The HundrED Youth Ambassador Programme in partnership with International Baccalaureate and Festival of Hope is a global movement of young people united by their passion for creating positive, meaningful impact. Over the past three months, from September until December, 300 Youth Ambassadors from 77 different countries have built meaningful global connections, transformed passions into projects and dived into personal growth in many ways, confirming that lasting positive impact happens through empathy, connection and creativity. Once again, we have witnessed the incredible potential of youth-led social change.
"This program encouraged me to speak up and share my ideas with others. I learned how to connect with people from around the world and gained confidence in presenting my thoughts." This sentiment captures one of the pillars of this initiative —bringing together motivated youth from diverse backgrounds to use their voice. Youth ambassadors shared profound insights into social impact project creation while learning from diverse guest speakers from the HundrED community of innovators. "I learned that creating meaningful change needs empathy, persistence, and innovation", a shared reflection from many of the participants.
Impactful projects
In addition to fostering meaningful connections and holding diverse conversations, many of the Youth Ambassadors started -or continued developing- their own social impact projects across the globe. Here are a few highlights:
By Emem, from Nigeria: Through the "Rising above Period Poverty" project, Emem empowers girls by teaching them entrepreneurial skills. The initiative combines practical business training with menstrual health education, providing participants with both income-generating capabilities to acquire essential hygiene products. The project created a sustainable solution to help girls afford menstrual care products independently.
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By Mahala, from New Zealand: YouthVoices4Ed serves as a platform amplifying student perspectives in educational decision-making. Through blogs and bi-monthly surveys, the initiative creates meaningful dialogue between students and education stakeholders, advocating for inclusive, quality education that responds to diverse learner needs.
By Keyaan, from India: Chirpies bridges communication gaps for non-verbal autistic children through innovative technology. The project combines with SpeechKraft, an AI-powered tool that provides feedback to individuals with verbal autism, helping them develop communication skills with confidence.
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By Zubeda, from Kenya: Based in Mombasa, Zubeda's mangrove conservation project engages local authorities and communities in protecting coastal ecosystems. Through organized clean-ups and educational outreach, the initiative raises awareness about the importance of mangrove preservation for environmental sustainability.
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For Anna Paula Herrera, coordinator of the Youth Ambassador Programme, this cohort of Youth Ambassadors confirmed that this programme is not only about creating change in our own communities, but also about creating change within ourselves: we saw youth ambassadors who spoke about their own self-development during the programme by building self-confidence, learning about their own strengths, developing their creativity, practicing wellbeing, and noticing that change-making is something that can be done in multiple ways, whether it is through social impact projects, creating meaningful global connections, fostering cross-cultural dialogue or by using our own voice.
Katie Tracy, from Festival of Hope, has co-organized the YAP for a second cohort this year. In her own words: "From day one of the program, I was amazed at the ambassadors' international diversity and the creative spectrum of their social impact interests. As I got to meet these ambassadors, I learned that they were not only compassionate leaders in their communities, but also warm-hearted individuals who have so much genuine curiosity for each other coming from different backgrounds. This is perhaps what I appreciated the most about my role in the YAP– the ability to witness and help facilitate meaningful, cross-cultural connections that are built on open-mindedness, understanding, and collaboration for a greater good."
Looking Forward
Global connections are the heart of the Youth Ambassador Programme - and we hope that many of these new friendships and collaborations last for years to come! As one Youth Ambassador stated, "I am excited to continue collaborating with my fellow ambassadors and to inspire others to join us in our pursuit of a more just, equitable, and sustainable world."
As we reflect on this incredible journey, one thing becomes abundantly clear: youth are driving meaningful change globally, holding important conversations, leading with empathy, compassion and commitment, and we should listen to them. Each Youth Ambassador has proven that age is no barrier to driving meaningful change - and that with the right support, guidance, and community, young people can transform their ideas into impactful realities. We are also excited to welcome the new cohort of Youth Ambassadors - so remember to apply for the next round by January 10, 2025!
Apply here to the next round of the Youth Ambassador Programme!