Actor and UNDP India Youth Champion Sanjana Sanghi Spoke on Behalf of the Next Generation at the Opening Ceremony of the Summit of the Future at the United Nations

MUMBAI: Actor and UNDP Youth Champion Sanjana Sanghi delivered a keynote address at the iconic UN General Assembly Hall as the voice of young people during the opening ceremony of the Summit of the Future Action Days in New York. Sanghi became the youngest Indian actor to receive such an honor.

Kicking off the Summit of the Future held at the United Nations headquarters in New York City, the Action Days are convened by the United Nations Secretary-General to inspire and drive action, advancing meaningful youth participation on issues that affect their future.

Sharing insights about the event, UN Assistant Secretary-General for Youth Affairs, Felipe Paullier stated, “Around the world, young people have made their voices clear, letting world leaders know it is time to move to action and put meaningful youth engagement in practice. The Summit of the Future is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to mainstream more meaningful, effective and diverse youth engagement in all aspects of public life, ensuring we put more diverse voices around decision-making tables at all levels.”

Sanghi delivered a simple yet crucial plea to those in power: “For us to not just be inheritors of the future but the architects of it, all we ask is to be given a seat at the tables of change”, she said, echoing the appeal of the youth across the world on the biggest global stage. She added, “We are the largest youth generation in the history of time, so while we are the present, we are also the future. As I stand here, opening the Summit of the Future Action Days, I also speak on behalf of many young people around the world, voicing our shared hopes and aspirations.”

In addition to starring in hit films like Dil Bechara, Sanghi has been dedicated to advocacy for youth for more than a decade. From supporting social impact entrepreneurship amongst youth through UNDP’s Youth Co:Lab initiative and UNDP India’s digital healthcare initiatives, Sanghia has been at the forefront of driving meaningful change for a better future. As a testament to her results-driven efforts, Sanghi was named UNDP India’s Youth Champion in 2023 and has since also been making strides as a global youth advocate.

Acknowledging her influence on young people, UNDP and the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) invited Sanghi to join fellow youth leaders Yuri Romashko from Ukraine and Daniella Darlington from Ghana in a conversation about the importance of digital access, skills and online safety during SDG Digital, as part of the A Digital Future For All track.

Picture credit: UN Youth Office/Joel Sheakoski