Pharrell Williams Named UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador: “I’m Betting on the Youth”
At just 51 years old, music producer and fashion designer Pharrell Williams has added another impressive title to his resume: UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador. Williams was honored at the main conference room of UNESCO’s Paris headquarters, where he addressed a crowd of 800 students and accepted the prestigious title.
In his speech, Williams expressed his disbelief at the honor, stating, “I never dreamed in 51 years that I would be standing at a podium like this, in a building like this.” He went on to discuss the fragility of humanity, declaring, “We are at a crisis as a species.” However, he remains hopeful and optimistic, placing his faith in the younger generation. “I’m betting on the youth. I’m betting on the kids. I’m betting on all the people who’ve been marginalized for so long, generationally, to stand up, band together and realize that we’re so much stronger when we pull together,” he said.
Audrey Azoulay, director-general of UNESCO, praised Williams for his dedication to the organization’s mission and vision. She also noted that he is the first American citizen to be named a Goodwill Ambassador since the U.S. rejoined UNESCO last year.
Williams continued his speech by reflecting on the pillars of his success: hard work, community, and collaboration. He also addressed the negative forces that seek to divide and scare us, stating, “But spending time in so many different places, cultures, cities, countries, I’ve seen firsthand how much we’re all connected and intertwined.”
As a Goodwill Ambassador, Williams hopes to promote education that levels the playing field for marginalized individuals, including himself. “My goal is to promote the kind of education that helps even the odds for marginalized kids like myself, and adults by closing the opportunity path,” he shared. “At the core of everything that I do is the belief that opportunity should not be determined by the circumstances of where you come from.”
Williams ended his speech with a powerful message, encouraging others to never give up on their dreams. “It’s never too late to start thinking about what your dream is, because your dream can pull you out of a very tough situation…When you dare to dream, I promise you can do it. Just do it piece by piece.”
