By Yumna Khan, Youth Assembly Manager
Our work has always aimed to promote meaningful social change – from cultivating cultural exchange programs that enhance global relations to providing opportunities for youth to make a difference in the world. The Youth Assembly has set us up to be one of the leading nonprofit organizations that prepare the next generation of leaders and changemakers. Since then, we have created more programs and initiatives to engage youth beyond the Youth Assembly and further advance our mission.
Global Action and Impact Network
The Global Action and Impact Network (GAIN) is a network of youth that serve as the center of activity in each region across the globe. It is composed of regional hubs led by young changemakers whom we call Impact Coordinators. Our team of Hub leaders work with members to identify and take action on issues that affect their regions. Impact Coordinators also provide mentorship support to youth, connect them to essential resources, foster an environment of collaboration among its members, and promote their impactful work through our wide networks.
Meet our Impact Coordinators:
GAIN LATCAR
- Wennyta Pinheiro de Lima
- Barbara Betts
- Juan Manuel Vazquez Jimenez
GAIN ASIA PACIFIC
- Rimsha Rehan
- Louise Mabulo
GAIN AFRICA
- Omopeju Afanu
- Ibukun Babarinde
- Daniel Sebugwawo
GAIN EUROPE
- Giulia Miloto
GAIN NORTH AMERICA
- Yash Chavda
- Swathi Arulguppe
- Moiz Lakhani
GAIN MIDDLE EAST & NORTH AFRICA
- Noora AlAdba
- AlDana AlAthba
The Youth Assembly delegates are invited to get involved with their respective regional GAIN Hub to reflect on their aspirations and make them happen after the YA.
With our Impact Coordinators, we produced our inaugural Impact Report after completing the first year of working with delegates from around the world on creating projects under the Pathways to Impact Program. The program generated and/or supported 87 youth-led projects, 45% of which are now fully operational. This demonstrates the strong potential of the program in sustaining youth-led activities at the local level and turning ideas into action after every Youth Assembly.
Global Impact Challenge
The Friendship Ambassadors has time and again expanded its initiatives to provide more opportunities to youth across the globe. The 25th session of the Youth Assembly was a very special opportunity for youth who participated in our first-ever Global Impact Challenge, which provided those who were not able to attend a chance to pitch their social venture ideas to an expert panel of judges virtually.
Participants created game-changing solutions that maximize impact, with creativity, passion, and long term vision to tackle the Sustainable Development Goals.
GAIN hubs conducted the first stage selection of candidates from each of their respective regions. Six finalists emerged from over fifty candidates who went on to compete at the final challenge during YA25. Projects tackled SDGs on education, zero hunger, good health and well-being, clean and affordable energy, responsible consumption and production, and climate action.
Ultimately three winners were selected and awarded at the Closing Ceremony:
- Tunde Oyebamiji for his Future Food Project, which accelerates the decline of childhood malnutrition, hidden hunger, and rural poverty in Nigeria through technology-driven insect farming and processing that creates jobs and promotes human dignity focusing on good health and well-being.
- Patience Koenig for her project PK Eco Storage, which focuses on using eco-friendly storage to reduce post harvest food waste and maximize yield in energy in Liberia tackling SDG 2 zero hunger and SDG 7 clean and affordable energy.
- Lina Motta and Mayerli Corredor for their project Expedición ODS, whose mission is to educate children, youth, and teachers about the SDGs, climate change, and responsible consumption and production in cities in Colombia.
The winners will be featured on FA platforms that reach over 40,000 people globally. They will receive mentorship to turn their projects into action, made possible through our partner Global Changemakers. Moreover, they will be awarded seed funding of $1,000 USD each for the implementation phase of their projects.
Declaration of Priorities
The Friendship Ambassadors community unites through youth leadership and action to make an impact in addressing the most pertinent issues and contributing to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. The Declaration of Priorities aligns and sets the agenda that will guide the collective work of the Friendship Ambassadors community henceforth in the following issues: Environmental Sustainability, Human Development, and Peace.
GAIN has helped spearhead regional consultations to identify priorities that we as a global youth community can take action on in the coming months. YA25 delegates also contributed in discussions during working sessions at the conference.
It’s our time to make our voices heard at the global stage and work together in this Decade of Youth Action. The FA will be making public our community’s priorities in the coming weeks and together with our GAIN network, and develop a plan to meaningfully take action on some of the most pressing global issues.
Ambassadors Program
Our growing network of talented and ambitious young people is a result of leaders who continue to open the doors to opportunities for other youth. At YA25, we held an award ceremony in recognition of our most dedicated Ambassadors who represent the Friendship Ambassadors’ mission and values of true friendship as they embrace and empower youth locally and bring them to the global stage. Through their exceptional leadership and commitment, Ambassadors promote the programs of the Foundation and act as a bridge for youth, providing greater awareness about opportunities in their communities and preparing delegates to make the most of the Youth Assembly experience.
The following are our Ambassadors who will continue to serve for YA26:
- Daniela Coll, Outstanding Ambassador, Costa Rica
- Angelica Remache, Outstanding Ambassador, Ecuador
- Yiting Wu, Outstanding Ambassador, USA & China
- Sipho Ncube, Outstanding Ambassador, USA & South Africa
- Hugo Osorio, Outstanding Ambassador, Colombia & UK
- Viola Nafula, Outstanding Ambassador, UAE & Uganda
- Harjas Grewal, Outstanding Ambassador, Canada
- Zhiyan Yu, Ambassador, UK & China
- Jagrit Singh, Ambassador, Canada
- Oluwadamilola Adeyemi, Ambassador, UK
- Nandini Tewari, Ambassador, Canada
- Kelvin Igumbor, Ambassador, USA & Nigeria
- Dana Al-Anzy, Ambassador, Qatar
- Maude Gorman, Ambassador, USA
- Larissa del Pilar Cevallos Pérez, Ambassador, Peru