Bill and Melinda Gates, co-chairs of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, will gather emerging and established leaders in government and business, as well as activists and performers, at Goalkeepers 2018 in New York City, September 25-26.

In its second year, the event will highlight the stunning progress in reducing extreme poverty since 1990 and showcase what’s possible if the world invests in the health and education of its growing youth populations, particularly in Africa,” a statement issued in Seattle, USA, by the foundation said.

The statement issued on Tuesday identified the participants to include young leaders like David Sengeh, Chief Innovation Officer for the Government of Sierra Leone; Trisha Shetty, Indian lawyer, social activist, and founder of SheSays; King Kaka, Kenyan musician and activist; and Aranya Johar, Indian spoken word poet. Other speakers include Graça Machel, international advocate for women and children’s rights and co-founder of the Graça Machel Trust; Richard Curtis, writer, campaigner, and Project Everyone co-founder; and Stephen Fry, actor, writer, and presenter. Performers include British singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran and the Brooklyn Youth Chorus. Additional speakers will be announced soon.

Goalkeepers is a multiyear campaign dedicated to accelerating progress towards the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals (Global Goals). Using powerful stories, data, and partnerships, Goalkeepers highlights progress achieved, holds governments accountable, and brings together a new generation of leaders to address the world’s major challenges. This year, Goalkeepers will focus on youth population growth and how it affects future world progress. Speakers will showcase how investing in “human capital” – the health and education of young people-unlocks productivity and innovation, reduces poverty, and generates prosperity.

“On September 18, a week before the New York event, Bill and Melinda Gates will launch their Goalkeepers 2018 report. Also in its second year, the report will highlight innovations and key investments the world must make now to ensure that young people reach their full potential and usher in an era of global prosperity and security,” the statement said.

It disclosed that the Goalkeepers Global Goals Awards will be presented on September 25, the evening before the Goalkeepers daytime event. In partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and UNICEF, the awards will celebrate outstanding youth-focused work around the world that is directly linked to the 17 Global Goals. The four award categories include the Progress Award, Changemaker Award, Campaign Award, and Global Goalkeeper Award.

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