Generation17 Young Leaders Discuss the Power of Openness in Achieving the Global Goals at Climate Week and UNGA

Each year, global leaders and changemakers come together to assess progress and ideate solutions to address the world’s most pressing challenges. The United Nations reported that the world is not on track to meet the Global Goals by 2030 deadline. That’s why, at this critical moment, it’s more important than ever to get young people a seat at the table, participating in pivotal conversations that will decide our collective future and set pathways towards meaningful change.

During Climate Week and the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), four Generation17 Young Leaders demonstrated how young people can be a driving force for positive change. Generation17, an initiative as part of Samsung and UNDP partnership, had a significant presence during UNGA 78th Session.

This year, the SDG Summit unfolded against a backdrop of complex global issues. As young people making meaningful contributions for the Global Goals, Young Leaders Daniel Calarco, Máximo Mazzocco and Tafara Makaza were invited to attend the youth segment of SDG Action Weekend to highlight the impact of their organizations and share a call to action to accelerate progress.
 

Photo credit: Office of Secretary General Envoy on Youth

Máximo, the founder of Eco House and a leading climate activist from Argentina, spoke of the challenges that young people face in delivering change at the Torchbearers for the SDGs: Meaningful Youth Engagement and the 2030 Agenda event. He gave the advice of “act[ing] locally but think[ing] globally. Remember that phrase and be in solidarity with the people at home.”

Photo credit: International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

The following day, Tafara, a co-founder of Fixa based in Zimbabwe, spoke about how his company advances sustainable job opportunities in the informal economy. He spoke of the impactful role that technology plays in his work, stating, “We are creating a LinkedIn for the ‘linked out.’ There is no financial inclusion without economic inclusion.”


Along the sidelines of Climate Week, AY Young, a performer and the creator of Project 17 from the United States, debuted his album about the Global Goals at Music for Impact: Community, Peace, and Progress. During the event, AY led a panel discussion of corporate and nonprofit leaders, artists and diplomats that explored the profound influence of storytelling and music in motivating people to act for the Global Goals.

Cassandra Geiger, Senior Manager of Corporate Sustainability at Samsung Electronics America, joined the conversation and provided insight on how Samsung harnesses the power of innovation and open collaboration for the Goals. She emphasized the role of Samsung and UNDP in equipping young leaders with the tools and technology to advance their organizations. She said, “as part of the initiative, Samsung and UNDP have partnered up to not only elevate their platforms and help them reach new audiences, but also provide them with the technology and connections that young leaders need to help achieve their goals.”

In order to move the world forward and achieve the Global Goals, it’s clear that young people need access to opportunities that help drive solutions and mobilize their generation to take action. Generation17 is an initiative from Samsung and UNDP that leverages mobile technology to magnify the ingenuity and stories of Young Leaders who are already making an incredible impact to progress the Global Goals in their own communities around world. Since its launch, Generation17 has gathered 17 Young Leaders from across six regions who are working on issues that touch all of the Global Goals.

Climate Week and UNGA provide an influential and impactful platform for their voices to be heard in global decision making. Samsung is proud of and inspired by our Young Leaders, and we will continue to harness the power of technology to raise awareness of the Global Goals and empower communities to take small steps that amount to positive change.