Kathmandu: The United Nations announced the fifth cohort of 17 Young Leaders for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), recognizing Aishworya Shrestha, 28, a social worker and Co-founder of Heart of Nepal and Antardhoni Nepal, among the selected youth leaders representing Nepali leadership on the global stage during the occasion of UN Day, October 24.
This marks the first cohort to be selected and announced by the newly established United Nations Youth Office, building on the legacy of the Office of the Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth, which launched the initiative in 2016.
Every two years, the United Nations Youth Office recognizes 17 exceptional young changemakers who are driving solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges and whose leadership is helping to advance the achievement of the SDGs. Since its inception, the initiative has reached millions of young people around the globe, inspiring action and amplifying youth-led innovation and collaboration.
Following an open call for applications earlier this year, which captured more than 33,000 applications from over 150 countries, the 2025 Young Leaders for the SDGs — who are all between 16 and 33 years of age — hail from all corners of the world. They are artists, founders, community mobilizers, athletes, physicians, peacebuilders, entrepreneurs, and scientists working across all pillars of the United Nations: sustainable development, human rights, and peace and security.
“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,” said Felipe Paullier, the UN Assistant Secretary-General for Youth Affairs. “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. At a time of deep division and uncertainty, they embody the very spirit of the United Nations: unity, action and hope for a better tomorrow.”
