Global Citizen Festival: $1 Billion Raised as Gen Z Leads Fight Against Poverty
Staff Editor Global Citizen Festival Raises $1 Billion, Highlights Youth Activism
The Global Citizen Festival, held recently in New York, has generated over $1 billion in commitments to fight extreme poverty, organizers announced. The event, headlined by Post Malone, Doja Cat, Benson Boone, and Rauw Alejandro, underscored the crucial role of younger generations in addressing international challenges.
In an interview before the festival, Global Citizen CEO Hugh Evans emphasized the urgency that youth bring to solving global issues. Evans drew parallels to historical young leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela, Malala Yousafzai, and William Wilberforce, highlighting the impact of youthful determination.
The festival comes at a critical time, operating against a backdrop of global shocks including pandemic recovery and ongoing conflicts. Recent data shows that 719 million people are currently living on less than $2.15 a day, with climate change potentially pushing an additional 100 million into extreme poverty within the next decade.
Key initiatives announced at the event include encouraging supporters to lobby leaders for increased funding of the World Bank’s International Development Association, advocating for Colombia to cease issuing licenses for Amazon drilling, and raising $250 million to educate 72 million children out of school due to conflict.
Global Citizen also revealed a new partnership with FIFA for humanitarian action incentives, further expanding its reach and impact.
The organization’s engagement with Generation Z is particularly noteworthy, with over 70% of Global Citizen members belonging to this demographic. The activism model, facilitated through the Global Citizen app, has proven especially resonant with young people, focusing on equipping them with impactful policy asks backed by research and data.
As global challenges continue to mount, the success of the Global Citizen Festival serves as a powerful reminder of the potential for youth-driven change on the international stage.
