Youth Panel
In 2005 Novo Nordisk established a Youth Panel to engage in the fight to defeat diabetes. In order to support a future where empowerment, control, independence and optimism form the mindset of people with diabetes, Novo Nordisk focuses on engaging multiple stakeholders – and among them young people – to change diabetes.
As the stakeholders of the future, young people are integral to changing diabetes. Only by increasing awareness about diabetes and its consequences among young people in particular will we be able to prevent the global health disaster that is looming.
The Youth Panel consists of 17 young people aged between 18 and 32. The panellists come from 14 different countries. They have come together as Novo Nordisk’s partners to raise awareness about diabetes and contribute to the goal of achieving a UN Resolution on diabetes. They also serve as a resource for Novo Nordisk in its effort to build communication tools and evaluate channels to reach young people with diabetes messages.
Getting on board with the UN Resolution
The members of the Youth Panel met in June 2006 to get to know one another better, to be informed about the UN Resolution, and to discuss ways in which they can serve as diabetes advocates. Three of the panellists are part of a film team that is making a video documentary of the Panel’s work.
The campaign for a UN Resolution on diabetes has become a focal point for the Youth Panel’s work because the campaign depends on reaching a billion people at grassroots level with information about diabetes. One idea for spreading the word is to establish a website that will be used to exchange experiences. They will also focus on expanding their networks to other young people who have an interest in diabetes in part by creating local youth panels in the various countries. All the panellists have developed individual action plans outlining their actions as diabetes ambassadors.
Meeting in Cape Town, South Africa
In December 2006 five members of the Youth Panel and 20 other young diabetes ambassadors attended the International Diabetes Federation's (IDF’s) World Diabetes Congress in Cape Town, South Africa, to take part in a Youth Leadership meeting hosted by IDF and sponsored by Novo Nordisk. This was followed by a Youth Challenge for Change Forum. At the forum, the youth ambassadors discussed what they can do to fight the global diabetes epidemic and improve conditions for those who have the disease. Martin Silink, president-elect of IDF, and Lars Rebien Sørensen, president and CEO of Novo Nordisk, participated in the discussions.
The plans that came out of the Youth Leaders Challenge for Change were made public at a media round-table in Cape Town. Novo Nordisk will use the outcome of the Challenge as the foundation for future activities involving today’s diabetes leaders.
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