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New York, UN Headquarters, 24 October 2025

�鶹��ý announced today, on UN Day, the 5^th cohort of 17 Young Leaders for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This marks the first cohort to be selected and announced by the newly established United Nations Youth Office, building on the legacy of the Office of the Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth, which launched the initiative in 2016.

Every two years, the United Nations Youth Office recognizes 17 exceptional young changemakers who are driving solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges and whose leadership is helping to advance the achievement of the SDGs. Since its inception, the initiative has reached millions of young people around the globe, inspiring action and amplifying youth-led innovation and collaboration.

Following an open call for applications earlier this year, which captured more than 33,000 applications from over 150 countries, the 2025 Young Leaders for the SDGs — who are all between 16 and 33 years of age — hail from all corners of the world. They are artists, founders, community mobilizers, athletes, physicians, peacebuilders, entrepreneurs, and scientists working across all pillars of the United Nations: sustainable development, human rights, and peace and security.

“The 2025 cohort of Young Leaders for the SDGs is a powerful testament to the courage, creativity and commitment of young people driving real change in every corner of the world,” said Felipe Paullier, the UN Assistant Secretary-General for Youth Affairs. “From confronting the climate crisis and advancing mental health, to reimagining education and championing peace, these young leaders are not just responding to today’s global challenges - they are actively reshaping the future. At a time of deep division and uncertainty, they embody the very spirit of the United Nations: unity, action and hope for a better tomorrow.”

The 2025 Cohort of Young Leaders for the SDGs, in alphabetical order by first name:

• Adelin Pierre – Haiti, 33 years old, he/him:
  Peacebuilder & Environmental Activist

• Aishworya Shrestha – Nepal, 28 years old, she/her:
  Social Worker, Researcher & Co-founder of Heart of Nepal and Antardhoni Nepal

• Anthurium Lewis – Trinidad and Tobago, 16 years old, she/her:
  Founder of Fruits For Tomorrow & Child’s Rights Ambassador

• Dikatauna Kwa – Papua New Guinea, 27 years old,she/her:
  Biologist, Social Entrepreneur & Founder of Eda Davara Marine Sanctuary

• Enzo Romero – Peru, 33 years old, he/him:
  Mechatronics Engineer, Bionic Innovator & Founder of LAT Bionics

• Hafsat (Havfy) Abdullahi– Nigeria, 25 years old, she/her:
  Multi-Award-Winning Performance Poet

• Jacques Kwibuka – Rwanda, 26 years old, he/him:
  Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) Advocate; Founder of Informed Future Generations

• Mariam Solika – Egypt, 26 years old, she/her:
  Founder and CEO of THE GOOD NEWS

• Martin Vazquez Jones – Argentina, 30 years old, he/him:
  Political Scientist, Environmental Activist & Co-Founder of Río Sustentable

• Nila Ibrahimi – Afghan refugee based in Canada, 18 years old, she/her:
  Advocate for Girls' Education; Co-founder and President of Her Story

• Panha Theng – Cambodia, 30 years old, she/her:
  Storyteller, LGBTIQ+ Activist & Co-Founder of Sampi TV

• Sahba El-Shawa – Jordan/Palestine, 32 years old, she/her:
  Space and Sustainability Researcher; Founder of the Palestine Space Institute & the Jordan Space Research Initiative

• Sahira Al-Nahari – Saudi Arabia, 28 years old, she/her:
  Physician, Health Law Strategist & Founder of Shifā Art

• Stephane Kulimushi Mutanda – DRC refugee based in Uganda, 19 years old, he/him:
  Basketball Player, Coach & Founder of the Refugee Basketball Academy

• Suzuka Nakamura – Japan, 25 years old, she/her:
  Third-Generation Hibakusha & Director of NPO Borderless Foundation

• Tanatswa Amanda Chikaura – Zimbabwe, 26 years old, she/her:
  Mental Health Advocate & Founder of Ndinewe Foundation

• Teodora Mileska – North Macedonia, 25 years old, she/her:
  Feminist Educator & Co-Founder of PERIOD Skopje

More information on the Young Leaders for the SDGs, including their full profiles and commitments to advancing the SDGs, is available at: /youthaffairs/en/meet-2025-cohort-young-leaders-sdgs

A Distinguished Judges Panel, composed of influential leaders from across the entertainment industry, private sector, civil society, government and beyond, provided invaluable inputs and feedback as part of the selection process.

The Distinguished Judges Panel includes: Aminata Touré (Prime Minister of Senegal, 2013-2014, and Member of the Club de Madrid), Carlos Alvarado Quesada (President of Costa Rica, 2018 – 2022, and Member of Club de Madrid), DJ Cuppy (international DJ and philanthropist), Gemma Styles (author and mental health advocate), Her Heighness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser of Qatar (Chairperson of Education Above All Foundation and SDG Advocate), Hindou Ibrahim (President of the Indigenous Women and Peoples association of Chad and SDG Advocate), Rodrigo Pacheco (chef, agrifood sustainability visionary and innovator), Sanjana Sanghi (actor and UNDP India Youth Champion), Sara Takanashi (ski jumper), and Will Poulter (actor).

About the UN Youth Office

As the first dedicated entity for youth affairs within the United Nations Secretariat, the UN Youth Office champions the rights, perspectives, contributions and potential of young people everywhere. We lead efforts to enhance advocacy, collaboration, coordination and accountability on youth affairs, ensuring that the United Nations and its partners work effectively and inclusively with young people in all their diversity. By fostering meaningful, inclusive, and impactful participation of youth in decision-making processes, our work focuses on empowering young people as agents of transformative change in addressing global challenges in the areas of sustainable development, peace and security, human rights and humanitarian action.

For more information, follow @unyouthaffairs on social media and visit our website at /youthaffairs/en

About the Assistant Secretary General for Youth Affairs

Dr. Felipe Paullier of Uruguay assumed his mandate as the first-ever Assistant Secretary-General for Youth Affairs in December 2023 at the age of 32. He is the youngest senior appointment in the history of the United Nations, and the youngest serving member of the Secretary-General’s senior management group.

For more information, visit /youthaffairs/en/about/ASGYouthAffairs

Media Contact

Cristina Serban

Communications Lead, UN Youth Office

cristina.serban@un.org

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NOTE TO EDITORS

Quotes from the Distinguished Judges Panel

Aminata Touré (Senegal) – Prime Minister of Senegal (2013-2014) and Member of the Club de Madrid: “Young Leaders often understand the urgency of the issues we face, they are ready to act decisively and globally. They represent the largest generation in history, with over half of the world being under the age of 30, ignoring young voices is not only unfair, it is unwise.”

DJ Cuppy (Nigeria) – International DJ and Philanthropist: “There are so many ways young people have taken action creatively, personally as a DJ I use my music to change the world and to connect with people, but creativity takes every form.”

Her Heighness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser of Qatar – Chairperson of Education Above All Foundation and SDG Advocate: “Young people have the talent and agility to find pathways through this era of rapid change. Our world faces intractable challenges, which our young people will inherit. We need them to contribute to finding solutions, and that is why listening to young people and recognizing their role in decision‑making is not a choice; it is an imperative. Let those with the highest stake in the future help shape it for all of us.”

Rodrigo Pacheco (Ecuador) – Chef, Agrifood Sustainability Visionary and Innovator: “The leadership of young people for sustainable development is crucial simply because soon they will be the future leaders of the world and also because they will be the future guardians of the planet. It is our role as adults to empower them, to create and allow the opportunities for them to achieve these important goals for the wellness of society and the planet.”

Sanjana Sanghi (India) – Actor and UNDP India Youth Champion: “A sustainable future cannot be built in closed rooms, with the same voices that we have always heard. It needs fresh energy, fresh ideas, and most importantly the involvement of those who will be inheriting the consequences of the decisions that will be made today and that is why youth leadership is important.”

Sara Takanashi (Japan) – Ski Jumper: “To build a sustainable society, it is essential for us young people, who will live in the future, to raise our voices and take action. As young people, we have the flexibility to generate fresh ideas, the drive to act, and the responsibility to pass on a better world to the next generation.”

Will Poulter (UK) – Actor: “One thing that is clear on the agenda within the UN is to empower young people to perform their own initiatives and take forward their own plans to meet issues such as mental health. And young people are best placed to make that decision and meet the challenge themselves because they are in closest proximity to the emerging challenges that young people are dealing with.”

Quotes from the 2025 Cohort of Young Leaders for the SDGs

Adelin Pierre– “Young people should care about the SDGs because the world’s biggest challenges, from poverty to climate change, will define their future. Getting involved lets them shape a more just, inclusive and sustainable world for all.”

Aishworya Shrestha – “The world we’re inheriting is collapsing under the weight of decisions we never agreed to, with greed, inequality, systems built to protect profit while people starve. Survival feels like a privilege and care a political act. Youth need to be in the room because it’s now or never; if we don’t redesign how the world works, there won’t be a world left to fix.”

Anthurium Lewis – “To me, the United Nations represents breaking barriers between nations to serve a common purpose. It stands as a symbol of hope and shared humanity; embodying collaboration, compassion, collective responsibility and bringing the world together to create meaningful change.”

Dikatauna Kwa – “My advice for anyone who wants to take action is to find people who share your passion and drive — and just do it. Whether your idea is big or small, with the right people and the right purpose, your work can create ripples that positively impact those around you.”

Enzo Romero – “As young people we have the opportunity and responsibility to propel the universal access to high quality assistive technologies, understood as a right and not a privilege for all people.”

Hafsat Abdullahi – “One of my tips for people who want to start taking action is to start now, start today. The execution part of change is not always a fancy ride. And if we wait to everything is in place before we take action, we might never take the first step. So start scared, start inexperienced and learn on the job.”

Jacques Kwibuka – “To me, the United Nations represents global solidarity, peace and youth empowerment, a force that unites us in building a healthier and more inclusive world.”

Mariam Solika – “For too long, young people waited for permission to be at the table. Today, we’ve built our own tables, and now, more than ever, generations must sit together to create real impact, not just a picture of it.”

Martin Vazquez Jones – “Young people must sit at the table as equal partners, bringing the diverse voices of our communities so that we can design policies that truly reflect our realities.”

Nila Ibrahimi – “Youth, especially those who have experienced inequalities or hardships firsthand, should be given the opportunity to participate in decision-making. No one can solve a problem they don’t fully understand, which is why the UN must listen to those who not only live it, but also envision how it could be better.”

Panha Theng – “In my work, I have learned that leadership often starts with listening. Youth leadership matters because we are willing to question, to imagine, and to care differently. We carry stories that connect hope with action, and that is how real progress begins.”

Sahba El-Shawa – “The UN, to me, is a global mirror. It reflects both the injustice we live with and the possibility of change.”

Sahira Al-Nahari – “Youth bring fresh perspectives to integrate innovation and technology while preserving the humanity that keeps us alive. We’ve grown up between books and audiobooks, face-to-face connection and FaceTime calls, challenges and opportunities. That balance gives us the ability to face today’s problems with both urgency and imagination in ways that earlier generations might have taken much longer to reflect upon.”

Stephane Kulimushi Mutanda – “Young people should care about the SDGs or get involved in sustainable development because it is the youth that own the future, these SDGs and their outcomes will be inherited by most of the youth and so their involvement shapes a future they will live in.”

Suzuka Nakamura – “Discussions about security have long been limited to a small group of people, while many others have been affected by their decisions. Beyond the limits of existing democratic systems, I believe individuals — especially young people — should also be at the center of these conversations.”

Tanatswa Amanda Chikaura – “Young people are everywhere and sometimes it takes a fellow youth to understand another’s needs. We have the ideas, solutions, creativity and so much more to add to the development of our nations. Youth leadership gives hope and inspiration to all. We are not only the future of tomorrow but the leaders of today.”

Teodora Mileska – “For me, youth leadership is key because it allows us to influence decisions based on our unique experiences and the challenges we face, often different from the realities of the adults around us. When we lead as youth, we ensure that our voices, lived experiences, perceptions and ideas influence the decisions that shape our present and future.”