The 8th World Zoroastrian Youth Congress opens in London today in a few hours. The 8WZYC will bring over 500 youth from 15 countries together for a 5 day Congress. 8WZYC is hosted by the Zoroastrian Trust Funds of Europe and its Young Zoroastrians youth committee.
The Congress returns to London after 26 years when ZTFE hosted the 2nd World Zoroastrian Youth Congress in 1997.
Over 5 days nearly 50+ speakers and panelists will present and speak about a variety of topics.Throughout the 8WZYC, delegates will explore a range of topics; these will be thematically linked to the values of diversity, inclusivity, accessibility, and sustainability. These reflect both the pressing challenges impacting the world today and the ethos of the organizers of the 8WZYC. The event will provide a forum for the dynamic voices of young Zoroastrians to be amplified and where our youth can engage with one another and unite as the future of our community. The Congress has been supported by title Sponsor Dr. Cyrus Poonawalla and the Serum Institute.
Regional associations like FEZANA and New Zealand encouraged their youth to participate by providing financial incentives worth tens of thousands of dollars. Youth in local cities like Toronto and Auckland did their own fundraising drives to help with costs for the young adults to attend 8WZYC.
Besides the formal events, there are a slew of entertainment and social events planned at the Congress including a fancy Gala at the Guildhall, that will allow non-Congress attendees to meet up with the youth attending the Congress.
The 8WZYC kicks off a once in a generation convergence of Zoroastrian events here in London. The WZCC Global Conclave follows the 8WZYC and its going to be a weeklong long extravangza of all things Zoroastrian here in the capital city of the United Kingdom.
The 8WZYC follows on the footsteps of extremely successful 7th World Zoroastrian Congress in Los Angeles in 2019. And the 9th World Zoroastrian Youth Congress will return to Mumbai, India in 2027.
Till then, follow live updates from the 8WZYC on the FEZANA Instagram feed
The 8WZYC Co-Chairs Sheherazad F. Kapadia, Sanaya Khambatta-Heerjee and others on the team including Zamyad Meherji have pulled out all the stops to make this a true success.
And from the brochure and the other information emerging from London…. Yes It’s Totally Worth Going To London. See you all there.
