The Students Behind Youth Forum Switzerland

Inspired by the Open Forum at Davos, the event has become a fixture in the Swiss educational calendar. Its ninth edition, themed “The Power of Small Changes,” brought together 40 speakers—from business ethicists to professional athletes—to share ideas with the next generation.

But the most interesting part of YFS isn’t what happens on stage. It’s what it takes to make it happen at all.

When the plan changes

For student leaders Stella and Sibylle, organising YFS 2026 came with an unexpected challenge early on.

Fabio Peron, a long-standing teacher leader and the public face of the event, stepped down. The student team knew before the wider school community and had to carry that uncertainty quietly. “We had to panic in silence,” Sibylle later reflected.

What followed was a shift in responsibility. With guidance from teachers Victoria Rojas and Hanneke Gie, the students took on full ownership of the event’s operations – from budgeting to logistics to coordinating more than 170 student volunteers.

What had once been supported became something they had to lead.

Leading through difficult moments

Just weeks before the event, the ISZL community was affected by the Crans Montana fire tragedy, involving both current and former students. This forced the YFS team to navigate a period of intense collective grief before their deadline.

Rehearsals were paused, and the leadership role shifted from logistics to emotional support. Stella and Sibylle found themselves acting as “pillars” for the younger 10th-grade students who were most affected, all while managing their own stress about the upcoming opening speeches and the responsibility of delivering a major event.

This demonstrated a level of maturity that goes way beyond what they believed they could accomplish at such a difficult time.

A partnership built over time

Part of what made that possible was the relationship between the two student leads.

Stella and Sibylle have known each other since they were four years old in Early Years 2 at ISZL. Over time, that familiarity has turned into a kind of instinctive collaboration—one built on trust rather than process. “I feel like you’re a pillar for me,” Sibylle said in their final reflections.

That connection became especially important during the most demanding phases of the event, from venue setup to managing live operations.

Despite the setbacks, YFS 2026 went ahead as planned. More than 170 students contributed across teams, working alongside staff and technical crews to deliver the event. When the day arrived, there was a clear sense of momentum and of achievement. Not just because the event ran successfully, but because of what it had taken to get there.

Why it matters

For parents, the value of an ISZL education is visible in these moments of high-stakes responsibility. YFS offers something that goes beyond a typical school experience.

Students are responsible for delivering “big ideas”, something both complex and public. Whether it’s a student speaking openly about mental health in sport or managing the technical demands of a live event, these moments reflect both confidence and experience.

By the time they graduate, many of these students have already navigated uncertainty, managed crises, led through tragedy, and delivered a world-class Forum event. They leave with a clear understanding of what it takes to actually bring a big idea to life in the real world

What stays with them

As YFS 2026 came to a close, Sibylle offered simple advice to the next group of organisers: “Don’t shy away from your big ideas… take care of YFS.”

Because ultimately, the value of the experience isn’t in following a plan, it’s in learning what to do when the plan no longer works.

Listen to the ISZL Podcast episode: The Making of Youth Forum Switzerland

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The International School of Zug and Luzern is a leading non-profit IB World School serving a diverse community of over 60 nationalities in Central Switzerland.