Late in January more than two thousand of the world’s leaders from all fields chief make the ascent to Davos high in the Swiss Alps for the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF). With them go the heads of NGOs, socially aware pop and movie stars and, this year for the first time, six young people selected by their peers to distil ‘the Wisdom of Youth’.

Their journey to Davos began on 17 January in Greenwich in south-east London. Rising to the challenge of the WEF’s Director, Klaus Schwab, that those gathering at Davos this year should focus on education and its role in building understanding between cultures, the British Council brought together 60 19- to 25-year olds from 49 countries to debate the issues and, more importantly, propose solutions.

During their four days together, the participants worked in geographically diverse teams of six. The plan was that, at the end of the meeting, the participants would choose one of the teams to take up Klaus Schwab’s invitation to the British Council to bring to Davos concrete proposals that would challenge the thinking of the world’s leaders.

After developing an analysis of the issues, the teams worked on proposals for action. Their thinking was stimulated by a programme of visits that included the community education and anti-racism programme of Charlton Athletic Football Club and, for one group, a broadcast on community-based Radio Peckham. They were supported with training in public speaking, media relations, and the use of social technologies such as blogging and internet radio. A highlight was a reception at 11 Downing Street, the residence of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Gordon Brown

On the final morning, the teams presented their ideas as part of a great balloon debate. Over a number of rounds, the group as a whole voted for the team that they felt could best represent them at Davos.

The winning team, the “Greenwich 7”, draws members from Australia, Egypt, Israel, Korea, Mauritius and Switzerland. The virtual seventh member, according to the group, were the other participants at Greenwich who couldn’t be physically present at Davos.

The Greenwich 7, the youngest ever delegates, presented their challenge, the Global Fund for Education, on 26 January 2007 in the “‘Wisdom of Youth” session alongside HM Queen Rania of Jordan and Gordon Brown, the Chancellor, to a packed conference hall. ‘Young people are more closely involved with education than anyone else – so we need to tell the world what has to be done. Challenging today’s leaders, and using international forums like the WEF […] is just the beginning of a shift in the power equation,’ said Armin from Switzerland.

Simon, the Australian member, agreed. ‘The World Economic Forum is the sort of place where the rich and famous mingle with the rich and powerful, and where big announcements are often made. Letting six young people in is a radical and welcome move. Not only did we add our voices to the conversations at Davos, we have also been able to reflect our experiences from Davos out to the rest of the world.’

You can see the Wisdom of Youth session here, the BBC report here and the Greenwich 7’s actual challenge to world leaders at http://www.globalfundforeducation.org/