Seventeen becomes UNESCO’s first goodwill ambassador for youth

YOUTH AMBASSADORS. K-pop boy group Seventeen and United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization Director-General Audrey Azoulay pose for a photo before the nomination ceremony as Goodwill Ambassador for Youth at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris on Wednesday (June 26, 2024), in this Reuters photo. Seventeen will, in turn, donate USD1 million to a joint project with UNESCO targeted to foster and finance innovations from the youth worldwide. (Photo by UNESCO/Christelle ALIX via UNESCO Headquarters Paris/Flickr, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

SEOUL – Popular K-pop group Seventeen has been appointed as United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO) first-ever Goodwill Ambassador for Youth.

The boy group received a letter of appointment from UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay during a nomination ceremony held at its headquarters in Paris on Wednesday.

“We are humbled and overwhelmed to stand before you for the first time as UNESCO’s Goodwill Ambassador for Youth,” Seventeen member Joshua said in an acceptance speech he delivered on behalf of the 13-piece group.

“It is a great honor to represent today’s young people, which is a priority group for UNESCO,” he said.

Joshua announced that his group will donate USD1 million to a joint project with UNESCO aimed at fostering and financing innovative ideas from young minds across the globe.

“For the next chapter of our ‘Going Together’ campaign, Seventeen will donate USD1 million to the joint ‘Global Youth Grant Scheme’ with UNESCO,” he said.

“We believe that you have the most creative ideas and the strongest determination to make the world a better place,” he said.

He expressed hope the program will serve as a stepping stone for building positive youth communities.

In the speech, Seventeen also encouraged the youth to pursue their dreams.

“Every single dream matters, whether it is big or small, loud or quiet, traditional or innovative,” Joshua said. “Never let anyone, including yourself, belittle your dream.”

“When you pursue your dream, please know that you are not alone,” he said.

“One thing that we all agree on is that the strong companionship we built along the way was key,” he added.

The courage and inspiration gained through close communication with its fandom, affectionately known as Carat, also helped the boy group overcome tough times in its career, Joshua said.

“Thanks to their love, we have built a strong bond and a sense of belonging with youth around the world,” he said. “Each one of our members has gradually grown a sense of duty to hopefully be able to speak on behalf of youth and to encourage them to pursue their dreams.” (Yonhap)