The Sustainable Development Solutions Network Youth (SDSN Youth) is proud to announce and celebrate its 10th anniversary. Launched on June 4, 2015, by Professor Jeffrey Sachs, President of the SDSN, and Sam Loni during the 5th meeting of the SDSN Leadership Council in Paris, SDSN Youth is the SDSN’s flagship initiative for young people. 

Over the years, SDSN Youth has grown to become one of the world’s largest youth networks, and 10 years after its inception, the SDSN Youth continues to advocate for its mission of empowering and mobilizing young people for sustainable development. 

Looking Back on the Last 10 Years

Over the last decade, SDSN Youth has reached thousands of young people worldwide through its initiatives. Each milestone has played a part in contributing to its success and reach. 

Those milestones include:

• The launch of the Local Pathways Fellowship (LPF) in 2016 at the UN Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development to train and support urban changemakers dedicated to achieving SDG 11, Sustainable Cities and Communities. Now in its 8th cohort, the LPF has welcomed 124 exceptional young leaders from 96 cities to join the movement towards building sustainable communities. 
• The inauguration of the Vatican Youth Symposium in 2016, in collaboration with the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences (PASS). The Symposium has since developed into a leading global forum for young leaders in sustainable development and an intergenerational platform for building social movements. The latest edition in April 2025 welcomed 72 young leaders and experts from more than 38 countries and served as a platform to discuss some of the most pressing issues of our time. 
• The Global Youth Networks have always been a core part of SDSN Youth, reaching new countries and regions. In 2024, the youth networks expanded to Southeast Asia, Bulgaria, Ghana, Benin, and Cameroon. As of 2025, 18 youth national and regional networks in more than 45 countries are working to localize sustainability in their communities. 
• Since 2017, hundreds of university students have also been impacted by the SDG Student Program, allowing them to learn more about the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), develop their leadership skills, and implement initiatives to promote sustainability locally. 

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These accomplishments are a testament to the collective effort of team members, partners, and supporters, who have continued to believe in and support SDSN Youth’s mission and vision. In particular, we acknowledge the unique contributions of SDSN Youth volunteers, who have dedicated their time, effort, and expertise to building the program and its initiatives. 

As their testimonials evidence, being part of SDSN Youth has been a transformative journey for many: 

“Being part of SDSN Youth has been one of the most defining experiences of my professional and personal journey. Over the last 7 years, I’ve had the privilege to work on innovation, inclusion, and sustainable development across 22+ countries.

SDSN Youth gave me an international family, a platform to lead, and countless moments of purpose. It’s more than a community; it’s a lifelong commitment to change. Here’s to 10 years of empowering youth-led solutions for the SDGs—and to many more ahead!” - Kanika Joshi, SDSN Youth alumni from India

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“SDSN Youth has played a pivotal role in shaping both my personal growth and professional direction. Being part of a global network of driven, passionate youth gave me a sense of purpose and belonging. It pushed me to think bigger, act boldly, and stay committed to sustainable development—not just as a cause, but as a way of life.” - Wael Amin Salman, SDSN Youth alumni from Lebanon

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Looking Ahead

SDSN Youth is delighted to celebrate its 10th anniversary, a reflection of the program's steadfast success. Looking ahead, the program seeks to continue its mission, connecting, training, and supporting young people in their commitment to sustainable development. 

In particular, our goals for the following years are: 

• Reinforce the effectiveness of current programs by ensuring they remain relevant, inclusive, impactful, and serve our community. 
• Cultivate a network of young people and youth-focused and youth-led organizations by growing our community to engage in our work to provide further opportunities for professional development. 
• Advance our impact by strengthening and forging new alliances and partnerships to help us scale up and unlock new opportunities. 

We remain grounded in our core values and the vision that brought us here. Our North Star is building a sustainable future that extends well beyond 2030. Every goal we set is guided by actions that promote a more just, peaceful, inclusive, and sustainable society.

Thank you to the thousands of team members, alumni, partners, and supporters who have contributed to, collaborated with, and supported SDSN Youth over the last decade. 

Here’s to 10 more years. 

For more information on SDSN Youth, please visit https://www.sdsnyouth.org/. Follow SDSN Youth on LinkedIn, X (Twitter), and Instagram, and subscribe to our newsletter for regular updates on our events and initiatives.

For inquiries, please contact youth@unsdsn.org.

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