Generation17’s 14 inspirational changemakers will help shift the world onto a more sustainable and resilient path forward and achieve the Global Goals by 2030.
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. announced that Generation17, an initiative between Samsung and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The individuals will work alongside the initiative’s current Young Leaders to mobilize global communities, educate people about the importance of the Global Goals, and develop powerful and inclusive solutions that help promote prosperity while protecting the environment by 2030.
“We continue to be inspired by young, innovative visionaries who prove that technology can be a force for good,” said Stephanie Choi, EVP & CMO of the MX Business at Samsung Electronics. “I am honoured to welcome these six advocates into the Generation17 community. They embody the type of leadership that our world needs to build more sustainable societies, and I am excited to see how they inspire more people to learn about the 17 Global Goals and join our collective mission to achieve a brighter future.”
With the six advocates, grassroots organizers, and entrepreneurs, Generation17 expands to all corners of the world, spanning countries in Africa, Asia, CIS & Europe, North America, Latin America, and the Middle East. Their work will raise awareness of global solutions to the urgent issues facing humanity in 2022 and in years to come, as they advance digital innovation, empower refugee women through education and job training, coach the elderly about physical and mental health, and more:
- AY Young (United States): Musician who produces albums and concerts that share engaging ways to tackle the global energy poverty issue.
- Kristian Kampmann (Denmark): Leader of UNLEASH, an innovation lab that sparks creative and inclusive solutions for the Global Goals.
- Nora Altwaijri (Saudi Arabia): Software engineer who educates people on the Global Goals and connects them to impactful resources through digital platforms.
- Oğuz Ergen (Turkey): Activist who rallies NGOs, academia and government together to address the climate crisis and protect the coastal Aegean region.
- Tamara Dewi Gondo Soerijo (Indonesia): Social enterprise founder who empowers refugee women by providing upskilling opportunities and access to market.
- Thuy Anh Ngo (Vietnam): Entrepreneur who launched a mobile app that equips the elderly with physical and mental health advice and activities.
“2022 is a critical year in our pursuit to achieve the Global Goals, as the COVID-19 pandemic has reversed decades of progress in global human development,” said UNDP Administrator Achim Steiner. “Despite this somber reality, I am confident that the strength and perseverance of the young generation will help us build back better from the crisis and propel positive change on education, inclusion and climate. These six young leaders and the entire Generation17 community remind us that we need to step up our efforts to achieve the Global Goals and protect our collective futures.”
An Initiative Driven By and For Young People
Since its launch, Generation17 has been led by and supported by young people. Samsung and UNDP work with Young Leaders on a regular basis to identify their most urgent concerns and to identify support systems that can help them scale and advance their work. Together, the two entities provide the latest Galaxy technology, amplify their stories on global platforms, facilitate peer networking and best-practice sharing, offer mentorship opportunities, and invite them to global agenda-setting stages like the UN ECOSOC Youth Forum.
Samsung and the UNDP are determined to find new ways to connect with Young Leaders in 2022 and beyond. This includes convening the first-ever “Generation17 Youth Dialogues,” an event to rally Global Goals advocates from all over the world for knowledge sharing on how people can best navigate the Global Goals and achieve a more sustainable future.
The 14 Young Leaders will connect people to solutions that actively contribute to the Global Goals, including the Samsung Global Goals app. Samsung and UNDP launched the app in 2019 to provide learning opportunities on the Global Goals and to promote simple and meaningful ways to make a difference. The app is currently installed on nearly 200 million Galaxy devices and has generated more than US$4 million in donations to educate the Galaxy community about the world’s most pressing challenges and strengthen UNDP’s work in supporting countries to implement integrated solutions for the Global Goals.