They were chosen for their leadership and contribution to end poverty, fight against inequality and injustice, and tackling climate change by 2030.
Ankit Kawatra, Founder and Chairman of Feeding India -- an organisation that addresses food wastage and hunger, and Trisha Shetty, Founder and CEO of 'SheSays' -- a platform to educate, rehabilitate and empower women to take direct action against sexual assault in India, are among those selected.
An Indian-American scientist and innovator Karan Jerath, 19, who designed the path-breaking device that shuts down undersea spills has also found place amongst the UN Young Leaders for SDGs.
UN Secretary-General's Envoy on Youth, Ahmad Alhendawi, said: "We are proud to announce this group of young global citizens who are already transforming their communities," at the Social Good Summit in New York on Monday.
"The selection process was an important reminder of the great potential and talent of so many young people around the world, who are making immense contributions to peace, development and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals," he added.
"I am pleased to join in welcoming the inaugural class of UN Young Leaders for the Sustainable Development Goals," said UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in a statement delivered by Alhendawi.
"These 17 young change-makers are a testament to the ingenuity of youth and I congratulate them for their exceptional leadership and demonstrated commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals," he added.
Selected from over 18,000 nominations from 186 different countries, these leaders, aged 19-30 years, come from diverse backgrounds and will support efforts to engage young people in the realisation of the SDGs and will have opportunities to engage in the UN and its partner-led projects.
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