World Forum Language

The 2023 World Forum will be conducted in English. However, all sessions taking place in the Star Bay Ballroom will have simultaneous Spanish translation. The opportunity to add a sticker associated with additional languages will be noted on your nametag to help facilitate connections. You will select your language sticker when you check in at the 2023 Registration Desk. In your conversations and contributions to sessions, keep in mind that English is not the first language for many delegates. Try to speak clearly with a minimum of jargon.

World Forum Attire

Dress code for the World Forum is business casual. If you are participating in one of the pre or post conference optional tours, we recommend bringing a comfortable pair of walking shoes. Additionally, bring a light jacket or sweater as the temperature of the conference space is typically cooler.

World Forum Time

All World Forum sessions and activities start at the exact time noted on the program. This includes breakout sessions and Plenaries that will be live streamed. Don’t miss out! Please plan to arrive a few minutes before the starting time of each activity.

Welcome New Delegates

Everyone who is attending their first World Forum in-person will have a “New Delegate” ribbon attached to their name badge. Everyone who has attended World Forums in the past will have an “Ambassador” ribbon. If you are a new delegate, we encourage you to seek out ambassadors for help navigating this new and exciting experience. Likewise for ambassadors. Please seek out new delegates to welcome them and encourage engagement.

World Forum Opportunities

African Arrival Bags. The World Forum Foundation contracted with Quilts for Empowerment (www.quiltsforempowerment.org) to create delegate arrival bags in colorful African fabrics. “Quilts for Empowerment (QFE) is honored to have been given the commission to make the arrival bags for the World Forum. This has provided our women with the opportunity to earn valuable income to support themselves and their families. All eleven women live in rural, Western Kenya and are impoverished. Most have also suffered the isolating and painful consequences of having an obstetric fistula. Thankfully, all have been successfully repaired. Our Program Director Norah Otondo, also a fistula survivor, closely supervised production. She is seen in the photo teaching the women to quilt using a stool as a table. Our two trained seamstresses, Carol and Metrine did the machine stitching with Ann, Everlyne, Tabitha, Esther, Norah A, Nancy, Ivy, Rose, and Rita assisting. Half the money received has been paid to these women and the other half put into their income-generating support group. The women will collectively decide how to spend the group money. It must benefit everyone, such as buying livestock or land with profit-sharing. Many thanks for this genuinely lifechanging opportunity for the women and their children”.

World Forum Opportunities

International Children’s Art Exhibit. Panama City, Panama will mark the 14th anniversary of the World Forum International Children’s Artwork Exhibit. Please contribute to the success of the exhibit by bringing one or two original pieces of children’s artwork from your country to donate to the exhibit. Artwork can be no larger than 11″ x 14″ (30.5 cm x 35.5 cm), and be suitable for wall mounting. The exhibit is unable to accommodate three-dimensional pieces. Artwork will become a permanent part of the exhibit, cannot be returned, and may be used for additional purposes at the discretion of the World Forum Foundation. You will be asked to complete a Submission Form during on-site check-in that will be displayed along with the artwork that will indicate the child artist’s name, age, country, and organization.

Children’s Book Exchange. One of the best parts of the World Forum is the opportunity it provides for sharing on a global basis. We would like to facilitate this process by asking you to bring with you your favorite children’s book. During on-site registration, you can add your book to those brought by others so delegates can view them throughout the week. On Friday morning at 7:30 am, there will be a random drawing among those who participate to see which book you get to take home with you.

WoFo Global Café. Visit WoFo Global Café in the convention space foyer for conversations and connections. WoFo Global Café is also hosting virtual No-Host Breakfasts on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday morning from 7:00 AM-8:00 AM EST. Bring your breakfast, coffee or tea to our Zoom room to connect with virtual World Forum delegates across the globe. Zoom meeting ID can be found in Sutra or the World Forum mini agenda. Take a peek HERE at the WoFo Global Café activities happening in Panama City!

Lakeshore Hands-On Community Project. Come to the Bellagio room to relax and have hands-on fun with great STEAM and STEM activities, hosted by Lakeshore Learning’s very own, Ron Mohl!

Joyful Children’s Places in the MAKERSPACE. Sponsored by Bright Horizons and studioMLA Architects, the MAKERSPACE features natural materials, loose parts, and exciting provocations specifically selected to facilitate a shared journey of creating together. Stop by the Venetian room to explore, create, and collaborate.

International Dance. Plan to get down and have lots of fun at the always popular International Dance on Wednesday evening in Star Bay Ballroom. Hot music from countries across the globe will be featured. Dress is very casual or traditional (you decide). Come prepared to dance and have fun.

Getting Help. Every day the registration desk will serve as a help desk where you can turn for assistance. World Forum Staff will be there, ready to support you.

Networking. Pack plenty of business cards and program brochures to share with the people you meet. We also ask that you bring along a family or work photo to show other delegates.

Photo Release Policy. By virtue of your attendance, you agree to usage of your likeness in still and video photography without compensation or notification.

Additional Information

Upon arrival, we recommend you find an UBER to travel from the Tocumen International Airport Panama to the Hilton Panama. Taxis will be available, however it’s important to know that Panama taxis rideshare without prior notice. This means, you may not have a direct route to the hotel and may end up sharing the taxi with several passengers that you do not know.

If you have questions or need more information, call +1 (844) 260-5805 (toll-free) or send an email to [email protected].