Generation17: Today’s Leaders
for a Better Tomorrow
Meet Samsung x UNDP’s next group of movers and shakers who are building a better future.
In partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Samsung continues to spotlight and magnify the voices, stories and ingenuity of young leaders who are dedicated to making their mark on the world in an extraordinary way.
Since its launch in October 2020, Samsung and UNDP’s Generation17 initiative provides mentorship, technology and networking opportunities to young activists whose initiatives are grounded in the 17 Global Goals—a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity by 2030.
Meet the next group of changemakers who will work with the inaugural cohort of Young Leaders to accelerate progress in achieving the Global Goals.
Daniel Calarco, 23, Brazil
Founder of Observatório Internacional da Juventude / @daniel.calarco
“I cannot do everything, but I can do things that can mobilise, that can reach, that can lead people to work with me.”
Growing up in the favelas in Rio de Janeiro, Daniel Calarco experienced the impact of inequality and marginalisation firsthand. Amid violence and inaccessible education, he says “just staying alive was one of the goals.”
At 11, Daniel won a competitive academic placement that set him on a path to answering his mounting questions about social inequality. At 18, he founded Observatório Internacional da Juventude (International Youth Watch), a tech-enabled community educating thousands of young people about the Global Goals and improving opportunities for marginalised communities. Daniel recently graduated as a human rights lawyer—his next step towards mobilising even more of his peers who see that too many people are being left behind and want to challenge the status quo. “The world is always changing,” he says. “What cannot change is our commitment to improve, our commitment to do better.”
Nadine Khaouli, 25, Lebanon
Co-founder of Kafe be Kafak / @nadinekhawli
“Technology enables me to raise my voice, transmit my message globally, shed light on real needs and build an international community of innovators.”
On August 4, 2020, Nadine Khaouli was driving from her village to Beirut City when a powerful explosion rocked the 5,000-year-old city, killing more than 200 people and displacing 300,000 of them. Nadine's lifelong mission to end poverty and bring “essential dignity” to everyone in Lebanon grew even more urgent.
The next day, she and her Kafe be Kafak (Hand in Hand) team were on the scene, providing crisis triage, supplies and shelter for displaced families. Passionate about the wellbeing of the Lebanese people, Nadine uses social media to connect with others about her humanitarian efforts and petition for more transparency from government agencies. As the UNDP Lebanon Youth Development Delegate, Nadine is taking her human-rights advocacy global, leading virtual workshops and training for young people around the world who are aligned to the Global Goals.
Yejin Choi, 26, South Korea
Founder of DoBrain / @dobrain_learning
“Everyone can use their own ability to help other people just next to them. Making amazing change in one human's life can change the world.”
Two months before starting college, Yejin Choi began tutoring children in a neighbouring community known for its widespread poverty. Almost immediately, she noticed that the children, especially those with disabilities, lacked educational resources. In time, she used her cognitive therapy training to devise a yearlong curriculum aimed to help hundreds of families.
But after just one month, only five percent of parents still used it. Realising they needed an easier solution, Yejin turned to technology. She created DoBrain, a video-based learning program kids can access on a smartphone, tablet or PC. Today, DoBrain is growing internationally and has positively impacted tens of thousands of children around the world.
Yurii Romashko, 28, Ukraine
Co-founder of Institute of Analysis and Advocacy / @iaaukraine
“We believe in digital. We believe in technologists who can think globally, act locally and totally change our world in the near future.”
Yurii Romashko applies his passion for data analytics to address public corruption and advance policy transparency for health care and social issues in Ukraine. In 2013, he co-founded the Institute of Analysis and Advocacy (IAA), now ranked one of the top 100 think tanks in Central and Eastern Europe.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, IAA created a public dashboard that gave people transparency into pricing for medical and consumer goods. Yurii, a law school graduate, sees analytics and technology as fundamental components of his mission: To create an ecosystem for responsible governance aligned to the Global Goals, ultimately empowering people to make more informed, data-based decisions.
Generation17 Young Leaders are Innovating for the Global Goals
Take the first step to join the young leaders in making the world a better place
Learn about the 17 Global Goals and donate to your favourite cause. Whether it’s eliminating hunger, fighting inequality or cleaning up the planet—Galaxy users can download and use the Samsung Global Goals app to put their newfound knowledge into action.
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