anne frank
youth network
The Anne Frank Youth Network is a dynamic national initiative that brings together young people who are passionate about creating a more just and inclusive world.
Anne Frank Youth Network in Action
What’s new & what’s next
Anne Frank Youth Network Gathers to Remember & Take Action
CHICAGO—From July 13-17, 20 young people representing nine different states gathered in Chicago for the Anne Frank Youth Conference, a week dedicated to exploring how remembrance can inspire meaningful action. Through visits to Anne Frank: The Exhibition at the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry and a special tour and educational activity with staff from the Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center, participants engaged deeply with the history of the Holocaust and the importance of preserving its memory. These experiences encouraged young people to reflect on the lessons of the past and consider their responsibility to challenge discrimination, prejudice, and injustice in their own communities today.
The conference concluded with a leadership training designed to prepare participants to facilitate Anne Frank Youth Network trainings for their peers across the country. These youth-led programs create opportunities for young people to come together and discuss discrimination, remembrance, and strategies for combating antisemitism. A powerful highlight of the week was an intimate dinner with five Holocaust survivors from the Chicago area, where participants had the rare opportunity to hear firsthand testimonies and engage in meaningful conversation. Their stories reinforced the urgency of carrying memory forward and empowered attendees to become active leaders in promoting understanding, inclusion, and positive social change.
Isaiah Davidson, Los Angeles
My weekend with the Anne Frank Youth Network was transformative. It showed me that there is a group space for young people, by young people. AFYN’s training broke down limiting, formal barriers, and allowed us to engage in deep and meaningful conversation. AFYN is truly unique, and I feel so lucky to be a part of it!
make your voice heard - join the afyn
Denver, CO • Columbia, SC • Vero Beach, FL • Los Angeles, CA • Omaha, NE • Charlotte, NC • Nashville, TN • Pittsburgh, PA • College Station, TX • Columbus, OH • Kalamazoo, MI
Denver, CO • Columbia, SC • Vero Beach, FL • Los Angeles, CA • Omaha, NE • Charlotte, NC • Nashville, TN • Pittsburgh, PA • College Station, TX • Columbus, OH • Kalamazoo, MI
what is the afyn?
The Anne Frank Youth Network is a dynamic national initiative that brings together high school students who are passionate about creating a more just and inclusive world.
Rooted in the legacy of Anne Frank, AFYN empowers youth to become changemakers through hands-on learning, civic engagement, and Holocaust education.
Participants take part in immersive trainings, collaborate on community-based Action Projects, and gain access to exclusive domestic and international travel opportunities.
AFYN is more than a program — it’s a movement of young leaders inspired by history and driven to make a difference.
who is eligible for afyn?
AFYN is open to those ages 14-26 across the United States who are:
Interested in social justice, human rights, and civic responsibility
Eager to learn from history and apply those lessons to today’s challenges
Ready to take action and lead positive change in their communities
how to connect?
There are several ways to get involved:
Attend an AFYN training in your area or virtually
Start an Action Project with support from AFYN mentors
Follow us on Instagram for updates, inspiration, and opportunities: @us.annefrankyouthnetwork
Visit our dedicated AFYN website to learn more and sign up: afyn.org
international YOUTH Forum - 2025
For the first time ever, the International Anne Frank Youth Forum (IAFYF): Remember the Past, Shape the Future was hosted in the United States — a powerful week of dialogue, reflection, and action co-hosted by the Anne Frank Center at the University of South Carolina and the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam.
We welcomed 42 inspiring young leaders from South America, Europe, and across the U.S. to explore the enduring relevance of Anne Frank’s legacy and confront the challenges of our time. Through workshops, discussions, and cultural exchange, participants deepened their understanding of democracy, human rights, and the rule of law — and how these values must be protected and advanced.
These young changemakers didn’t just remember the past — they began shaping the future.
We’re proud to have created a space where global youth voices could come together to build bridges, challenge injustice, and carry forward Anne’s message of hope and resilience.
IAFYF visits South Carolina Statehouse in summer 2025.