UNESCO and global K-pop icons SEVENTEEN have officially celebrated the success of their joint youth empowerment initiative, "Going Together – For Youth Creativity and Well-Being," while launching an ambitious new Scale-Up Phase. Attended by SEVENTEEN's JOSHUA at the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, the high-level event showcased ten outstanding youth-led projects chosen to receive expanded funding and strategic mentorship.
The milestone gathering also marked the second anniversary of SEVENTEEN’s appointment as UNESCO’s first-ever Goodwill Ambassador for Youth in June 2024. Since its inception, the partnership has championed the Global Youth Grant Scheme, providing critical resources to 100 youth-led projects across 64 countries. The widespread program has successfully reached over 21,000 direct beneficiaries and engaged more than 1.2 million people online, delivering over 700 community-based activities centered on artistic expression, social inclusion, and mental health.
The newly announced scale-up phase, which will run through December 2026, narrows its focus onto ten exceptionally impactful grassroots projects chosen from the original cohort. These refined initiatives cover global priorities ranging from youth literacy and digital empowerment to cultural heritage preservation and environmental connection. During the celebratory event, the young project leaders delivered moving personal testimonies regarding their localized missions and engaged in interactive panel discussions with JOSHUA on the transformative power of the arts.
UNESCO Director-General Khaled El Enany praised the ongoing collaboration, stating that young people are actively shaping the world through innovation, and that the "Going Together" initiative offers tangible global solutions to combat inequality, build peace, and foster sustainable development.
Reflecting on SEVENTEEN's decade-long journey as a music group built on trust and teamwork, JOSHUA expressed immense pride in the young leaders. He affirmed that youth already possess the innate power to drive meaningful societal change, reiterating that SEVENTEEN will continue to act as a global voice that believes in their dreams and supports their community impact.
