Heroes of Tomorrow: UN SDG Action Awards Ceremony
Turning Vision into Action: Winners of the 2025 UN SDG Action Awards Announced
Changemakers and initiatives transforming inequalities into opportunities for millions of people across Brazil, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, and Turkiye were honored at the eighth annual Heroes of Tomorrow: UN SDG Action Awards Ceremony in Rome.
The Ceremony featured live performances from award-winning Italian singer-songwriter Diodato and Nigerian artivist Cill. Selected from over 5,500 entries from 190 countries, winners were chosen from nine finalists in three categories: Creativity, Resilience, and Changemaker.
🏆 Creativity Award Winner:
🌱 Smartel Agritech grows food where traditional farming fails—from city rooftops to refugee camps—scaling a new model of climate-smart agriculture in Nigeria.
🏆 Resilience Award Winner:
Central Única das Favelas (CUFA), born in Brazil’s favelas, engages with millions across the world—transforming favelas into hubs of talent, creativity, and innovation.
🏆 Changemaker Award Winners:
In a rare tie, this year’s Changemaker Award honors two exceptional individuals whose courage and commitment have redefined what it means to drive lasting change.
️ Julienne Lusenge, a Congolese human rights defender, fights fearlessly for justice, dignity, and peace in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
💙 Jîn Dawod, forced to flee Syria, provides a mental health lifeline to thousands of displaced people through her award-winning Peace Therapist platform.
✨ Honourable Mention:
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency’s hashtag#IBelong Campaign galvanized governments, civil society, and communities to act—turning an invisible injustice into a global human rights priority to end statelessness.
Now in its 8th year, the Heroes of Tomorrow: UN SDG Action Awards, a signature programme of the UN SDG Action Campaign, is made possible in partnership with the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI) and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
Learn more: sdgactionawards.org/finalists/
Photo: UN SDG Action Campaign
Heroes of Tomorrow: UN SDG Action Awards Ceremony
Turning Vision into Action: Winners of the 2025 UN SDG Action Awards Announced
Changemakers and initiatives transforming inequalities into opportunities for millions of people across Brazil, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, and Turkiye were honored at the eighth annual Heroes of Tomorrow: UN SDG Action Awards Ceremony in Rome.
The Ceremony featured live performances from award-winning Italian singer-songwriter Diodato and Nigerian artivist Cill. Selected from over 5,500 entries from 190 countries, winners were chosen from nine finalists in three categories: Creativity, Resilience, and Changemaker.
🏆 Creativity Award Winner:
🌱 Smartel Agritech grows food where traditional farming fails—from city rooftops to refugee camps—scaling a new model of climate-smart agriculture in Nigeria.
🏆 Resilience Award Winner:
Central Única das Favelas (CUFA), born in Brazil’s favelas, engages with millions across the world—transforming favelas into hubs of talent, creativity, and innovation.
🏆 Changemaker Award Winners:
In a rare tie, this year’s Changemaker Award honors two exceptional individuals whose courage and commitment have redefined what it means to drive lasting change.
️ Julienne Lusenge, a Congolese human rights defender, fights fearlessly for justice, dignity, and peace in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
💙 Jîn Dawod, forced to flee Syria, provides a mental health lifeline to thousands of displaced people through her award-winning Peace Therapist platform.
✨ Honourable Mention:
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency’s hashtag#IBelong Campaign galvanized governments, civil society, and communities to act—turning an invisible injustice into a global human rights priority to end statelessness.
Now in its 8th year, the Heroes of Tomorrow: UN SDG Action Awards, a signature programme of the UN SDG Action Campaign, is made possible in partnership with the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI) and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
Learn more: sdgactionawards.org/finalists/
Photo: UN SDG Action Campaign