Samsung Electronics as we speak introduced the addition of 5 new Younger Leaders to Generation17, an initiative in partnership with the United Nations Growth Programme (UNDP) that helps younger changemakers driving progress to attain the Sustainable Growth Objectives (SDGs), often known as the ‘International Objectives.’
Since launching Generation17 in 2020, Samsung and UNDP have supported Younger Leaders from throughout Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America, the Center East and North America, addressing vital points that span all 17 International Objectives. The partnership has offered these Younger Leaders with the newest Samsung Galaxy expertise, together with networking and mentorship alternatives, to amplify their tales and advance their work. The latest cohort, targeted on advancing options in marine conservation, environmental sustainability, gender equality and high quality training, displays Samsung’s continued dedication to a extra equitable future for all.
“As we speed up efforts to attain the International Objectives, we’re proud to welcome the following cohort of Younger Leaders to Generation17,” stated Stephanie Choi, EVP & Head of Advertising, Cell eXperience Enterprise, Samsung Electronics. “Their ardour, creativity and dedication to addressing international challenges embody the spirit of innovation that fuels significant change. We stay up for seeing how these 5 new Younger Leaders will leverage expertise for good to encourage motion, mobilize communities and create lasting influence for a extra sustainable and equitable world.”
5 International Changemakers
The latest Generation17 Younger Leaders have been chosen from a whole bunch of candidates and produce new areas of experience to the initiative, increasing the attain of Generation17. As members of the Generation17 neighborhood, they’ll leverage expertise and international platforms to advocate for the problems that matter most to them.
Brigitta Gunawan (Indonesia) — An ocean-climate advocate who has engaged with over 15,000 individuals in 100+ places with environmental training and marine conservation alternatives via her organizations 30×30 Indonesia and Diverseas.
“At 17, it struck me that we have been nothing however a small speck in an enormous world that is still largely unexplored — that if we continued as bystanders, we might see this fragile ecosystem cripple inside our lifetime — so there I used to be, able to co-create a future the place individuals and planet prosper.”
José Francisco Ochoa (Ecuador) — A biologist and co-founder of Academia del Océano, an edtech platform selling marine conservation, digital instruments and sustainability in Spanish-speaking communities, equipping hundreds with the instruments to guard marine ecosystems.
“The ocean sustains life, but many don’t understand how deeply related we’re to it. We should embrace innovation, training and collective motion to guard our blue planet earlier than it’s too late.”
Renata Koch Alvarenga (Brazil) — Founder and Govt Director of EmpoderaClima, a youth-led group advocating for local weather justice by addressing the disproportionate influence of local weather change on ladies and selling women’ local weather motion.
“Local weather disasters are exacerbating gender inequality, however via the International Objectives, we are able to elevate consciousness of the necessity for ladies’s management in local weather decision-making and guarantee nobody is left behind.”
Rahaf Abu Mayyaleh (Jordan) — A local weather activist, sustainable expertise advocate and founding father of IBTKRGO, which develops eco-friendly academic kits utilizing recyclable supplies, together with e-waste, to empower youth with digital expertise.
“Inexperienced expertise is vital to a sustainable future, and younger innovators have the facility to steer this transformation. By IBTKRGO, I try to bridge the hole between expertise and sustainability, making certain options that serve each individuals and the planet.”
Soumya Dabriwal (India) — Co-founder of Undertaking Baala, a social enterprise addressing menstrual hygiene and reproductive well being entry via progressive options, together with the sustainable distribution of reusable sanitary merchandise and academic initiatives to de-stigmatize ladies’s well being whereas producing employment for ladies.
“Entry to Sexual and Reproductive Well being and Rights (SRHR) is a basic human proper. By collective advocacy and innovation, we are able to break limitations, problem stigmas and construct a world the place everybody has the liberty and sources to make knowledgeable decisions about their very own our bodies and futures.”
Elevating Youth Voices for International Motion
Because the launch of Generation17 in 2020, Samsung and UNDP have partnered to empower Younger Leaders — serving to them amplify their tales and speed up their efforts to drive significant change in communities the world over. Moreover, the initiative gives alternatives for Younger Leaders to showcase their influence on a worldwide scale.
Within the coming months, these Younger Leaders will attend numerous main international occasions, the place they’ll interact with policymakers, innovators and fellow changemakers. By these platforms, they’ll contribute to worldwide conversations on sustainable improvement and drive tangible progress towards the International Objectives, making certain that youth voices play a vital position in shaping a extra sustainable future.
This 12 months, Generation17 alum Tamara Gondo took the stage at Samsung’s Galaxy Tech Discussion board, highlighting the corporate’s dedication to sustainability and the facility of collaboration with like-minded companions to sort out worldwide challenges. She additionally shared how the initiative has helped scale her group’s influence since she joined in 2022.
“Younger individuals are the way forward for international improvement, and with fewer than 5 years left to attain the International Objectives, the time to behave is now,” stated Achim Steiner, Administrator of UNDP. “By our long-standing partnership with Samsung, we’re empowering youth to advance options that deal with local weather and human rights challenges and to encourage a brand new technology to affix the battle for a extra sustainable and simply future.”
Generation17 displays the shared dedication of Samsung and UNDP to harness expertise for optimistic influence. Their collaboration started in 2019 with the launch of the Samsung International Objectives App — a cellular platform that educates customers concerning the Objectives whereas enabling them to contribute via on a regular basis use of their Galaxy units. As detailed in Samsung’s International Objectives Report, as of September 2024, the app has been put in on almost 300 million Samsung Galaxy units worldwide — together with smartphones, tablets and smartwatches — and has helped generate greater than $20 million USD to help UNDP’s international environmental and social initiatives.
About UNDP
UNDP is the main United Nations group combating to finish the injustice of poverty, inequality and local weather change. Working with a broad community of consultants and companions in 170 international locations, UNDP helps nations to construct built-in, lasting options for individuals and planet. Be taught extra at www.undp.org.
About Generation17
Generation17 is an initiative from Samsung and the United Nations Growth Programme (UNDP) that elevates the voices of Younger Leaders who’re altering the world and contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Growth Objectives (SDGs) or ‘International Objectives.’ Samsung and UNDP are offering mentorship, expertise and networking alternatives for the Younger Leaders as they advance their work. Be taught extra at www.undp.org/generation17.