Flonique Guimary

SEVENTEEN's Joshua Hong urges youth to keep dreaming at UNESCO event

Article (news)

Nikka Avegail Sabio

Push Team

<p>Joshua Hong of K-pop boy group SEVENTEEN reaffirmed the group&#x27;s commitment to empowering young people through creativity, collaboration, and well-being during a speech at UNESCO headquarters in Paris on June 25.</p><div> </div><p>Representing SEVENTEEN as UNESCO&#x27;s first Goodwill Ambassador for Youth, Joshua addressed youth leaders and stakeholders as part of the launch of the Global Youth Grant Scheme, titled &quot;Going Together – For Youth Creativity and Well-Being.&quot;</p><div> </div><p>“Thank you so much for your welcome. I’m Joshua and I’m honored to speak to you today on behalf of the thirteen members of SEVENTEEN. SEVENTEEN is proudly committed to launching the Global Youth Grant Scheme, entitled, ‘Going Together – For Youth Creativity and Well-Being.’ This initiative was designed to provide young people with resources, mentorship and platforms to turn their ideas into meaningful actions,” Joshua said.</p><div> </div><div><iframe width="897" height="504" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wACddqKDKek" title="Joshua, offering warm encouragement to youth 🩵 UNESCO x SEVENTEEN Global Youth Grant Ceremony Sit..." frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div> </div><p>Joshua shared that the group was inspired by the passion and creativity of young people they have met through their partnership with UNESCO.</p><div> </div><p>“Deeply moved by their passion and creativity, we knew we couldn&#x27;t stop there. We expanded our commitment to help scale these efforts and support an even greater impact. Supporting this journey has been deeply valuable to all of us. We are incredibly proud of everything that they have accomplished,” he added.</p><div> </div><p>Reflecting on SEVENTEEN&#x27;s own journey as a group that has spent more than a decade pursuing a shared dream, Joshua said their experiences have shaped their desire to support the next generation.</p><div> </div><p>“Young people already have the answers to change the world. They just need someone to believe in them. At the same time, we know that creating change is never easy. It comes with moments of doubt, immense pressure, sleepless nights. And for SEVENTEEN, that journey feels deeply familiar,” Joshua recalled.</p><div> </div><p>“As 13 individuals sharing one dream for over a decade, we faced our own uncertainties, having to reinvent ourselves, embrace new challenges, and push beyond our limits. Through those experiences, we learned that growth is never achieved alone. It thrives on trust and belief that we are stronger together.”</p><div> </div><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-10" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/CKauFUFM2bn/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=642&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A10%2C%22os%22%3A16079714.600000143%2C%22ls%22%3A220299.90000009537%2C%22le%22%3A220342.20000004768%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="553" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-10" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:658px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="https://www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><div><strong> </strong></div><p>Joshua also encouraged young people to continue pursuing meaningful change despite the different challenges they face: “While your projects address different challenges, together you&#x27;re creating a better world for us all. So, let&#x27;s keep going together.”</p><div> </div><p>He added that the group hopes to continue encouraging young people to pursue their aspirations.</p><div> </div><p>“Through the journey of the Global Youth Grant Scheme, we realize that there are dreams everywhere. Dreams that just need a gentle nudge, a small voice that says we believe in you. We want to be that small voice.”</p><div> </div><div><strong>Closing his speech, Joshua strengthened SEVENTEEN&#x27;s commitment as UNESCO&#x27;s Goodwill Ambassador for Youth.</strong></div><div><strong> </strong></div><p>“As UNESCO’s Goodwill Ambassador for Youth, we will continue to do what we do best. We will sing, we will whisper, and sometimes we will shout out to remind you that your dreams matter. They matter to you. They matter to the world and they matter deeply to us, SEVENTEEN,” he expressed.</p><div> </div><p>“So, as we said at our appointment ceremony, never let anyone, including yourself, belittle your dream. Wherever your journey takes you next, remember SEVENTEEN is right here. Thank you very much.”</p><div> </div><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-11" src="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DaCxq20FB4E/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=642&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A11%2C%22os%22%3A16080285.900000095%2C%22ls%22%3A220299.90000009537%2C%22le%22%3A220342.20000004768%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="970" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-11" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:658px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="https://www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><div> </div><p>SEVENTEEN first collaborated with UNESCO in November 2023, becoming the first K-pop act to hold a special session at the organization’s Youth Forum.</p><div> </div><p>The group was then appointed as UNESCO&#x27;s first-ever Goodwill Ambassador for Youth during a ceremony held at the organization&#x27;s headquarters in Paris and led by UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay in June 2024.</p><div> </div><div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FPushAlerts%2Fposts%2Fpfbid02nHe87N7DTqjuy2dn4rR3VoWe3tRzMFhhLfGwrMiWTznzSNUD48NeqXWhVH3cXQR2l&amp;show_text=true&amp;width=500" width="500" height="736" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div><strong> </strong></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/events/2026/6/17/seventeen-s-joshua-to-deliver-speech-at-unesco-in-paris-for-going-together-program-2145" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>READ: SEVENTEEN&#x27;s Joshua to deliver speech at UNESCO in Paris for &#x27;Going Together&#x27; program</strong></a></div><div><strong> </strong></div><p>&quot;We are grateful to be recognized for our consistent effort and longstanding passion to contribute to youth worldwide. Looking back, this has been a long journey for us, taking one step at a time, until we could stand before you as the Ambassador for Youth. Ever since we made our debut, our music has talked about our own experiences and genuine emotions,&quot; he said.</p>

<p>SEVENTEEN's Joshua represents the group at UNESCO x Seventeen: Celebrating Youth, Creativity and Well-Being Together.</p>

SEVENTEEN's Joshua represents the group at UNESCO x Seventeen: Celebrating Youth, Creativity and Well-Being Together.