YOUNG PEOPLE AS CHANGEMAKERS: How Art and Creativity…

Through the compelling collages of the renowned Turkish artist Uğur Gallenkuş, the event will trace the journey from acknowledgment of systemic inequalities to hopeful action, spotlighting youth as changemakers in food systems, including winners of the UN SDG Action Awards; harnessing the power of art and creativity to shift narratives and inspire bold and transformative action; and fostering an intergenerational multi-stakeholder dialogue and new forms of collaboration rooted in trust and solidarity between national governments, UN entities, changemakers, artists, civil society and grassroots organizations.

Speakers:

• Dr. Ergogie Tesfaye, Minister of Women and Social Affairs, Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
• Ms. Amina J. Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations
• Dr. Felipe Paullier, Assistant Secretary-General for Youth Affairs, United Nations Youth Office
• Ms. Marina Ponti, Global Director of the UN SDG Action Campaign
• Ms. Eldana Samuel, Chairperson of Nefas Silk Lafto sub-city's Child Parliament/Member of the Ethiopian and Addis Ababa city Child Parliaments
• Prof. Bekele Mekonnen, Contemporary Visual Artist, Poet and Educator, Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
• Ms. Nzambi Matee, Founder of Gjenge Makers, a Nairobi-based social enterprise
• Dr. Million Belay, General Coordinator, Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa
• Mr. Njathi Kabui, Chef and Expert in Food Literacy
• Ms. Paola Andrade, Founder of Supvivors Say No More — Ecuador

Music Performers:

• Ms. Chioma "Cill" Ogbonna, Singer-Songwriter and Artivist
• Ms. Yordanos Yohannes, Yared School of Music, Addis Ababa University
• Mr. Rocky Dawuni, Singer-Songwriter, 4x Grammy Nominated Musician and Activist, UNEP Goodwill Ambassador

Co-Moderators:

• Mr. Valerio Cataldi, Africa Correspondent for RAI
• Mr. Shiferaw Lakew, Ethiopian Broadcast Journalist

#UNFSS2025 #FoodSystems #SDGAwards