UN announces BD Nazbin among 17 youth leaders to support SDGs

The United Nations envoy on youth unveiled the inaugural class of 17 youth leaders who have been recognized for their leadership and contribution to the achievement of the 17 Global Goals, also known as Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), to end poverty, fight inequality and injustice, and tackle climate change by 2030.

‘We are proud to announce this group of young global citizens who are already transforming their communities,’ the UN Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth, Ahmad Alhendawi, told the Social Good Summit in New York, in which UN Young Leaders for the Sustainable Development Goals were announced.

‘At the same time, the selection process was an important reminder of the great potential and talent of so many young people around the world, who are making immense contributions to peace, development and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals,’ he added.

The flagship initiative of the Office of the Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth comes against a backdrop of increasing efforts by the UN to engage young people in the implementation of SDGs.

‘I am pleased to join in welcoming the inaugural class of UN Young Leaders for the Sustainable Development Goals,’ said UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in a statement delivered by Mr. Alhendawi.

‘These 17 young change-makers are a testament to the ingenuity of youth and I congratulate them for their exceptional leadership and demonstrated commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals,’ he added.

Selected from over 18,000 nominations from 186 different countries, these leaders, aged 19-30 years old, come from many different backgrounds and will support efforts to engage young people in the realization of the SDGs and will have opportunities to engage in UN and partner-led projects.

They are: Shougat Nazbin Khan (Bangladesh); Trisha Shetty (India); Anthony Ford-Shubrook (the United Kingdom); Rita Kimani (Kenya); Rainier Mallol (the Dominican Republic); Edda Hamar (Iceland/Australia); Vincent Loka (Indonesia); Samar Samir Mezghanni (Tunisia/Iraq); Lutfi Fadil Lokman (Malaysia); Carolina Medina (Colombia); Jake Horowitz (the United States); Samuel Malinga (Uganda); Safaath Ahmed Zahir (the Republic of Maldives); Ankit Kawatra (India); Nikki Fraser (Canada); Karan Jerath (the United States); and Tere Gonzalez Garcia (Mexico).