First Cohort of Youth Selected as Global Youth Ambassadors  

Empowering youth to champion for sustainable development and greater climate action

7 June 2023 - Vienna, Austria - There are currently over 1.8 billion people between the ages of 15 and 29 years old globally; a constituency full of creativity, energy and ideas that must be tapped into if we are to achieve a clean energy transition and find solutions to the foremost challenge of this generation, climate change.   

“Today’s young climate leaders are taking action through direct involvement in all levels of global climate events, debate and action,” said Shiv Soin, Youth Lead at TED Countdown. “We're thrilled to partner with SEforALL to help expand youth professional and leadership opportunities and in doing so elevate the next generation of sustainable development leaders.”    

In their conviction and commitment to the youth, Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) in partnership with TED Countdown developed the Sustainable Development Goal Seven (SDG7) Global Youth Ambassador Programme, a global initiative aimed at empowering and amplifying the voices of young, technically-capable energy leaders from underrepresented regions around the world who are passionate about empowering their fellow youth toward the achievement of SDG7 - ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all - in line with the Paris Agreement on climate.  

“This 12-month programme is unique as it aims to address the need for an increased number and a greater geographic spread of youth pushing for SDG7 action,” said Akil Callender, Youth Specialist at SEforALL. “The programme aims to demystify the critical role that energy plays in mitigating climate change, reducing poverty, and enabling sustainable development, which has not been comprehensively tackled in youth climate actions and engagements.”  

Five exceptional individuals have been selected from Latin America, Africa, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Region, Southeast Asia and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) to represent their respective regions and push for greater action towards SDG7.  

The inspiring young leaders who form the first global cohort of Youth Ambassadors are: 

Mustafa Hashem - Middle East and North Africa  

Mustafa Hashem is a multi-faceted professional from Jordan with experience in energy research, engineering, and international development. He currently serves as a Technical Advisor for the Good Governance Portfolio at GIZ Jordan. Mustafa's expertise and commitment to sustainable energy systems make him a valuable advocate for the MENA region. 

Cherop Soy – Africa 

Cherop Soy is an energy enthusiast from Kenya who is currently working as an investment analyst at a climate and impact fund, driving the transition in emerging markets. She actively raises awareness of climate ambition through her blog, Eco Warrior Kenya, and is dedicated to championing sustainable energy solutions in sub-Saharan Africa. 

Vaughn-Xavier Jameer – Small Island Developing States 

Vaughn-Xavier Jameer is a passionate advocate for a sustainable future from Trinidad and Tobago and currently serves as the Senior Chapters Associate at Student Energy, the world's largest youth-led organization dedicated to the energy transition. Vaughn's expertise in mobilizing youth and his commitment to biodiversity conservation make him a strong representative for Small Island Developing States. 

Axell Sutton – Latin America 

Axell Sutton, an energy engineer from Mexico, has dedicated over a decade to promoting sustainable energy transition in Latin America. As an associate founder of multiple initiatives and author of "A guide for young persons to sustainable energy," Axell is committed to empowering young energy leaders and spreading youth energy voices. 

Jitsai Santaputra – Southeast Asia 

Jitsai Santaputra hails from Thailand and brings extensive experience in the energy sector and a passion for sustainable development and circular economy. As a lead analyst for Southeast Asian energy markets, an active member of Global Shapers Bangkok Hub and the co-founder of Youth for Energy Southeast Asia (Y4E-SEA), Jitsai is actively engaged in efforts to drive positive change in the region. 

Through their involvement, these Youth Ambassadors will engage with government officials, private sector leaders, civil society organizations, and youth networks, fostering collaboration and inspiring action. 

Their role will be further enhanced through their participation in key events, starting with the TED Countdown Summit in Detroit, Michigan, from July 11th to 14th, 2023. The TED Countdown Summit will gather innovators, scientists, policymakers, artists, activists, executives, and philanthropists to explore the solutions needed to drive climate action at speed and scale. Their presence at this event will ensure that the views of youth from their respective regions are heard by a global audience.

-ENDS- 

Contact 

To learn more about the programme, contact akil.callender@seforall.org 

For any media inquiries, contact sherry.kennedy@seforall.org  

About the organizations 

Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) 

Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) is an international organization that works in partnership with the United Nations and leaders in government, the private sector, financial institutions, civil society, and philanthropies to drive faster action towards the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7)—access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all by 2030—in line with the Paris Agreement on climate. Find out more: https://www.seforall.org/  

TED Countdown 

Countdown is a collaboration powered by TED and Leaders’ Quest. Countdown is TED’s first issue-specific initiative, which was launched in 2019 to champion and accelerate the bold ideas and underinvested solutions that can bring us closer to achieving a zero-carbon world – one that is cleaner, healthier and fairer for all. Find out more: https://countdown.ted.com/