Seventeen officially appointed as Unesco goodwill ambassador, to donate $1 million

Boy band Seventeen promised to donate $1 million to help people around the world pursue their dreams as the first K-pop ambassador for the youth in its speech given on Wednesday at Unesco headquarters in Paris.

Joshua delivers a speech at Unesco headquarters in Paris on June 26, on behalf of boy band Seventeen [PLEDIS ENTERTAINMENT]

Boy band Seventeen promised to donate $1 million to help people around the world pursue their dreams as the first K-pop ambassador for the youth in its speech given on Wednesday at Unesco headquarters in Paris.

Seventeen delivered a speech after being appointed Unesco's first goodwill ambassador for youth at 5:45 p.m. on Wednesday.

The speech was live streamed on Unesco’s official YouTube channel. Seventeen stepped out on stage with Unesco Director-General Audrey Azoulay.

Azoulay introduced Seventeen, jokingly addressing the large roars from the crowd as she started her speech. “It’s not for me, I know,” she said.

“I am delighted to be able to soon award you a diploma and welcome you as a member of our family,” said Azoulay, addressing the boy band sitting next to her on the stage. “I am very proud and happy to be able to count on your voice to engage with young people across the globe.”

Azoulay awarded the appointment diploma to Seventeen after her introductory speech. Member Joshua took to the podium to deliver a speech afterward, sharing Seventeen’s vision and mission as goodwill ambassador for youth.

Seventeen poses for the cameras after receiving a diploma from Unesco Director-General Audrey Azoulay [PLEDIS ENTERTAINMENT]

“Today, we are humbled and overwhelmed to stand before you for the first time as Unesco’s goodwill ambassador for youth,” said Joshua. “It is a great honor to be representing today’s young people, which is the priority group for Unesco.”

Joshua went on to share a message to the youth worldwide about pursuing their dreams.

“Every single dream matters, whether it is big or small, loud or quiet, traditional or innovative, personal or public,” said Joshua. “Never let anyone, including yourself, belittle your dream.” He also stated that no one is alone when pursuing dreams, encouraging the youth to “find companionship with your fellow youth, and also give your support to them.”

Seventeen poses for the cameras after receiving a diploma from Unesco Director-General Audrey Azoulay [PLEDIS ENTERTAINMENT]

Joshua proceeded to mention how Seventeen will donate $1 million to Unesco as a donation to help the youth.

“For the next chapter of our ‘Going Together’ campaign, Seventeen will donate 1 million dollars to the joint ‘Global Youth Grant Scheme’ with Unesco,” said Joshua.

Seventeen and Unesco have been working on the #GoingTogether campaign to promote the importance of education since August 2022. Pledis Entertainment and the Unesco Korean National Committee built two regional learning centers in East Timor and supported education in Malawi through the campaign.

The speech concluded with Joshua asking his fellow group members to join him in spreading the message of pursuing one's dreams to the world. Group members Hoshi, The 8, DK, Vernon, Jeonghan and S.Coups shared inspirational quotes in different languages, including Korean, English, Chinese and Japanese.

Seventeen is the first K-pop act to become official Unesco goodwill ambassadors. This is also the first time Unesco has appointed a goodwill ambassador specifically to represent the youth, one of its priority groups.

To find out more about Seventeen, visit Celeb Confirmed!

BY KIM MIN-YOUNG [kim.minyoung5@joongang.co.kr]