A Short History of OurWorldHeritage

OurWorldHeritage (OWH) was born from the belief that communities deserve greater recognition and a stronger voice within the World Heritage Convention. The idea for the initiative emerged during the pandemic, ahead of the Convention’s 50th anniversary, when Francesco Bandarin, Prof. Mike Turner, and Ivan Blokov proposed what would become #2021debate. That initial spark quickly evolved into a global movement — strengthened and sustained by countless individuals and organizations, many of whom continue to support OWH today. Together, they launched a year-long series of webinars on critical heritage themes, with tireless support from the Global Outreach Team, who promoted the initiative in 11 languages across the world. In total, #2021debate featured 134 webinars and 600 speakers from around the globe.

The success of #2021debate reaffirmed our shared mission: amplifying the voices of communities, whose role in sustaining heritage places and spaces is indispensable. To continue this voluntary work, the OurWorldHeritage Foundation was established, carrying the momentum forward through impactful initiatives such as the Conversation with Communities series and the Voices Globinar in Florence — each further highlighting the importance of community perspectives in heritage discourse.

These achievements were driven by the unique circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic, which enabled unprecedented digital collaboration and global engagement. As we emerge from this period, OWH is entering a new chapter — one that remains firmly rooted in our mission but is evolving to better meet the current challenges. We are reimagining how to most effectively amplify local voices and ensure they remain central to global heritage discourse.

New future for OurWorldHeritage

Building on its past efforts and core mission: to amplify the voices of local communities in World Heritage governance, we are currently focusing on:

• Monthly gatherings to connect people across regions and roles

• A community-generated newsletter in the making

• More online visibility for communities and partners

• Continued advocacy for the vital role of local actors in global heritage discourse

OurWorldHeritage is a continuous work in progress, shaped by the time and energy of our volunteers. If you feel a strong drive to contribute — you're very welcome. But voluntary engagement is never a requirement for being part of this network. Everyone who shares our vision belongs here.