BTS Encourages Youth In Historic Speech At Launch Of UNICEF's "Generation Unlimited" At The UN General Assembly

BTS delivered an inspiring and encouraged message at a historic appearance at the 73rd UN General Assembly!

On September 24 at 12 p.m. local time, UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund) launched their new “Generation Unlimited” initiative at the 73rd UN General Assembly, as a part of the United Nation’s youth strategy, “Youth 2030.” The launch was headed by Secretary-General of the United Nations António Guterres, President of Rwanda Paul Kagame, UN Youth Envoy Jayathma Wickramanayake, UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore, and President of the World Bank Jim Yong Kim.

“Generation Unlimited” is a new global partnership that is “dedicated to increasing opportunities and investments for children and young people aged 10 to 24” and encompasses the message, “our time, our turn, and our unlimited future.” As explained by UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore, it is to let the voices of young people be heard, and aims to have all youth, especially girls, in learning, training, or age-appropriate employment by the year 2030.

The first plans include a program in Argentina that connects students in rural areas with teachers through digital technology, a program in Bangladesh that provides training in various trades, and a job shadowing program for STEM fields in South Africa.

Invited as UNICEF goodwill ambassadors, BTS gave a speech in honor of the launch with RM as the representative.

He opened by introducing himself and expressed, “It is an incredible honor to be invited to an occasion with such significance for today’s generation.”

RM proceeded to reflect on the message of BTS’s “Love Myself” UNICEF campaign — “True love first begins with loving myself” — and what he’s learned through his own life story.

He then expressed, “Let’s all take one more step. We have learned to love ourselves. So now, I urge you to speak yourself. I’d like to ask all of you, ‘What is your name?’

“What excites you and makes your heart beat? Tell me your story. I want to hear your voice. I want to hear your conviction. No matter who you are, where you are from, your skin color, your gender identity, just speak yourself. Find your name and find your voice by speaking yourself.”

Referring back to how he defines his identity and his own conviction, RM concluded, “What is your name? Speak yourself.”

Watch his full speech below!

FULL SPEECH: Global pop sensation @BTS_twt speaks at the 73rd @UN General Assembly in NYC and helps to launch a new global youth initiative, "Generation Unlimited." https://t.co/dCuujVag6a#BTSonGMA #BTS pic.twitter.com/SArtpiIcBh

— Good Morning America (@GMA) September 24, 2018