Two Caribbean nationals among UN’s 2025 Young Leaders for Sustainable Development Goals

Two Caribbean Community (CARICOM) nationals have been named among the 17 young changemakers selected as the 2025 Young Leaders for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), an initiative of the United Nations Youth Office.

The newly announced cohort marks the first group chosen under the recently established UN Youth Office, continuing the legacy of the Office of the Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth, which launched the program in 2016. Every two years, the UN recognizes 17 exceptional young people who are advancing solutions to global challenges and accelerating progress toward the SDGs.

Representing the Caribbean this year are 16-year-old Anthurium Lewis of Trinidad and Tobago and 33-year-old Adelin Pierre of Haiti.

“To me, the United Nations represents breaking barriers between nations to serve a common purpose. It stands as a symbol of hope and shared humanity; embodying collaboration, compassion, collective responsibility, and bringing the world together to create meaningful change,” Lewis said.

Pierre added, “Young people should care about the SDGs because the world’s biggest challenges, from poverty to climate change, will define their future. Getting involved lets them shape a more just, inclusive, and sustainable world for all.”

According to the UN, the 2025 selection followed an open call that drew more than 33,000 applications from over 150 countries. The chosen young leaders—aged 16 to 33—include artists, founders, community organizers, athletes, physicians, peacebuilders, entrepreneurs, and scientists working across the UN’s pillars of sustainable development, human rights, and peace and security.

Felipe Paullier, the UN Assistant Secretary-General for Youth Affairs, praised the cohort, saying, “The 2025 cohort of Young Leaders for the SDGs is a powerful testament to the courage, creativity, and commitment of young people driving real change in every corner of the world. From confronting the climate crisis and advancing mental health, to reimagining education and championing peace, these young leaders are not just responding to today’s global challenges – they are actively reshaping the future.”

He added that in a time of “deep division and uncertainty,” the young leaders embody “the very spirit of the United Nations: unity, action, and hope for a better tomorrow.”

The UN said a distinguished panel of judges, including figures from the entertainment industry, private sector, civil society, and government, played a key role in the selection process.