and understand the challenges we face in shaping the future we want to see.

This learning agenda provides a concise overview of the biggest questions of our time, structured around the '5Ps': People (us), Planet (our home), Prosperity (our livelihoods), Peace (our life) and Partnerships (our relationships).

It also allowed us to center the insights, experiences and needs of those most often left behind. By 2100, seven of the ten most populous countries in the world will have over 50% of their population as young people under 30, and we need to invest in them as the current and future engines of global innovation, economic growth, and cultural influence.

Asking the right questions is a good place to start.

Read the Learning Agenda

How?

No one person could create this guide alone. It took many of us to build it, and it will take all of us to find answers to its questions.

Earlier this year we kicked things off by forming five youth-led Action Groups on the 5Ps, including Next Generation Fellows and 50 Engine Room changemakers and champions (86% of whom come from the Global South) who were the backbone of this whole process. They were tasked with envisioning the future, leading campaigns, and building alliances across generations. They, too, could not have done this alone. They interviewed experts, shared surveys, and collated information while asking the big questions of our time. We also recognized that one size does not fit all – there is a need to contextualize these big questions. That's where our intergenerational Town Halls came in.

Taking place in 20 different countries over the course of a year, these conversations grounded global discussions in local realities, making us both dream about the future and set concrete steps to achieve that future through intergenerational collaboration.

What?

So, what is it we're asking ourselves and our leaders to reflect on? Here are some of the questions we've posed as part of the learning agenda:

How can we secure water resources for the future?
What investments are needed to provide equitable access to clean energy in underserved communities?
What policies can be enacted to align education systems with the future needs of the workforce?
What are the best ways to strengthen governance in fragile states?
What reforms are necessary to make global financial institutions and the global financial architecture more inclusive and representative?

These questions aren't just ours. They are backed by research, diverse and wide-ranging input, and the powerful knowledge that there is a generation of doers ready to take on this challenge.

Where do we go from here?

We’re charting the path to help decision-makers on the road to 2100.

First, by launching the 2100 Visionaries Taskforce, a team of intergenerational leaders ready to tackle the future head-on. They will be crafting actionable strategies that will drive real change and guide our path.

The Engine Room, at the heart of this whole process, is not done yet either. We will continue to connect ideas from around the world and push the global conversation forward to build a new social contract for the 21st century. Our aim? Making sure no one is left behind.

We will, of course, continue our intergenerational conversations. From town halls to online spaces, these dialogues will allow young and old to swap ideas and solutions as we build together. There is no excuse not to be involved!

Also, as our piece on Matías shared, stories change minds, and we’ll continue to put the mic in the hands of young people. Through the Unlock Story Lab, we’re unleashing a wave of youth-driven storytelling that shows why investing in young people and young countries is a game-changer for everyone. These narratives will inspire, educate, and build momentum for the 2100 Roadmap, creating a movement that's impossible to ignore.

And it doesn't end there – we’re putting money where the momentum is. Through the Funders Collective, launched in September 2024, we’re turbocharging investment in youth-led innovation to fast-track progress toward the SDGs. By unlocking more funding for youth projects, we’re supporting young people to turn their ideas into real-world solutions. This isn’t just about money; it’s about building a culture of innovation that drives global progress.

Ready to join us as we tackle these big issues together?

There are many ways you can do it, so choose your superpower and let’s get to work!

Learning Leads to Action