At the 31st AFS Youth Assembly in Geneva, three youth leaders received special recognitions for their contributions to peer mental health, literacy, and career access. These leaders are Olusemiloore Atere (Nigeria), Jennifer Eloundou (Cameroon & France), and Elizabeth Quishpi (United Kingdom). Selected among delegates from across the globe, the awardees were recognized for building sustainable, community-rooted initiatives that address localized social challenges.
Each of these three changemakers emerged as finalists for the 2026 AFS Award for Young Global Citizens. This initiative honors extraordinary young individuals driving grassroots solutions for a sustainable and equitable world. The international jury evaluated six exceptional finalists advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Consequently, the jury faced a remarkably challenging decision. In light of their impact, the panel granted special recognitions to the three leaders. Discover the full cohort of AFS Award finalists.
AFS Youth Assembly Recognitions for Grassroots Impact
Olusemiloore Atere is a medical doctor and Pioneer President of the Asido Campus Network, the youth arm of the Asido Foundation. Inspired by an encounter on March 17, 2018, and formally launched in 2020, the network trains university students as mental health ambassadors who provide psychological first aid, lead awareness campaigns, and refer peers to care through supervised clinical referral pathways. To date, it has trained 2,650 student mental health ambassadors across six Nigerian universities. Awarded a $2,500 grant to expand into new chapters, Atere noted: “Recognition at the 31st Session of the AFS Youth Assembly says that this kind of work counts, and that student-led mental health care is a serious model and not just goodwill.”
Jennifer Eloundou, whose background in social impact began 15 years ago supporting children in Yaoundé orphanages alongside her mother and sister, leads Akuma Reading Rooms. The platform celebrates African literature, hosts cultural events, and directs generated funds toward school supplies and educational workshops for children in Cameroon. “Through our project Akuma Reading Rooms, we are creating a space where African literature can be seen, shared and celebrated,” Eloundou explained. “We want young people and children to discover stories that reflect who they are, where they come from and who they can become.”
Elizabeth Quishpi co-founded Empower LATAM UK nearly four years ago to assist first-generation Latin Americans in navigating education and employment. The organization provides one-to-one mentoring and employability training to help participants establish professional networks and secure long-term career paths. Awarded a $2,500 grant to continue expanding the program, Quishpi shared: “We built Empower LATAM UK from the ground up, as first-generation Latin Americans ourselves, because we knew how difficult it can be to navigate education and careers without the right networks, information or opportunities.”
Global Representation and Knowledge Exchange
The platform in Geneva provided opportunities for strategic collaboration and global dialogue. Atere attended as part of the second cohort of the Sir Cyril Taylor Young African Leaders Program, connecting with fellow African leaders ahead of the main sessions. For Quishpi, the assembly included representing her organization at the United Nations to address youth leadership and the Right to Development. “Standing there and speaking about the very issues that inspired us to build it was a proud and surreal moment,” Quishpi noted. Eloundou highlighted the informal interactions outside structured sessions, emphasizing the value of peer exchange across different cultural backgrounds.
Addressing young changemakers globally, the honorees stressed the importance of starting locally with existing resources. As Quishpi advised: “Don’t underestimate the power of your lived experience. The problem you understand deeply may be the very problem you are best placed to help solve.”