Saint John Student Aims to Fulfill 17 UN Goals by 17th Birthday

A high school student from Saint John is on a remarkable mission to complete actions related to all **17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals** before her **17th birthday** on **June 24, 2024**. **Grace Totten**, a Grade 11 student at **St. Malachy’s Memorial High School**, has embarked on this ambitious project, which she has named **17 by Seventeen**. With less than 140 days to go, Grace is determined to inspire her community while making a tangible impact.

The **17 Sustainable Development Goals** were established by the United Nations in **2015** to address pressing global challenges, including poverty, hunger, and climate change, with a target completion date of **2030**. Grace explained her inspiration: “Originally, I wanted to do something like a fundraiser, but then my mother mentioned how I’m turning 17, and there are 17 goals. I decided it would be cool to do separate little events, along with a couple of big ones, to work towards these goals in my community.”

As of now, Grace has completed **seven goals** and has **five more in progress**. The goals she has achieved so far include **No Poverty**, **Zero Hunger**, **Quality Education**, **Responsible Consumption and Production**, **Climate Action**, **Life on Land**, and **Partnership for the Goals**. Among her initiatives, she organized clothing drives to combat poverty and collaborated with **Street Team Saint John** to prepare meals for the homeless, addressing hunger in her community.

Inspiring Youth Across Canada

The core of Grace’s project is not just personal achievement but also motivating others. She aims to inspire youth across **Canada** and beyond to take similar initiatives in their own communities. “The bigger idea behind **17 by Seventeen** is to inspire youth across Canada, and eventually globally, to do similar actions in their communities to work towards the completion of the UN SDGs,” she stated.

To amplify her efforts, Grace has recruited representatives from various provinces, including **New Brunswick**, **Ontario**, **British Columbia**, and **Nova Scotia**, as well as a collaborator from **Argentina**. This network is pivotal in spreading awareness and action related to the sustainable development goals.

Grace initiated this project in **September 2023**, incorporating prior initiatives into her mission. One notable event is the **Cardboard for Kitty**, where teams compete to build cardboard cat houses for the **Red Head Strays Rescue**. Scheduled for **May 2024**, this event aligns with the goal of responsible consumption and production by promoting recycling.

Additionally, Grace is set to host a panel featuring experts from **N.B. Power** and **Saint John Energy** at her school in late February to discuss critical topics such as affordable, clean energy and sustainable community development. **Brad Stevens**, principal of St. Malachy’s, emphasized the importance of such initiatives, stating, “It will not only be good for Grace but also great for the other students who will be exposed to the conversations.”

Empowering Future Generations

Grace has also created a social media hashtag to encourage others to take action in their communities. She noted that many young people feel overwhelmed by global challenges and may doubt their ability to make a difference. “A lot of people, like 16-year-olds, 15-year-olds, 17-year-olds, see these problems and think, ‘I don’t know how I, as one person, can make a change.’ I want to show them that they can,” Grace explained.

She believes it is crucial for young people to engage with the UN goals, stating, “Right now, youth voices are being heard more than ever, so it’s important that we step up now rather than later.” Grace’s efforts not only highlight her commitment to social responsibility but also serve as a powerful reminder of the potential impact of youth activism in addressing global issues. Her project has already begun to resonate, showing that even small actions can contribute to a larger purpose.