Seventeen has been named the newest UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador of Youth, and the group recently gave a heart-touching speech at the nomination ceremony. Joshua delivered the central part of the speech, while the other members joined in at the end.
Pledis Entertainment’s boy band Seventeen‘s connection with UNESCO is not new. The K-pop group attended the UNESCO Youth Forum in November 2023 and delivered a speech on the hope of the new generations. They highlighted how nurturing friendships can become a silver lining at the end of a long tunnel of hopelessness.
While Seungkwan gave the 2023 speech, the members decided to keep Joshua as the face of the UNESCO nomination ceremony this year. The 28-year-old invited their fans to join this new journey, saying, “Every single dream matters.”
Joshua’s Speech at UNESCO: Where to watch online?
Seventeen Joshua delivered the speech at the UNESCO 2024 ceremony on June 26, 2024, at 5:30 p.m. KST and 10:30 a.m. CET. Fans can watch the entire speech on UNESCO’s official YouTube channel. The live stream shows Seventeen entering the venue dressed in black suits along with the director general of UNESCO.
The host introduces the group, pointing out how exceptional the brand ambassadorship is as Seventeen becomes the first-ever band to get the nomination as a whole group. After the director-general Audrey Azoulay’s speech, Joshua takes the stage, speaking on behalf of thirteen members.
Seventeen Joshua’s speech: “Never stop dreaming”
Joshua’s UNESCO speech brought Seventeen fans to tears, and many praised him for his oratory skills and calm appearance while addressing everyone. The K-pop artist emphasized the importance of dreams throughout his speech, urging the youth never to let anyone belittle their aims.
He said, “Please know that you are not alone. You’re a part of us—and your dreams are also Seventeen’s.” Joshua also informed that the group is launching a Going Together campaign. The group will donate one million dollars ($1,000,000) to the joint global youth grand scheme with UNESCO.
Joshua talks about their struggling days and how hard it was to make a breakthrough in their K-pop career. The “7 PM” crooner emphasizes how the strong camaraderie between the thirteen individuals proved to be the key as they faced difficult times.
After reiterating the importance of a supportive community, Joshua urged their fans to dream along with them. He concluded the speech by saying: “Today, I’m speaking on behalf of the group, but I want to reassure you that we all share the same vision. I would like to invite all the members of Seventeen to join me in our message to the world. For your dreams, SEVENTEEN will stand by your side. SEVENTEEN will be going together for your dream.”
Seventeen’s overseas schedule has just started, and the group will perform at the Glastonbury Festival next. The group will perform at Pyramid Stage on June 28, 2024, from 2:45 p.m. BST to 3:45 p.m. BST (10:45 p.m. KST—11:45 p.m. KST).
