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On July 17, 2026, the themed event “One World, One Game, One Goal: Football as a Catalyst for Youth Mental Health and Well-Being” was successfully held at United Nations Headquarters in New York. Taking place on the eve of the 2026 Men’s FIFA World Cup Final, this global celebration was not only a landmark international occasion, but also a flagship initiative led by the UN Member States’ Friends of Football group and jointly organized by the UN Youth Office and the UN Office of Partnerships. The event brought together several hundred participants from across the UN system, permanent missions of Member States, governments, civil society, the private sector, the sports community, and youth representatives. As a key component of the UN Youth Office’s flagship initiative on Youth Mental Health and Well-Being, the event aimed to advance a shift from fragmented, individual approaches to mental health toward a holistic ecosystem model encompassing healthcare systems, education, community, digital spaces, and human connection — positioning sport, art, and culture as systemic forces supporting youth mental health.

As an official partner of the UN Youth Office’s flagship Mental Health initiative and an official collaborating organization for the July 17 themed event, Global Youth Philanthropy (GYP) was deeply involved throughout the day — supporting exhibition planning, youth speaker coordination, materials preparation, and promotional outreach.

The day featured a full slate of parallel programming, including spotlight sessions, mental health workshops, and interactive experience zones. At the General Assembly Hall, a celebration for football and youth mental health was held, with remarks delivered by UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed and President of the UN General Assembly H.E. Annalena Baerbock, alongside football figures including Nigerian and African football legend Daniel Amokachi. The event also marked the launch of a public advocacy campaign inviting global public figures and youth leaders to champion mental health awareness.

During the morning spotlight session, youth representative Steven (Junyu) Chen — recommended by Global Youth Philanthropy — took the stage at the ECOSOC Chamber to deliver a keynote address and take part in an expert fireside chat. Speaking on the theme of “sport as a driver of youth mental health,” Steven drew on his own experience using football to relieve stress in a high-pressure academic environment and practicing mindfulness to maintain balance, as well as his volunteer work supporting a youth mental health program in Newburgh, New York, where he spent time with children battling brain cancer and their families. He argued that support for youth mental health should not be confined to hospitals and therapy rooms, but should extend into schools, sports teams, and families — noting that a coach attuned to a student’s stress, or a simple word of care between teammates, can be the starting point for change. Resilience, he said, is not innate, but is built gradually — through getting back up after setbacks, taking a breath before emotions take over, and learning through the act of showing up for others. Following his remarks, Steven engaged in an in-depth exchange with Dr. Lucci of Sofia University (Bulgaria) on local practices and global youth action around sport and mental health, exploring how individual and community-level experience can be translated into scalable, sustainable global action — reflecting a new generation’s depth of thought and commitment to mental health advocacy.

In the afternoon, the international art exhibition “Did You Know?” carried the conversation forward through a different medium. As a major public art component of the day’s programming, “Did You Know?” was co-presented by Global Youth Philanthropy, the Asian Artist and Activities Hub (AAAAH), and Newtone Consulting, creating a platform for youth expression, public listening, and social connection in response to global youth mental health issues. The exhibition’s overall direction and execution were led by AAAAH Executive Artistic Director Mouhui Sun and Public Art Advocate & Secretary-General Weiyu Tian, with Sihan Pan as Curatorial Lead, Emmy Liang and Kailin(Alvin) Zhang as curators, and Siqi Zhang as curatorial assistant. Sun and Tian oversaw the exhibition’s curatorial direction, artist selection, on-site installation, and public engagement design throughout, ensuring the exhibition closely aligned with the core goals of the UN Youth Office’s Mental Health flagship initiative. Built around the curatorial concept of “Approach,” the exhibition invited the public to move closer — to the artworks, to the stories behind them, and to emotions that are often difficult to put into words. The exhibition featured 36 works by 19 artists from diverse countries and cultural backgrounds, spanning painting, photography, sculpture, installation, video, and mixed media, exploring themes of mental health, the body, movement, football, teamwork, and resilience.Youth representative Calvin Weng shared his tennis program, Rising Racquets, at the exhibition, using one student’s transformation from shy and quiet to confident and outgoing to illustrate how sport brings young people a sense of belonging and confidence.

The exhibition challenged conventional modes of viewing. Visitors had to physically move closer to each piece, reading the artists’ accompanying texts through semi-transparent materials to uncover the real experiences and emotions behind the work. In moving from a distance to up close, from looking to understanding, visitors gradually entered each artist’s inner world — transforming “approach” into a process of empathy and understanding.

An interactive public component ran alongside the exhibition, inviting visitors to write down words and feelings on teal ribbons and tie them to a display structure, together building a public art installation symbolizing Care, Connection, and Community. As more ribbons were added, individual expressions gradually converged into a collective response of care and support, making every participant part of the exhibition itself.

The exhibition drew several hundred visitors throughout the day, including UN system staff, representatives of permanent missions, youth delegates, and members of the public. The video installation area in particular drew sustained attention, with many visitors lingering to watch and sharing their reflections afterward. Many remarked that amid the busy schedule of UN meetings, this space offered a rare moment of stillness and immersion — providing a brief respite through art and prompting renewed reflection on the importance of mental health and human connection.

Also on-site that day, 14-year-old Isabella Gates, a youth correspondent for Youth Voice Media Center from San Diego, California, immersed herself fully in the day’s programming — from the main spotlight sessions to sports-based wellness activities and cross-border youth exchanges — while independently producing on-the-ground interview coverage. Poised and confident on camera, she navigated cross-cultural communication with ease and, even when tackling the highly specialized subject of mental health, quickly organized her interview approach and proactively engaged guests — demonstrating media literacy, expressiveness, observational skill, and a sense of responsibility well beyond her years.“Did You Know?” not only showcased young artists’ diverse expressions on mental health, but also further demonstrated art’s power to transcend language and cultural boundaries — serving as a vital medium for fostering public dialogue, deepening social understanding, and building community connection.

“Did You Know?” not only showcased young artists’ diverse expressions on mental health, but also further demonstrated art’s power to transcend language and cultural boundaries — serving as a vital medium for fostering public dialogue, deepening social understanding, and building community connection.

From the heartfelt sharing of youth representatives in the ECOSOC Chamber, to the formal launch of a global advocacy campaign in the General Assembly Hall, to the layered gaze of “approach” and the teal-ribbon public installation woven together in the “Did You Know?” exhibition hall — on July 17, sport, art, and youth participation converged on the multilateral stage of UN Headquarters to speak to a single, shared message: youth mental health needs to be seen, heard, and connected.

As an official partner of the UN Youth Office’s Mental Health flagship initiative, Global Youth Philanthropy will continue to work alongside the Asian Artist and Activities Hub, Newtone Consulting, and a growing network of international organizations, youth communities, and artists to advance more public initiatives that harness sport and art for social impact — creating more opportunities for young people to express themselves, connect, and be heard. We believe that as more young people are heard and understood, mental health will no longer be a burden carried alone, but a source of strength that an entire generation moves forward with, together.

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