Meet 20 Younger Innovators Who Are Championing the International Objectives

After receiving greater than 400 functions, 32 winners have been chosen who will attend International Citizen NOW: Melbourne to fulfill with regional change-makers and coverage specialists to take motion on the local weather, innovation, and preventing poverty.

The 2024 Youth Leaders Award winners are receiving $5,000 AUD to help and additional the unbelievable work they’re doing. As well as, they’ll be receiving complete coaching, peer help, and unique networking alternatives throughout a three-day summit as a part of International Citizen NOW: Melbourne.

The United Nations 17 International Objectives goal to eradicate excessive poverty by tackling its root causes like starvation, meals insecurity, and lack of entry to training and healthcare. These objectives additionally try for peaceable and inclusive societies, guaranteeing sustainable improvement for all.

Whereas 12 of those younger activists are focusing their efforts on International Aim 13: Local weather Motion, 20 finalists have launched various tasks to finish little one marriage, drive financial progress, and lift consciousness about psychological well being challenges. 

Check out their unbelievable work under.

International Aim 5: Gender Equality

1. Noa Limpoco, 27, Philippines

Noa Limpoco is devoted to group organisation and youth activism, utilizing her experience to lift consciousness in regards to the often-overlooked views of disabled and neurodivergent people. Because the Director of Individuals Operations for the Society of Sustainability Practitioners and Founding father of the Neurodivergent Community, Limpoco has spearheaded quite a few initiatives geared toward fostering inclusivity and advocating for obligatory lodging in each the office and broader society. 

When Limpoco realized of her acceptance into this 12 months’s cohort of Youth Leaders, she celebrated with International Citizen: “Oh my gosh! I’m so excited, how am I going to sleep till [March]?”

She can also be acknowledged as a Nationwide Youth Gender Activist by UN Girls, underscoring her important contributions to the worldwide motion for equality and social justice.

2. Rose Singh, 23, Nepal

“I consider a scarcity of training about one’s rights results in additional oppression,” Rose Singh, a pushed activist and aspiring lawyer primarily based in Nepal, advised International Citizen as a part of her software to the 2024 International Citizen Youth Leaders Awards.

Devoted to amplifying the voices of marginalised teams, Singh has performed integral roles in initiatives to additional gender equality and political rights advocacy. She is especially obsessed with feminist international coverage and its intersection with human rights, aiming to work on coverage measures that promote equality in Nepal and past.

Had an exquisite time drafting suggestions for #CSW67 by incorporating views of countries like #nepal together with fantastic International Summit delegates of @foranetwork.

The session was facilitated by the fantastic @a_bohemier, Katrina @leclerc from @gnwp_gnwppic.twitter.com/UKevRBPOeS

— Rose (@alrightyrose) March 1, 2023

3. Chamathya Fernando, 29, Sri Lanka

At 19, Medhavi Chamathya Fernando initiated the impactful “Cease the Violence” marketing campaign with the Sri Lanka Woman Guides Affiliation (SLGGA), advocating for youth training, expertise improvement, and sexual and reproductive well being and rights for ladies and ladies.

“It is necessary for me that there’s a respectful and protected surroundings to be working in with individuals from various backgrounds. Inside my work, I create inclusive areas by platforming the voice of the unvoiced,” Fernando mentioned in her software to the 2024 Youth Leaders Awards. “Thanks a lot for the chance, I’m tremendous excited.”

Since she was a toddler in Sri Lanka, the youth advocate has been devoted to creating inclusive areas for marginalized voices.

4. Kha Le: 24, Vietnam

“Being an advocate for gender DEI (range, fairness, and inclusion) and human rights, I profoundly consider within the energy of human networks and group,” Kha Le wrote of their software to the 2024 Youth Leaders Awards. “By way of International Citizen, I need to leverage the facility of worldwide residents throughout the globe.”

Le is the founding father of BAO, an initiative that promotes gender range in larger training by internet hosting coaching periods for college kids, school, and employees at universities throughout Vietnam.

 As a finalist of International Citizen’s Youth Leaders Awards, Le will be capable to join with different youth leaders in Melbourne this March and share their work on tasks that goal to rework the lives and rights of LGBTQ+ people residing in Southeast Asia.

5. Niyati Sharma, 23, India

Niyati Sharma is the founder and govt director of Pratisandhi Basis, a youth-led nonprofit centered on ending the stigma surrounding sexual well being and empowering Indian youth. Her dedication to uplifting younger leaders—and the affect she has had on over 60,000 adolescents by way of the Pratisandhi Basis’s initiatives—are simply two the explanation why Sharma will make a superb addition to this 12 months’s cohort of youth leaders.

“Thanks a lot,” Sharma mentioned when she was introduced as a finalist. “I’m actually wanting ahead to it! That is such a shock.”

6. Devni Wimalasena, 25, Sri Lanka

As a younger woman rising up in Sri Lanka, Devni Wimalasena first realised the significance of securing entry to equality and justice for all, notably when confronted with leaders who’re devoted to limiting human rights. 

“My advocacy transcends geographical boundaries, and my mission centres gender equality, anti-racism, incapacity rights, and entry to justice for individuals of marginalised backgrounds,” Wimalasena mentioned in her software to the 2024 Youth Leaders Awards.

Wimalasena moved to Melbourne at 17 and constructed a various activism portfolio, spending her time mentoring younger South Asian girls, advocating for support throughout Sri Lanka’s financial disaster, and preventing for equal rights.

7. Ashleigh Streeter-Jones, 29, Australia

When International Citizen advised Ashleigh Streeter-Jones that she was a finalist for the 2024 Youth Leaders Awards, she cried out in pleasure: “I’m a contented crier, so these are glad tears. Thanks for believing in me and within the work.”

Streeter-Jones is a younger Australian whose work focuses on closing societal gaps, notably these confronted by girls and younger individuals from historically marginalised backgrounds. 

Because the founder and CEO of Elevate Our Voice Australia (ROVA), a social enterprise mobilising younger girls and gender various individuals to create equitable democracy, Streeter-Jones seeks to encourage different younger changemakers to pursue careers in politics and make a distinction of their communities.

International Aim 4: High quality Training

8. Monal Bhattarai, 22, Nepal

Monal Bhattarai’s advocacy focuses on selling equal entry to training in Nepal, notably for college kids from financially, socially, and culturally-underprivileged backgrounds.

“Being part of this [cohort] will present me the chance to fulfill different leaders who’re working to create an affect in growing nations like Nepal,” Bhattarai mentioned in her software for the 2024 Youth Leaders Awards. “I look ahead to studying from their experiences of main an organisation and sharing my very own, discovering doable packages we are able to collaborate in, and enhancing our affect additional.”

In help of International Aim 4, Bhattarai takes care to make sure that younger ladies and gender minorities have the sources they should full their main and secondary training with a view to safe monetary independence. 

Along with the 30for2030 community, we’re launching immediately the 2nd version of the Youth Information to Finish On-line Gender-Primarily based Violence!

👉 Test it out: https://t.co/2KJc6hR7Rk#16Days#NoExcusepic.twitter.com/yclqnJoyH8

— UN Girls AsiaPacific (@unwomenasia) December 6, 2023

9. Minh Hoang, 23, Vietnam

As simply 23 years previous, Minh Hoang is making waves within the tech business by selling a tradition that centres youth management and pursuits. 

“If you happen to’re a younger chief who needs to make a distinction in your group however don’t have plenty of sources, realizing tips on how to leverage tech as a platform, as a instrument, is a recreation changer,” Hoang wrote of their software to International Citizen. 

Hoang creates high-impact packages on the intersection of upper training, entrepreneurship, and innovation to encourage different younger individuals to prioritise social change as a part of their missions.

10. Tylah Farani-Watene, 25, New Zealand

“I actually admire the work that International Citizen does, and that is an unbelievable alternative,” Farani-Watene mentioned when she acquired the information that she was invited to International Citizen NOW Melbourne. 

Tylah Farani-Watene is a younger Mori & Pasifika lady whose work focuses on empowering different Mori and Pasifika youth to change into leaders and have a say within the insurance policies and practices that affect their lives. As such, she has been on a mission to utilise Indigenous data to attain a greater world.

“Actually what makes my coronary heart beat is seeing our Indigenous and Pacific individuals thriving—my position in that’s creating area and pushing previous glass ceilings of what’s anticipated of younger Pasifika girls,“ mentioned Farani-Watene.

11. Hadiqa Bashir, 22, Pakistan

A survivor of kid marriage herself, Hadiqa Bashir is devoted to eliminating the apply of early and compelled marriages throughout Pakistan. In pursuit of this purpose, the younger activist lobbies legislators and non secular leaders to advertise the rights of younger women and girls, implement ladies’ entry to training, and obtain the UN International Objectives. 

Bashir can also be the founding father of Women United for Human Rights and has launched a complete scholarship program to help ladies’ training. Her efforts have enabled greater than 150 ladies to attend college, elevating their potential to carry themselves out of poverty and escape little one marriage. 

12. Ahmad Nisar 19, Afghanistan

Ahmad Nisar needs to vary the narrative surrounding psychological well being for refugees and migrants. In 2022, Nisar based the initiative Changemaker to supply entry to counselling companies and sources for individuals who have undergone intense trauma by way of migration and immigration.

“At Changemaker, our mission is to cater to the rapid wants of people by way of an inclusive, significant, and context-sensitive strategy,” Nisar wrote in his software to International Citizen. “My ardour has turned particular person efforts into an initiative that works to push the narrative round psychological well being.”

13. Nathaniel Diong, 22, Australia

Rising up as a younger disabled migrant, Nathaniel Diong lacked the sources he wanted to really feel safe becoming a member of the workforce. Pushed by his private expertise, Diong based Future Minds Community, a social enterprise that empowers marginalised youth with the abilities they should safe employment and create their very own jobs. 

“I’ve spent half a decade creating alternatives for first rate work and financial progress,” Diong wrote in his software to the 2024 Youth Leaders Awards. “By way of International Citizen, I goal to strengthen Australia’s connections with the Asia-Pacific area as a united and inclusive group.” 

As we speak, Diong’s efforts have helped over 11,000 younger individuals discover employment and advocate for the UN International Objectives of their communities.

International Aim 3: Good Well being and Wellbeing

14. Phatsaline Vongsaly, 28, Laos

Phatsaline Vongsaly is a psychological well being advocate devoted to lowering boundaries to psychological well being companies in Laos, notably for individuals from marginalised backgrounds. 

Because the co-founder of Gamlangchai, a community-based psychological well being initiative run by younger individuals for younger individuals in Laos, Vongsaly focuses on coaching younger champions to advertise psychological well being consciousness and construct peer-to-peer packages. 

“That is actually sudden,” Vongsaly mentioned when she realized she was a finalist for the 2024 Youth Leaders Awards. “I’m actually glad to listen to this information and can’t wait!”

By working collectively, she believes that younger individuals can present one another the help and sources they should thrive.

15. Tamara Gondo, 25, Indonesia

At age 16, Tamara Gondo began an NGO to supply upskilling lessons to ladies from rural areas in Indonesia. These lessons supplied the abilities, sources, and group help wanted to assist younger ladies escape poverty and empower themselves by way of entry to training and employment alternatives.

“I might like to mobilise younger individuals, firms, and governmental our bodies towards gender equality,” Gondo mentioned in her software to International Citizen. “I’m excited to alternate ideas and greatest practices to scale our affect wider.”

16. Alanna Sethi, 20, Hong Kong

Licensed yoga teacher, psychological well being advocate, and founder Alanna Sethi believes that growing entry to psychological well being sources and help might help younger individuals world wide thrive. 

“I might love to make use of the chance on the Youth Management Summit to have interaction with various award winners, International Citizen and related companions to alternate concepts and forge collaborations to increase our world affect,” Sethi mentioned of the 2024 Youth Leaders Awards. “That is actually superb information, thanks a lot!”

Her organisation HOPE supplies group training programming and peer help to attain this purpose, empowering youth with the sources they should enhance their wellbeing.

17. Divyangana Sharma, 24, India

“My purpose is to create a protected area for worldwide college students to debate psychological well being, breaking the stigma that always silences them because of cultural norms and educational pressures,” Divyangana Sharma, a youth chief from India, wrote in her software to the 2024 Youth Leaders Awards. “The platform supplied by International Citizen will permit me to characterize the South Asian voice and work towards empowering youth.”

Presently working as a nurse at Epworth Hospital in Australia, Sharma utilises her expertise as a global pupil to advertise psychological well being consciousness and help fellow college students. When she acquired the information that she was a finalist, Sharma mentioned: “That’s unbelievable information, thanks a lot!”

18. Maggie Blanden, 24, Australia

Maggie Blanden is a proud Palawa lady from lutruwita/Tasmania and the founding father of Naarm Regulation College students on Voice—an Indigenous-led, community-informed, and culturally-safe grassroots challenge pertaining to the Voice Referendum. She can also be a passionate youth advocate for Indigenous self-determination, in addition to gender equality.

In her software to the 2024 Youth Leaders Awards, Blanden expressed pleasure at having the ability to meet fellow youth leaders throughout the Asia-Pacific area. “Studying and rising alongside like-minded changemakers—nothing extra highly effective!”

International Aim 16: Peace, Justice and Sturdy Establishments

19. Noor Azizah, 28, Australia

Noor Azizah is a 28-year-old former Rohingya refugee who resettled along with her household in Sydney in 2003, after escaping the Rohingya genocide in Myanmar’s Rakhine state. 

“I consider that by nurturing and supporting the management potential of Rohingya girls, we are able to result in profound and lasting change. By partnering with the Youth Leaders Award platform, I goal to amplify these efforts,” mentioned Azizah.

The expertise of being forcibly pushed out of her house nation at such a younger age impressed Azizah to do no matter she may to empower Rohingya girls globally and protect their tradition.

“My imaginative and prescient for the subsequent 3-5 years revolves round empowering extra Rohingya girls to change into leaders inside their communities. Traditionally, management roles have been predominantly occupied by males, and my purpose is to vary this narrative,” Azizah mentioned in her software to International Citizen. 

International Aim 10: Diminished Inequalities

20. Dr. Belle Lim, 27, Malaysia 

With a Ph.D in most cancers genetics, Dr. Belle Lim utilises her experience in social coverage and healthcare to guage insurance policies and packages that deal with girls’s points, well being inequality, homelessness, and psychological well being to allow them to have the best optimistic affect on the individuals they help. Dr. Lim’s personal organisation, Future Forte, has additionally empowered greater than 2,500 girls and gender-diverse worldwide college students in Australia by way of enhanced psychological well being packages. 

“Oh that’s so fantastic, thanks!” Dr. Lim mentioned when International Citizen congratulated her on being accepted to the 2024 Youth Leaders Awards. “I’m actually wanting ahead to it.”