To realize our full potential and pave the way for endurance and long-termism, we have this spring evolved the IYTT into a fundraising foundation. We are immensely proud to have The Royal Society of Arts and Sciences in Gothenburg (KVVS), established in 1775, as our founder! On January 28 we held the foundation’s inaugural meeting hosted by the City of Gothenburg grand old ceremonial building Börsen.

True to IYTT ideals and routines, fifteen minutes before the meeting started three brilliant Youth Fellows – Swedish Syrian Jouman Tafnkji, Swedish Lisa Lundgren, and Ukrainian Valeria Andriienko – ran Open Chair Democracy Talks with the invited guests.

The meeting was started off by the City of Gothenburg Mayor Aslan Akbas, whereafter Professor Dag Winkler, the then Chairperson of KVVS, and our foundation’s Chairperson Tord Hermansson, addressed the assembled 40 specially invited guests.

The meeting continued with me presenting the think tank’s ongoing and coming activities. Two highlights of the evening were when our Youth Fellows Jouman, Lisa, and Valeria shared their favorite experiences from various IYTT activities, and when running the four-minute video presenting interviews with thirteen twelve Youth Fellows sharing their IYTT experiences.

Another highlight of the evening came when the floor was opened, and the invited guests shared many interesting questions and appreciative comments as well.

It was a very fine occasion when the IYTT Co-founder and my very good friend Cecilia Malmström rounded off the inaugural meeting. A few months later I am overwhelmed to have received the first three very generous donations to the IYTT foundation from three of the guests at the inaugural meeting at Börsen!