Red Hot Chili Peppers, Ms. Lauryn Hill and Megan Thee Stallion will headline Global Citizen Festival

Global Citizen CEO Hugh Evans said the Sept. 23 event in New York’s Central Park will help advocates, especially Gen Zers, address issues such as gender inequality and climate change. He said it would be at the center of the group’s campaign to urge them to take action on the issue.

The study found that half of Generation Z are “disillusioned and feel powerless to make a positive impact,” Evans said in an interview with The Associated Press. “For as long as you and I have lived, there has been positive momentum in the world that ending extreme poverty may be inevitable,” he said. “But the data suggests the world is worse now.”

According to the United Nations Population Fund, 257 million women worldwide would like to avoid pregnancy but do not have access to modern contraceptives. The Foundation’s partnerships to provide reproductive health services currently have a funding shortfall of $100 million.

Education Cannot Wait is a United Nations fund that will help nearly 20 million children at risk to continue learning, and requires $670 million for its work.

The Global Citizen Festival will also include performances from K-pop sensations Stray Kids and singer-songwriter Conan Gray, encouraging fans to take action to support these goals on the group’s app and website. Free tickets to the event are offered in exchange for making it happen.

That could mean asking Canada, Norway and Japan to increase their contributions to the United Nations Population Fund this year. That could mean encouraging companies to join the UN’s “race to zero,” which sets targets for reducing carbon emissions. Alternatively, urge the governments of the US, UK, Italy and Australia to provide more funding to vulnerable countries to adapt to climate change.

Global Citizen uses its supporters to persuade political, business and philanthropic leaders to tackle some of the world’s biggest issues, says it aims to appeal to younger generations. Mr Evans said.

“We know these are the pillars of what Gen Z cares about, but they often feel helpless because data is not on their side,” says Evans. “We are talking to Generation Z to help them understand that their actions can have a big impact.”

Singer Angelique Kidjo, who was recently named to the list of Great Immigrants of the Year by New York’s Carnegie Corporation, said her Batonga Foundation will support girls and young women who will eventually return to her hometown of Benin and Africa. He said he realized he would strengthen entire villages across the country.

“Supporting women in our communities is like starting a rolling stone that won’t stop rolling,” Kijo said, noting that during the COVID-19 pandemic, making masks and hand soap has helped the village. He added that it was the women who kept him safe. such as social distancing.

Not only will Hill and Megan Thee Stallion provide examples of female empowerment through their performances, but Evans hopes to inspire fans to take action during the event, which will be streamed on numerous digital platforms. be.

“For decades, the Red Hot Chili Peppers have occupied a space where music and action intersect,” said Evans, noting that the band’s classic “Under the Bridge” inspired him to play guitar. He added that it was the first song he learned. “I couldn’t be happier with this line-up.”

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