d37a500e

Meet Jihyun Ko: How Two Continents Turned a Quiet Observer Into a Purposeful Advocate

Sat, 25 Apr 2026 05:20:49 GMT

Jihyun Ko’s story is defined by transformation that spans continents, cultures, and ways of thinking. Born and raised in South Korea before moving to Michigan as a teenager, Ko’s journey reflects a shift not just in geography, but in mindset: from passive participation to active engagement, and from quiet observation to purposeful advocacy.

She spent the first thirteen years of her life in South Korea, where education was structured and largely centered on academic achievement within the classroom. Environmental sustainability, while present in the curriculum, was treated as something to understand rather than something to act upon. It was knowledge to internalize, not a call to action.

That began to change when she moved to Michigan three years ago, alone and without her parents, to attend high school. In her new environment, she encountered something she hadn’t experienced before: youth actively organizing, advocating, and engaging with real-world issues. Students weren’t just preparing for the future; they were participating in it. This realization marked a turning point. “I was able to see that students aren’t just people preparing to do great things,” she reflects. “They’re already capable of doing great things now.”

That shift in perspective sparked her involvement in advocacy work, particularly in education and environmental justice. She became engaged with organizations focused on improving public school systems, addressing inequities in funding, and expanding mental health resources for students. Her work is rooted in a belief that young people deserve not only a voice, but a meaningful role in shaping the systems that affect them.

One defining moment occurred when she was around twelve or thirteen years old, still living in South Korea. She found herself caught in a flash flood while walking home at night. As the water rose rapidly around her, she was forced to take shelter in a nearby building for hours, waiting for conditions to stabilize. The experience was frightening, immediate, and undeniable. Until then, climate change had felt abstract, distant, and difficult to grasp. But in that moment, it became tangible. “That was when I realized how severe this issue is,” she says. “It’s not just theoretical. It’s something that directly affects people’s lives.”

That realization stayed with her, shaping both her academic interests and her advocacy efforts. In Michigan, she began focusing on local environmental issues, particularly water quality and infrastructure concerns like pipeline systems in the Great Lakes region. What stood out to her was not just the environmental impact, but the social dimensions.

Again and again, she observed a troubling pattern: the people most vulnerable to environmental harm are often those with the least visibility and the least influence. In South Korea, she recalls, low-income families often live in semi-basement housing that is particularly susceptible to flooding. Elderly individuals in rural areas face heightened risks from natural disasters. These are the individuals most likely to experience the direct consequences of climate change, yet least likely to shape the policies addressing it.

This insight became central to her work and writing. For her, climate change is not just an environmental issue but a systemic one. Decisions about infrastructure, industry, and environmental policy are often made by those insulated from their consequences, while marginalized communities bear the burden. “It’s frustrating,” she admits. “The people most affected often don’t have the decision-making power.”

In response, she has embraced a form of advocacy that is both local and actionable. Rather than focusing solely on broad awareness campaigns, she emphasizes the importance of specific, measurable actions such as organizing around particular policies, engaging with local stakeholders, and creating opportunities for direct community involvement. Her experience in Michigan has reinforced this approach. She notes that grassroots organizations, particularly smaller, community-based groups, offer more accessible entry points for youth participation. Unlike large, national institutions, these groups allow individuals, regardless of age, to contribute meaningfully to decision-making processes. This bottom-up structure, she believes, is essential for fostering genuine engagement and driving tangible change.

Perhaps her greatest accomplishment, she says, is not a specific achievement, but a transformation in mindset. She has moved from seeing herself as a passive participant in systems to recognizing her role as an active contributor. Central to this growth is a value she holds deeply: adaptability. “Being ready to expand your perspectives is so important,” she explains. “What you’re familiar with isn’t always the full picture.”

Looking ahead, she envisions a future where her advocacy is complemented by technical expertise. She wants to deepen her understanding of environmental systems so that her work is not only persuasive, but authoritatively grounded in both lived experience and scientific knowledge. Her ultimate goal is not to solve global issues in isolation, but to address them through local action. She believes that meaningful change begins when communities identify specific challenges, engage directly with those affected, and develop targeted solutions. Whether addressing food insecurity, educational inequity, or environmental degradation, her focus remains on translating large-scale problems into actionable steps.

Throughout her journey, one theme remains constant: the importance of youth voices. She is acutely aware of the barriers young people face—limited political power, lack of recognition, and assumptions about their inexperience. Yet she also sees immense potential. Youth bring urgency, creativity, and a willingness to challenge the status quo. “It’s important that we find ways for youth voices to be heard,” she says. “Because we’re already experiencing these issues.”

As she reflects on her experiences and the path ahead, she offers a piece of advice to other young people, one that captures the essence of her journey: Passion is not something you simply discover; it is something you build. Rather than waiting for clarity, she encourages youth to explore widely, engage deeply, and remain curious. Through exposure to different ideas, challenges, and opportunities, individuals begin to uncover what truly matters to them.

“There’s so much to learn and so much to do,” she says. “Youth is the perfect time to be active—and the perfect time to keep learning.” In that spirit, her story stands not just as a personal narrative, but as an invitation: to pay attention, to take initiative, and to believe that meaningful change can begin now.

Read her Category-Winning submission here.

Jihyun Ko, Creative Writing Category Winner — Climate Cardinals x ChallengeUS Future Leaders Competition

[Photo/Courtesy of Marat]

Meet Assiya Marat: From a Mother's Cough to the Frontlines of Air Pollution Research

Sat, 25 Apr 2026 05:20:47 GMT

On most mornings in Almaty, Kazakhstan, the mountains disappear. The city sits in a bowl ringed by the Tian Shan peaks, but a persistent layer of smog erases them so completely that newcomers sometimes doubt they were ever there. For most residents, the haze has long since become wallpaper — unremarkable, unavoidable, normal. For Assiya, a high school student at Nazarbayev Intellectual School of Science and Mathematics, it became a calling.

"I remember how, about a year ago, Almaty was ranked the top city with the world's most polluted air," she says, with the kind of matter-of-fact gravity that suggests she has said it many times — to friends, to teachers, to anyone who will listen. "And this is why I became determined to focus all my work throughout high school on that issue."

The shift, when it came, had a face: her mother's. Allergic and sensitive to air quality, her mother would sneeze and cough through Almaty's worst days, a daily reminder that the smog was not abstract. Rather than resign herself to it, her mother began making changes — sorting recyclables, driving across the city to find the rare bins that would take them, rethinking the family's habits one practice at a time, even when no neighbours followed suit."My mother finds energy to do all these things, even when others don't. I realised: I shouldn't wait for others to step up when I can be the one who speaks up."

That image of a single person acting without waiting for permission or company settled into Assiya's thinking and would resurface years later when she was trying to understand why she herself kept hesitating. The turning point arrived in 8th and 9th grade, when Assiya began reading about young people who were already doing things: cleaning local waterways, converting air pollutants into ink, launching apps to track ecological damage. She was stunned. She tracked one of them down and asked, simply, how. The answer she got was vague: "Find the problem that concerns you, and just do it." In retrospect, however, she thinks that vagueness was the point. "The biggest life lessons happen when you figure things out yourself, not when everything is given to you on a platter."

She spent a year in that figuring-out phase. She read widely. She sat with the question of what, exactly, concerned her most. The answer, when she landed on it, was not surprising: air. The smog she had breathed every day. The mountains she could not always see. The invisible particulates her mother's lungs rejected. "If not now, when?" she remembers thinking. She started with a small chemistry project at school. That was enough of a foothold.

At fourteen, she co-developed an eco app designed to teach children about waste recycling through interactive games — grounded in the insight that young people absorb information better through play than through lectures. The same year, she joined the Junior Academy of the New York Academy of Sciences, finding herself, at fourteen, the youngest member of her team and somehow also its lead researcher, learning about bioreactor systems in real time and trusting that momentum would carry her through what preparation had not yet given her.

The momentum held. She was later selected as one of the IRIS NextGen Scholars — a competitive full scholarship that places students with university researchers for six weeks of intensive work. Assiya spent those weeks studying environmental epigenetics, specifically how early-life exposure to PM2.5 air pollutants during key developmental windows may affect cognitive function later in life. The research was dense, the timeline punishing. "I would spend every day analyzing papers, and there were so many terms I was unfamiliar with. But I learned them in six weeks.”

Alongside her research, Assiya has become increasingly preoccupied with what she calls normalization, meaning the psychological process by which a chronic crisis fades into background noise. She watched it happen with air pollution in her own city when the smog became part of the scenery, something to complain about and then ignore. She heard it in her classmates' voices when they shrugged at climate statistics. "Most people are not taking action. We're just living the way we lived, acting like nothing is happening, although we are inhaling invisible toxins in our lungs."

Normalization, in her view, is not apathy. It is a failure of imagination dressed up as realism. People convince themselves that only governments or large institutions can solve large problems, and so they wait, and waiting becomes a habit, and habit becomes identity. The counter to it, she argues, is not grand individual heroism but the steady accumulation of small, committed acts: starting an eco club, conducting a school survey, writing to a local official, choosing to recycle even when the bins are inconveniently far.

Her vision for the near future reflects this belief in scalable small actions. She wants to develop programmes teaching sustainable agricultural practices to farmers while also bringing basic waste-sorting literacy to teenagers and business owners. The eco app she built at fourteen was a proof of concept. The research she did at sixteen on PM2.5 is the scientific foundation. What comes next, she says, is implementation: moving from understanding the problem to reshaping how communities actually live inside it.

"Air pollution has shaped me so much," she says. It shaped her choice of subjects, her research focus, her career ambitions, and the texture of her daily social life. What she has also found, through this years-long process of self-discovery, is a clearer picture of how she thinks. She is a problem-solver by naturem but she has learned to slow down before solving. "I realised I tend to jump straight into solutions," she says. "So if I want to come up with a good solution, I have to spend enough time exploring the problem, understanding the root causes." It is the kind of self-knowledge that takes most people much longer to acquire, and she arrived at it not through instruction but through the friction of doing real work under real pressure.

Her advice to young people is to "Just go for it. We doubt ourselves. We immediately jump to assumptions that we’re going to fail. But you never know unless you try. If you have a project idea, or if you wanted to apply to a scholarship, just go for it. No matter how competitive it will be, or how challenging the journey is, start. Time is not an infinite resource. Young people have so much potential. Please, just try."

See her Category-Winning submission here.

Jerhan Duran, Speech Category Winner — Climate Cardinals x ChallengeUS Future Leaders Competition

[Photo/Courtesy of Marat]

Meet Jerhan Duran: How One Writer is Reframing the Climate Conversation From the Ground Up

Sat, 25 Apr 2026 05:20:44 GMT

For Jerhan Duran, understanding the world has never been about looking at a single issue in isolation. It has always been about connections between people, systems, and ideas that are often treated as separate but are, in reality, deeply intertwined. As a student, writer, and emerging voice in climate discourse, Jerhan is driven not just by a desire to inform but by a commitment to reframe how we think, speak, and act on the world’s most pressing challenges.

Jerhan’s journey spans places, cultures, and perspectives. Having grown up between Doha and Davao City, his understanding of the world has been shaped by both mobility and contrast. Among his most vivid childhood memories is a wide stretch of black sand beach in his hometown, a place defined by openness, play, and a sense of permanence. But that permanence proved fragile. When he returned years later, the shoreline had disappeared, replaced by a seawall. What had once been a space of childhood wonder had been overtaken by the slow but relentless advance of the sea.

That moment was more than just a personal loss; it was a realization. “The sea had begun to eat the coastline,” he recalls, echoing what local fishermen had told him. It was a striking example of climate change made visible. Yet, for Jerhan, the urgency of the crisis extends far beyond singular events. Living in the Philippines, he has come to recognize climate change not as a distant or abstract threat, but as something embedded in daily life, in the unpredictable shifts between intense heat and sudden rainfall, in the quiet disruptions that accumulate over time.

What truly transformed Jerhan’s understanding of climate change was not just what he saw; it was how he began to think about it. As an active consumer of digital media, he encountered perspectives that connected environmental issues to broader global dynamics, particularly conflict. Through social media platforms and coverage from international outlets, he began to see how war, destruction, and environmental degradation are not separate crises, but overlapping realities.

“That’s when I found a deeper perspective,” he explains. Climate change, in his view, is not just about emissions or rising temperatures; it is about systems of power, displacement, and human relationships. This realization became the foundation of his intellectual and creative work.

Jerhan’s interest in writing did not emerge overnight. In fact, for much of his early academic life, writing was simply a skill, something he knew how to do, but had not yet fully explored. That changed when he participated in the John Locke Global Essay Prize, where he received a High Commendation in the philosophy category. While the recognition itself was significant, its true impact lay in what followed.

“That was the spark,” Jerhan reflects. The experience pushed him to take writing seriously, not just as an academic exercise, but as a tool for inquiry and expression. From there, he began entering more competitions, joining organizations, and eventually becoming a feature writer for his school publication. Through journalism, he learned to expand his voice, blending analytical thinking with creative storytelling.

“It taught me to see issues from the perspective of those who are directly affected,” he says. That lesson now underpins much of his work, particularly his critique of how climate change is reported and discussed. In his ChallengeUS submission, Jerhan argues that mainstream climate coverage often sidelines what he calls “consequential voices,” those from disadvantaged, Indigenous, and marginalized communities. Contrary to the assumption that these groups lack representation, Jerhan suggests the issue lies deeper: in how they are perceived and engaged.

“They’re treated as special cases,” he explains, “instead of equal stakeholders.” This dynamic, he argues, reflects a broader lack of dignity in how these communities are included in climate discourse. Rather than being active participants in shaping solutions, they are often expected to accept externally imposed agendas. Jerhan also introduces the concept of a “culture of animosity” to describe the current state of many activist movements. In this culture, dialogue is replaced by confrontation, and the goal shifts from solving problems to winning arguments. While he acknowledges the importance of identifying issues, he believes that an overemphasis on conflict can hinder meaningful progress.

“The movement becomes problem-centric rather than solution-centric,” he says. For Jerhan, the future of climate advocacy lies not in amplifying division but in fostering dialogue and collaboration. This belief extends to his views on journalism. He sees media not just as a platform for reporting, but as a stabilizing force, one that can bridge divides and elevate nuanced perspectives. Among the various forms of media, he identifies youth-led publications as particularly promising. Free from many of the constraints that shape mainstream outlets, these platforms offer space for authenticity, experimentation, and a genuine commitment to truth.

“Youth writers are writing about the world they’re going to inherit,” he notes. “That gives them a different kind of responsibility.” At the heart of Jerhan’s work is a desire to shift the narrative, from one that focuses on isolated problems to one that emphasizes interconnected solutions. He envisions a future where climate reporting goes beyond simplified stories of victims and perpetrators, instead addressing the systemic displacement of people, livelihoods, and dignity. His ambitions reflect this vision. Aspiring to become a diplomat and peacekeeper within the United Nations, Jerhan hopes to bring a resolution-driven mindset to global discourse. He believes that journalists and policymakers alike can learn from diplomacy, particularly the importance of negotiation, empathy, and long-term thinking.

“Climate change doesn’t just kill,” he explains. “It displaces people from environments where they thrive.” Addressing that displacement, he argues, requires a deeper understanding of both environmental and social systems. Through his writing and reflections, Jerhan has also come to a personal realization: that addressing climate change ultimately requires addressing human behavior. “It’s about relationships,” he says. “How we interact with each other.” For him, solutions begin not just with policy, but with perspective and the willingness to question, to listen, and to engage.

This philosophy is perhaps best captured in his thoughts on youth voices. “When we elevate a student’s voice,” he explains, “we’re not just amplifying it. We’re helping it grow.” That growth, he believes, depends on curiosity.

When asked what advice he would give to other young people, Jerhan’s answer is both thoughtful and energizing: Be curious of everything, everywhere, every time. Not just open-minded, but actively curious. Approach every idea, every perspective, as if it were an undiscovered land waiting to be explored. Question it, learn from it, and let it shape you. And with a touch of humor, he adds: “They say curiosity killed the cat—but it won’t kill you. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be here, sharing your voice with the world.”For Jerhan, curiosity is as much a pathway as it is a mindset. A way to move beyond division, beyond assumption, and toward a more thoughtful, connected, and solution-driven world.

Read his Category-Winning submission here.

Jerhan Duran, Analytical Writing Category Winner — Climate Cardinals x ChallengeUS Future Leaders Competition

[Photo/Courtesy of Duran]

Meet Maegan Quiazon: Drawing From Experience to Paint a Path Toward Change

Sat, 25 Apr 2026 05:20:42 GMT

For Maegan Quiazon, understanding the world has never been limited to words alone. An artist, student, and aspiring psychologist, she has found meaning not just in what people say but in what they feel, observe, and sometimes struggle to express. Through her creativity and empathy, Maegan is learning how to bridge that gap, turning both personal experience and global challenges into something visible, understandable, and deeply human.

Maegan’s story begins with movement. Her family immigrated to the United States from the Philippines when she was just two years old. Though her memories of her birthplace are faint, that early transition shaped the environment in which she grew up, one defined by adaptation, growth, and quiet resilience. Now a high school student, she is enrolled in a gifted art program, where she has found not only a passion, but also a voice.

Art, for Maegan, is more than a hobby; it is a language. As a child, she often found it difficult to articulate her thoughts and emotions through words. Drawing became a way to process and communicate what she could not easily say aloud. Whether through sketching, embroidery, or designing patches, she discovered that creativity allowed her to express complex feelings with clarity and honesty. “Sometimes words don’t come out the way I want them to,” she reflects, “but art helps me put it out there in a way that feels right.”

Her interests extend far beyond the canvas. Maegan describes herself as someone drawn to “anything artsy,” but she is equally fascinated by science, particularly environmental science and psychology. Classes like Earth Science and AP Environmental Science opened her eyes to the interconnected systems that shape the planet, while her curiosity about human behavior led her toward a future in psychology. She is especially interested in understanding how people think, feel, and respond to the world around them, and how that understanding can be used to help others.

That desire to help is central to who she is. When asked about her greatest accomplishment, she doesn’t point to awards or achievements. Instead, she speaks about being there for others, about creating a space where people feel safe, heard, and understood. “Knowing that I can be that person for someone,” she says, “that makes me really proud.”

Much of that perspective has been shaped by the people around her. Teachers, in particular, have played an important role in her life not just as educators, but as mentors who modeled kindness and understanding. Alongside them stands her older sister, whose work ethic and determination continue to inspire Maegan to push beyond her limits.

This blend of empathy, curiosity, and creativity is what ultimately shaped Maegan’s submission to the ChallengeUS competition. Her piece, rooted in both memory and observation, reflects a formative moment from her childhood. In elementary school, a hands-on classroom demonstration about watersheds and runoff changed the way she saw the environment. Using a physical model of a landscape, her teacher showed how pollutants like fertilizer, trash, and sediment travel through water systems. What once seemed abstract suddenly became real.

“That’s when it clicked,” Maegan recalls. “I could actually see it happening.” That moment of clarity stayed with her. Over time, she began noticing the small, often overlooked ways human actions impact the environment. Her artwork captures this realization through a striking visual: a large figure looming over a miniature world, watching as environmental damage unfolds below. The contrast in scale is intentional. It reflects a powerful truth that humans, collectively, have an enormous influence over the planet.

“We are that big force,” she explains. “We can do so much good or so much bad. It depends on what we choose to do.” She emphasizes that climate change is not just a distant or abstract issue; it is shaped by everyday actions, many of which people don’t fully understand. This is where she believes art plays a crucial role. While data and statistics are essential, they can feel distant or overwhelming. Art, on the other hand, makes the issue tangible. “Numbers can be hard to connect with,” she says. “But when you can see something, when it’s visual, it becomes easier to understand.”

For Maegan, the goal of her work is not just to inform, but to inspire action. She hopes that viewers of her submission walk away with a greater willingness to learn, to move past fear or indifference, and become more open to understanding climate change and its impacts. In her view, one of the biggest barriers to progress is not lack of care, but lack of awareness.

This belief aligns closely with her perspective on youth voices. She sees her generation as uniquely positioned to speak on the challenges of today because they are living through them in real time. From global events like the COVID-19 pandemic to the ongoing climate crisis, young people are not just observers; they are participants. Their insights, she argues, are essential.

“We’re experiencing these things firsthand,” she says. “People need to hear how it affects us.”

Through the process of creating her submission, Maegan also discovered something about herself: that her voice matters. Even in a world where youth perspectives are sometimes dismissed, she believes strongly that her generation is thoughtful, aware, and eager to create change. “We care,” she emphasizes. “Even if it doesn’t always look like it.”

Looking ahead, Maegan hopes to carry that mindset into a future in psychology, where she can continue helping others on a deeper level. Whether through art, conversation, or professional work, her goal remains the same: to understand people and to support them. At her core, Maegan’s story is about connection: between people, between ideas, and between action and understanding. It is about recognizing both the power and responsibility we hold, and choosing to use that power with intention.

When asked what advice she would give to other young people, her answer is simple, but deeply meaningful: Be open. Be willing to learn. Knowledge, she believes, is what allows people to grow, to act, and to make a difference. “Once you understand something,” she says, “you can go farther than you think.”

In a world that often feels overwhelming, Maegan’s perspective offers something steady, a reminder that change begins with awareness, and that even the smallest shifts in understanding can lead to something much bigger.

See her Category-Winning submission here.

Maegan Quiazon, Art Category Winner — Climate Cardinals x ChallengeUS Future Leaders Competition

[Photo/Courtesy of Quiazon]

Meet Gia Bao Kieu: How One Story, One Poster, One Voice, and One Young Leader Sparked Real Change

Sat, 25 Apr 2026 05:19:48 GMT

Gia Bao Kieu does not speak about climate change as a distant or abstract issue. For him, it is deeply personal, rooted in lived experience, loss, and resilience. Born in a remote area in northern Vietnam, his early life was shaped not only by geographic isolation but by the growing realities of a changing climate. When a devastating flood destroyed his family’s home, it forced them to rebuild their lives from nothing, an experience that would later define both his worldview and his purpose.

His story is not one of a single hometown, but of multiple beginnings.

After the flood, his family relocated to a lower-lying area, where they rebuilt everything from scratch. That place became what he calls his “second hometown,” where he spent most of his childhood and completed his primary and secondary education. Years later, driven by academic ambition and a desire to expand his impact, he moved to Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, to pursue higher education. Today, he is a fourth-year English linguistics major at the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam.

But beyond academics, he has cultivated a life defined by advocacy, creativity, and a deep commitment to social impact. From a young age, he demonstrated a wide range of personal interests. He enjoys playing chess, performing music, and exploring artistic expression. However, at the core of his identity lies a clear and powerful sense of purpose: to create meaningful change for those whose voices are often unheard.

His passion centers on climate change, youth empowerment, and women’s rights, particularly for those living in vulnerable or marginalized communities. Over time, this passion has translated into tangible action. He has participated in numerous international competitions and initiatives, earning recognition for his work and ideas. He has represented Vietnam in international forums in countries such as South Korea and Laos, where he spoke about climate change and its impacts. He has also contributed to projects focused on sustainable fashion and the preservation of traditional craftsmanship in rural Vietnam through his involvement with Empower Women Asia.

Despite these accomplishments, he does not define success by awards or recognition. Instead, he points to a moment from his teenage years as his most meaningful achievement. When he was in 10th grade, he created a poster based on a photograph he had taken of a haunting image of a mother and child stranded on a rooftop during a flood, waiting for rescue that never came. The two eventually died after days without food or support, a tragedy that reflected the harsh realities faced by many in vulnerable communities. Deeply affected by their story, he shared the image and accompanying message on social media, hoping to raise awareness.

What happened next exceeded his expectations. Local authorities noticed the impact of his post and reached out to him. They decided to print and distribute his poster widely, displaying it across public spaces. More importantly, the campaign led to tangible action: increased donations, improved infrastructure, and greater support for communities at risk of future disasters. For him, this was a turning point not just because his work was recognized, but because it resulted in real change.

“That was when I realized,” he reflects, “that storytelling can move people to act.” This experience also reinforced one of his core beliefs: that awareness alone is not enough. Throughout his work, he has become increasingly critical of what he sees as a common but ineffective approach to activism: the vague call to “raise awareness.” While he acknowledges its importance, he argues that it often lacks specificity and accountability. In his view, real change requires clear actions, targeted solutions, and a willingness to address root causes.

“It’s too general,” he explains. “People say we should raise awareness, but they don’t say what we should actually do.” Instead, he focuses on amplifying specific stories and connecting them to actionable outcomes. Through blog writing, interviews, and public engagement, he works to highlight the lived experiences of those affected by climate change, particularly individuals in rural and low-income communities. His goal is not just to inform, but to shift perspectives and inspire concrete responses.

Underlying this work is a deeply personal understanding of climate injustice. Having witnessed the destruction of his own home and the loss of lives in his community, he is acutely aware of the unequal burden climate change places on different populations. Farmers, for example, often depend entirely on weather conditions for their livelihoods, yet have little control over the forces that disrupt them. When disasters occur, these individuals frequently blame themselves, believing they failed to prepare adequately.

He finds this mindset both common and deeply troubling. “They think it’s their fault,” he says. “But it’s not.” For him, one of the most dangerous aspects of climate change is not just the physical destruction it causes, but the normalization of that destruction. This acceptance, he argues, prevents meaningful action and allows systemic issues to persist.

In response, he has embraced what he calls a “refusal of silence.” This philosophy guides his approach to advocacy. Rather than accepting harmful narratives or remaining passive, he actively seeks out stories, shares them on broader platforms, and challenges misconceptions. Even when individuals are not ready to speak out for themselves, he takes on the responsibility of amplifying their voices, ensuring that their experiences are seen and acknowledged.

At the same time, he recognizes that change must extend beyond individual action to systemic reform. For him, a “climate-just” Vietnam is one where policies are not only equal but equitable. He points out that current approaches often distribute resources evenly, without considering differing levels of need. As a result, wealthier individuals can recover more easily, while poorer communities remain vulnerable.

True climate justice, he argues, requires targeted support—investments in stronger infrastructure, inclusive policymaking, and educational initiatives that empower communities with knowledge and agency. Education, in particular, plays a critical role in shifting mindsets and breaking cycles of misinformation.“People need to understand what’s happening,” he says. “Only then can they take action.”

Despite the challenges he has faced, he remains hopeful about the role of youth in shaping the future. He believes that young people bring fresh perspectives, adaptability, and a willingness to challenge outdated systems. However, he also emphasizes the importance of collaboration between generations. “Youth have ideas,” he explains, “and if adults listen, we can create better solutions together.”

As he looks to the future, he envisions himself in roles that allow him to influence policy and connect communities, whether as an environmental leader, a government official, or a diplomat. Regardless of the path he chooses, his goal remains the same: to improve the lives of those most affected by climate change and to ensure that their voices are no longer ignored.

In the end, his message to other young people is simple, yet powerful: Be yourself. Be confident. And do not be afraid of making mistakes. Because, as he believes, it is through those mistakes and the courage to learn from them that true growth and unexpected opportunities emerge.

Read his Category-Winning submission here.

Gia Bao Kieu, Grand Prize Winner — Climate Cardinals x ChallengeUS Future Leaders Competition

[Photo/Courtesy of Kieu]

ChallengeUS and Climate Cardinals Partner to Launch Climate-Focused Future Leaders Competition

Sun, 09 Nov 2025 05:36:47 GMT

ChallengeUS and Climate Cardinals are excited to announce that we are joining forces to present the Climate Cardinals x ChallengeUS Future Leaders Competition. This collaboration brings together ChallengeUS’ experience in global student competitions with Climate Cardinal’s expertise in community-centered climate action.

This partnership addresses a critical need in the climate movement: engaging diverse youth voices in climate conversations while ensuring accessibility across geographic boundaries. Through this competition, we aim to amplify solutions from underrepresented communities while providing youth worldwide with a meaningful platform to engage with pressing environmental issues.

The competition will invite youth from around the world to submit creative essays, analytical solutions, compelling narratives, and even inspiring artwork addressing climate resilience, adaptation, and sustainability. Participants will compete for scholarship prizes, connect with a global community of youth leaders, earn public recognition for their work, and contribute innovative perspectives to climate discourse.

Both organizations share a deep passion and commitment to youth empowerment and seek to create avenues for youth civic involvement. Through this partnership, we aim to create not just a competition but a launchpad for a movement that recognizes the global youth as current and future leaders in climate action.

Meet Zaria Musarrat: A Social Innovator Building Solutions for Climate and Community

Sun, 28 Sep 2025 19:17:21 GMT

In the bustling capital of Dhaka, Bangladesh, then-eight-year-old Zaria Musarrat received a screwdriver for her birthday—a gift that would spark a lifelong passion for innovation. What followed were hours spent dismantling TV remotes, calculators, and any machine she could find in her house, much to her mother's initial dismay but eventual pride.

Fast forward to today, Zaria has channeled that childhood curiosity into a mission that extends far beyond her small suburban township in the north of Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh. As a student, she has become a voice for climate resilience and technological solutions that prioritize equity and community impact. Her approach to innovation is deeply personal, shaped by experiences that many young people her age might find overwhelming, but that she has transformed into purpose.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Zaria watched her grandmother struggle with Alzheimer's disease, isolated and alone during lockdown. The experience worsened her grandmother's condition, inspiring Zaria to begin developing a social robot designed to provide companionship to elderly individuals. "Unfortunately, she passed away before I could finish my model," Zaria reflects, "but I continued testing and improving the prototype with other elderly, hoping that one day it can help them and make a difference to someone who suffers the same problem."

This project exemplifies Zaria's philosophy that technology should serve human needs, particularly those of the most vulnerable. She's currently developing "Serendipity Zone," a mental health app for teenagers, addressing what she sees as a critical gap in her community where mental health remains stigmatized and under-discussed. Her mother's guidance echoes through her work: "Even if you fail in life, at least know that you're doing it ethically."

Growing up in a flood-prone area of Bangladesh has given Zaria an intimate understanding of climate change's daily realities. She recalls watching from her balcony as storms battered her neighborhood, with one coconut tree—planted by her grandfather—standing resilient while others fell. That coconut tree became the inspiration for the mango tree metaphor in her climate change submission, symbolizing the resilience her country needs to develop. "Even though the entire neighborhood's trees collapsed in the storm, the coconut tree survived," she explains. "It had very sturdy roots and strong stems." This image of adaptation and strength influences her approach to Bangladesh's flooding challenges. Rather than viewing floods as insurmountable disasters, Zaria advocates for "learning to live with water rather than fearing it"—a philosophy that emphasizes community-driven solutions and technological innovation.

Her proposed solutions include permeable pavement, urban wetlands, and raised housing, with particular emphasis on serving slum areas that face the greatest flood impacts. "Slum areas are the areas being affected most by flooding, and they're also suffering from a lot of diseases due to this," she notes.

Beyond her individual projects, Zaria has found purpose in mentoring others. She leads the robotics club at her school and teaches children robotics, creating platforms for young people who share her passion for innovation but may lack opportunities or guidance. Her robotics mentor, who stays up until midnight helping students fix broken robots, taught her that perseverance can solve seemingly impossible problems.

"While creating policies and initiatives to solve problems, one of the most important factors to consider is equity," she emphasizes. "We have to ensure that the solution is helping everyone, not just a certain economic group." This commitment to inclusive innovation drives her ultimate goal: to pursue a career in mechanical engineering, dedicating herself to building technologies that address real needs and create opportunities for others.

Zaria envisions establishing a community for young innovators like herself—those with ideas and passion but lacking the resources or guidance to bring their visions to life. "I've noticed that many people have the interest and goal to create, but they don't have the opportunity or proper guidance toward making their inventions or ideas into reality," she explains.

As someone who has participated in international Olympiads and academic competitions, Zaria understands the importance of elevating young voices on global issues. She believes that when diverse perspectives are heard—particularly those often marginalized—communities become stronger and more capable of solving complex problems. "Every person brings a unique experience, and their ideas and perspectives can create stronger communities and help solve problems more easily," she argues.

Zaria's journey has taught her three fundamental lessons that guide her work: the importance of perseverance, the necessity of ethical decision-making, and the understanding that growth comes from challenges. Like the mango tree in her metaphor, she has learned to bend with storms while maintaining strong roots in her values and community. "Setbacks are not always failures," she reflects, "but they're actually opportunities to learn. It's really important to stay curious, and no matter how many setbacks we face in life, we shouldn't let that curiosity go away."

As climate change continues to challenge developing nations like Bangladesh, young innovators like Zaria Musarrat represent hope—not just for technological solutions, but for approaches that prioritize community, equity, and human dignity. Her story demonstrates that the most powerful innovations often begin not with sophisticated equipment, but with a simple screwdriver and an unwavering commitment to helping others.

Read her Grand Prize Winning submission here.

Zaria Musarrat, Grand Prize Winner — Summer 2025 ChallengeUS Future Leaders Competition

[Photo/Courtesy of Musarrat]

Meet Dominik Bryant: Flipping the Script on Political Polarization

Sun, 28 Sep 2025 19:17:17 GMT

In the liberal college town of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 16-year-old Dominik Bryant has discovered something his politically homogeneous high school couldn't teach him: the danger of ideological isolation. As a junior who has spent many years immersed in theater, music, and Model UN, Dominik brings a performer's eye to political analysis—and what he sees concerns him.

"The greatest danger to our democracy is not disagreement," he argues in his category-winning speech. "It's the belief that disagreement makes someone your enemy." This insight didn't come from textbooks or campaign rallies, but from watching classmates ostracize peers whose parents voted differently. Dominik witnessed political polarization tearing apart friend groups—a microcosm of national dysfunction that sparked his mission to bridge divides.

As president of his school's Model UN club, Dominik and his fellow leaders have led their team to become what he proudly calls "the best Model UN team in North Carolina." But his proudest moments aren't about trophies—they're about transformation. "Helping people individually grow from being the shy person they are to winning an award that same year," he explains, describing the rewarding journey of watching students develop confidence through public speaking.

This intersection of performance and politics isn't coincidental for Dominik. His theater training, culminating in acceptance to the prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts summer program, has taught him to see beyond surface-level motivations. "You start to understand why people do things they do in a little bit of an uncanny way," he reflects. "If you start to see that in a play, then you really start to see it in the real world too." His theater teacher serves as a key mentor, reshaping his worldview by demonstrating the complexity of people and situations. This perspective proves invaluable in political analysis, where Dominik applies an actor's skill for understanding character motivation to decode policy positions and partisan behavior.

The son of UNC professors, Dominik has grown up in an academic environment that values intellectual rigor and critical thinking. His diverse interests—from jazz to volunteering to teach elementary students about ecosystems—reflect a multifaceted approach to learning that he believes is essential for effective leadership. His political awakening came through witnessing polarization firsthand, both locally and nationally. He points to recent gun reform legislation that failed "by a couple votes because people didn't want to be seen siding with Democrats." The policy itself became secondary to partisan optics, illustrating what Dominik sees as a fundamental breakdown in American governance.

His solution involves three interconnected approaches: dismantling the two-party system, reducing income inequality, and decreasing divisive discussion. While he acknowledges the social aspect is "the hardest to change because there's no clear path forward," he advocates starting with economic reforms as the most feasible entry point.

"When we level the economic playing field, politics becomes more of a dialogue to improve and less of a fight for survival," he argues, drawing connections between class struggle and political dysfunction. His analysis points to campaign finance as a root cause: "If votes can be bought instead of earned, then there's a fundamental problem with how we talk about campaign finance."

Dominik's approach emphasizes learning from international examples rather than American exceptionalism. His research into European political systems revealed practical models for proportional voting and coalition governance. "We have dozens of case studies," he notes, "but it's just the fact that what it takes to affect change is a much larger hill to climb than the actual change itself." This practical idealism extends to his view of youth engagement. Rather than waiting for others to act, he advocates being "the catalyst for change" because "if not you, then who?" His Model UN experience reinforces this philosophy, teaching him that compromise and collaboration require understanding multiple perspectives—skills his theater background amplifies.

The performing arts remain central to his identity and future plans. "I think a lot of theater is politics at its core," he observes. "Theater is generally used to create change in the world, whether it be through political message or changing culture in general." This dual passion for stage and statecraft isn't contradictory—it's complementary, offering tools for both understanding and influencing human behavior. As someone who values honesty and dedication above all else, Dominik sees work ethic as "what drives change" and "gets you out of bed in the morning." His commitment to doing "the hard work that needs to be done" reflects both his theatrical training—where preparation and practice determine performance quality—and his political aspirations, where sustainable change requires persistent effort.

His advice for fellow young people is characteristically direct: "Be the action, be the change, and work towards your goals, because that's the only way to actually get there." He understands that "the more sparks there are, the larger the fire will be," emphasizing collective action over individual heroics.

As he prepares for college and continued civic engagement, Dominik represents a generation that refuses to accept dysfunction as normal. Armed with theatrical insight and political acumen, he's working to write a different script for American democracy—one where disagreement doesn't require enmity, and where diverse voices contribute to a more compelling collective story.

View his Category-Winning submission here.

Dominik Bryant, Speech Category Winner — Summer 2025 ChallengeUS Future Leaders Competition

[Photo/Courtesy of Bryant]

Meet Mahnoor Jalil: Turning Small Steps and Personal Experience Into Ripples of Impact

Sun, 28 Sep 2025 19:17:14 GMT

At the top of Mahnoor Jalil’s daily to-do list, alongside homework assignments and robotics club meetings, sits one constant reminder: "Take initiative." It's a lesson the 15-year-old sophomore from Pakistan learned early and has carried with her through every challenge, from navigating flood waters in her own home to advocating for climate action across her country.

Growing up across different cities in Pakistan, from mountainous northern villages to suburban areas, Mahnoor has witnessed her country's geographic diversity firsthand. This mobility has shaped her perspective on community and belonging, teaching her to adapt quickly while maintaining her core values of kindness, generosity, and thinking about how her actions affect others. "I feel like you shouldn't be selfish," she reflects, challenging the modern emphasis on self-interest. "You can be selfish—I mean, you will benefit from everything you do, but you should try to think about others." This philosophy guides everything from her creative writing to her involvement in student government and her work with "Acts for Forests," a social media initiative she launched with classmates to raise awareness about climate change and deforestation.

The moment climate change transformed from an abstract concept to an urgent reality came in 2021 when her house flooded. Like the character in her climate change submission, her initial reaction was dismissive—she woke up, thought "it's just a flood," and went back to sleep. But her mother's panicked voices from the other room jolted her into awareness of the crisis unfolding around her.

"Before this event, my approach to climate change was that these were just words in my vocabulary, like I would use them in geography class, but I never really thought about it," she explains. "When that happened to me, the whole experience became so real." Watching her neighbor's car disappear under flood water and seeing her family's furniture, books, and documents destroyed made her realize the broader implications for vulnerable communities living in coastal regions or slums. This personal experience drives her current activism and her academic pursuits. As a computer science student with a particular interest in artificial intelligence, Mahnoor sees technology as a potential solution. She wants to understand how AI impacts the world and how it might be harnessed for positive change.

Her creative approach to problem-solving shines through her academic work and activism. When crafting her climate change submission for ChallengeUS, Mahnoor chose multiple formats—diary entries, poems, news reports—to capture different perspectives across time. "I wanted to encapsulate the future as well as a past experience," she explains. "I felt like one piece of writing or one way of writing wouldn't be sufficient enough."

This multifaceted approach reflects her broader philosophy about impact and leadership. Rather than aiming for immediate, massive change, she advocates for expanding individual "bubbles" of influence gradually. "Everyone lives in their own world, and I want my bubble to expand in a sense where, if I bring the change, I can slowly and gradually make other people's bubbles change as well."

Her commitment to taking initiative extends beyond environmental activism. This year, she spent five months applying for a youth exchange program, handling all the paperwork, interviews, and logistics herself. Though she wasn't selected, the process became what she considers her greatest accomplishment to date. Watching her navigate the complex application inspired younger students to apply for similar opportunities. "Some of my juniors saw me at school filling out those forms and getting forms from my teachers, and they were like, 'Wow, I want to apply next year too. I want to be just as passionate about this as you,'" she recalls. The experience taught her that failure isn't something to fear—it's an opportunity to inspire others and build confidence.

As a member of her school's robotics club and student council, Mahnoor balances technical skills with leadership development. Her teachers, whom she credits as mentors alongside her family, support her various endeavors even when they conflict with traditional academic schedules. This support system reinforces her belief that mentorship comes from many sources. "I feel like every individual person can teach you something," she says, describing how her seventh-grade English teacher taught her about different perspectives, while her current math teacher offers guidance on both academics and personal development.

Mahnoor’s diverse interests, ranging from painting to research to essay writing, act as complementary tools for expression and impact. "I fear that may spread me thin, but at the same time, I feel like I can't get enough of everything," she admits. Her YouTube search history reflects this curiosity, spanning random topics that feed her constant research habit.

Her vision for the future centers on artificial intelligence and continued activism, but she's intentionally taking "baby steps" rather than rushing toward grand transformations. "I don't want to make a transformative, tremendous impact all at once," she explains. "I really want to take one step at a time." This measured approach to change reflects her understanding of youth leadership. Unlike those who view young people as "future leaders," Mahnoor insists that "we're not just future leaders, we're also present leaders." She believes providing students with platforms to advocate, express themselves, and pursue their interests creates immediate impact while developing skills for long-term change.

Her climate change submission concluded with a powerful declaration: "The future is listening." For Mahnoor, this isn't just a call to action—it's a reminder that today's choices echo forward in time, that present leaders must act with future consequences in mind, and that the voices of young people deserve to be heard now, not someday.

As Pakistan continues to face climate challenges, from flash floods in northern regions to coastal threats, Mahnoor represents a generation refusing to wait for others to solve the problems they'll inherit. Armed with initiative, creativity, and an expanding bubble of influence, she's writing her way toward a future where technology serves humanity and where taking action—however small—creates ripples of meaningful change.

Read her Category-Winning submission here.

Mahnoor Jalil, Creative Writing Category Winner — Summer 2025 ChallengeUS Future Leaders Competition

[Photo/Courtesy of Jalil]

Meet Eshal Khan: A Young Advocate Turning Stories Into a Mission

Sun, 28 Sep 2025 19:17:11 GMT

AAt just sixteen years old, Eshal Khan is already living a life of purpose. A tenth-grade student from Lahore, Pakistan, she balances the everyday rhythms of school and basketball—where she captains her team—with a passion for writing essays and a commitment to activism. What sets her apart is not only her ability to articulate the struggles faced by women in her country, but also her determination to address them head-on.

Growing up in one of Lahore’s urban enclaves, Eshal was always aware of the stark disparities in Pakistan. “Whenever I go outside of my city or outside of my area, I notice that it’s really different from where I live,” she explains. That awareness deepened when she heard the story of a woman who worked in her household—a woman trapped in an abusive marriage, abandoned by the law, and fearful for her daughter’s safety. “I was really affected by it personally,” Eshal recalls. “That’s when I started to really think about the situation of women in my country.”

From that moment, Eshal’s path turned toward advocacy. She began writing essays for Airtica, a women’s empowerment NGO, and now contributes to Ovan Kasahara (“Support for the People”), where she promotes their initiatives and pens thoughtful articles. In her words: “Students have a lot of power, especially Gen Z, through social media. People underestimate student voices, but we’re making a lot of difference—sometimes more than the government itself.”

Her activism is not confined to words. Recently, Eshal organized a fundraiser that brought in the equivalent of $700 USD, which she used to provide books and hygiene products to girls in rural schools. She has also hosted workshops to show women the value of education—something she sees as the cornerstone of change. “Education is the first step,” she says firmly. “It leads to knowing your rights and gaining economic empowerment.”

Eshal’s journey has not been without personal challenges. As a younger student, she endured bullying, leading to her move to another school. There, she discovered what true friendship could mean. “I realized that people aren’t so bad after all,” she reflects. “My friends have supported me through a lot. They’re the people I value the most, apart from my family.”

Among family, her mother stands as her greatest mentor. Raised with little, her mother dreamed of becoming a doctor but could not pursue that path due to financial barriers. Instead, she carved her own way forward, becoming a role model for resilience. “She’s a really strong woman,” Eshal says with quiet admiration. “She had to build her way up, and she’s taught me the lessons she’s learned throughout her life.”

Eshal is clear-eyed about the challenges Pakistan still faces. She speaks candidly about femicide and the dangers faced by transgender people in rural areas, noting how normalized violence against women is. Yet she also points to progress: “Now, in recent years, younger people are more aware. In urban areas, things are slowly changing.” She believes media—films, television, and social platforms—could shift cultural narratives by showing women beyond traditional domestic roles.

Her vision extends beyond women’s rights. Eshal is deeply concerned about climate change and animal welfare, causes she supports through NGO work and environmental advocacy. For her, even small changes matter: “I don’t mean completely switching to a vegan diet,” she explains. “But the little choices we make—like using a plastic bottle—impact the future. We need to be aware of them.”

When asked about her proudest accomplishment, Eshal doesn’t hesitate to return to the impact of her fundraiser and workshops. But she also sees hope in something broader: the energy of her generation. “The last generation normalized women being abused,” she says. “But now, more people are becoming liberal, and communities are more accepting. Youth can play a huge part in shifting things.”

For peers around the world, her advice is simple but powerful: “Be grateful for the opportunities you have, and make the most of them. A lot of people don’t have those chances. Even if the biggest problem you face is just school and homework, do your best—and make a difference in the world.”

With her mix of conviction, compassion, and courage, Eshal is already proving that change begins with the voices of students willing to speak—and act—for what they believe in.

Read her Category-Winning submission here.

ChallengeUS Joins New Voters Collaborative

Mon, 15 Sep 2025 17:45:55 GMT

ChallengeUS is proud to announce we are joining the New Voters Collaborative. We are excited to join a growing coalition of over 70+ organizations dedicated to increasing civic engagement and voting participation among high school students nationwide.

As a member of the Collaborative, our team will regularly convene with leading civic organizations to exchange best practices, develop impactful strategies, and inspire young people to become more informed and active participants in democracy.

Led by new Voters, the Collaborative continues the organization’s long standing work in the civic space. Originally founded to address the challenge of historically low youth voter participation, New Voters is a nonpartisan, nonprofit dedicated to supporting voter registration efforts while increasing opportunities for youth-led research in the civic space. The organization has received national recognition for its student-centered work in mobilizing young voters, including as a fellow project alongside ChallengeUS in the Carnegie Young Leaders fellowship.

By collaborating with the New Voters and other members of the collaborative, ChallengeUS is excited to deepen our efforts in cultivating a globally engaged generation that is civically informed, motivated, and engaged.

For more information on New Voters and the New Voters Collaborative, click here .

Institute for Citizens and Scholars Selects ChallengeUS for Inaugural Carnegie Young Leaders for Civic Preparedness Fellowship

Thu, 14 Aug 2025 19:06:33 GMT

ChallengeUS is proud to announce that The Institute for Citizens and Scholars has selected ChallengeUS for the inaugural Carnegie Young Leaders for Civic Preparedness fellowship, joining 500 promising young changemakers from 27 states who are committed to strengthening their communities and democracy.

Funded by a $2,000,000+ grant from the Carnegie Corporation of New York, the program provides young leaders, ages 14–24, with up to $7,500 per team in project funding, stipends, mentorship, and access to a national network of peers and civic leaders to bring these programs to life.

As Carnegie Young Leaders, our team will participate in a year-long series of virtual and in-person activities, including leadership workshops, networking opportunities, and a capstone project. This program is designed to equip young leaders with the skills, mentorship, and resources needed to bridge divides and solve pressing community challenges.

The experience aims to empower the next generation of civic leaders. Unlike programs that simply provide funding, the Carnegie Young Leaders for Civic Preparedness puts real decisions and real responsibility in the hands of its fellows, trusting them to zero-in on what truly matters in their communities and make it happen.

ChallengeUS and Carnegie Young Leaders share a common vision to activate and elevate youth voices to drive civic progress. Since its inception, ChallengeUS has championed student-led innovation through competitive platforms that spotlight fresh ideas on issues like economic inequality, corruption, and climate change. Now, through the Carnegie program, we will further develop our experience in civic engagement, community organizing, and collaborative problem-solving.

As part of the Citizens and Scholars Network, we are humbled to join a cohort of bold, youth-led teams who have demonstrated outstanding vision, collaboration, and a deep commitment to driving positive change in their communities. For ChallengeUS, this milestone marks a significant step in our mission to build a global network of student leaders and expand civic spaces for all ages.

For more information on the Institute for Citizens and Scholars and the Carnegie Young Leaders program, click here .

Carnegie Young Leaders Kickoff Convening 2025 — Princeton, New Jersey

[Photo/Courtesy of Institute for Citizens & Scholars]

ChallengeUS Joins Made By Us Civic Season

Thu, 19 Jun 2025 04:48:56 GMT

ChallengeUS is proud to announce our acceptance into the Made By Us’ Civic Season Coalition earlier this month. We are fortunate to join 700+ organizations in the fight for democracy and improved civic engagement among younger generations.

With a focus on self-discovery and civic development, Civic Season, developed by Made By Us, is an inspiring network comprising hundreds of civic leaders from museums, libraries, individuals, and organizations. This year’s Civic Season starts on Juneteenth to commemorate the continued efforts to create “a more perfect union” and ends on July 4th to celebrate the work so far to ensure civil liberties.

Throughout this period, the coalition and Made By Us serve as an avenue for younger generations to connect to and explore countless stories, groups, and tools to further their civic participation and help fuel our democracy. Civic Season provides a list of hundreds of in-person and online opportunities across the country for youth to participate in. From birding walks in Indiana to guides on hosting community dinners to webinars on historical events, Civic Season demonstrates that there is no one way to be civically engaged.

As a member of the coalition, we have continued our journey in supporting and uplifting youth voices in civic spaces and are excited about our partnership with Made By Us’ Civic Season. We cannot wait to usher in America’s 250th anniversary alongside Made By Us and countless other invaluable groups in the months and years to come.

Meet Sara Shiraz: A Future Leader Living Out Service-Minded Leadership

Fri, 25 Apr 2025 01:56:48 GMT

“Being a good leader means empowering other people to do their best,” stated Sara Shiraz, a 17-year-old student at the Queensland Academy for Science, Mathematics, and Technology in Brisbane, Australia. Sara has long been dedicated to serving others. Her former school’s motto, Ut Serviamus (that we may serve), has become a guiding phrase in her life.

Her most impactful service experience happened a few years ago when she attended a summer camp in India where participants from over 10 countries were selected to help school-aged boys learn how to look after their environment and the space around them. Through this experience, Sara not only developed long-lasting connections but arrived at a new perspective on life. As Sara put it, “There are people who would trade your worst day for the world because, for them, that would be their best day.” This new perspective enforced the importance of reflection in Sara’s life and being grateful for the opportunities she receives. In the future, she hopes to return to the school where she spent her summer and support the creation of solutions for more complex problems in the community, such as infrastructure.

During her time in India, she also visited a northern village in Gujarat, India, where she toured safe housing spaces created by the Aga Khan Development Network Agency for Habitat, a subset of the overall Aga Khan Development Network. The Aga Khan Development Network is a philanthropic foundation set up by His Late Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan IV, dedicated to improving the quality of life for those in need. The broad service initiatives the Network has conducted have long been a source of profound inspiration for Sara, further entrenching her dedication to service. In the future, Sara hopes to join the Aga Khan Development Network and support their work to help communities and individuals become self-reliant.

Princess Aga Khan, the daughter of His Late Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan IV, has served as another source of inspiration for Sara. Princess Aga Khan has worked on development projects across the world and has an integral role in her late father’s philanthropic foundation. She has long been a champion of aiding those in need and utilizes her position to increase awareness on issues of importance. For Sara, Princess Aga Khan embodies who she wishes to become, a passionate individual who has dedicated their life in the service of others.

Specifically, Sara hopes to dedicate her life to aiding women who have faced domestic violence. When she was in India, she met a group of women who had locked themselves in a courtroom for 40 hours without food or water to protest the gender based discrimination they faced when attempting to find employment. Their story inspired her to create change within the gender equity space and specifically to work with underprivileged women. She thus hopes to develop an organization to support those facing domestic violence in her future professional career.

Through her time in India, Sara learned the significance of having lived experiences. She notes that many adults often view youth as incapable of contributing to political spaces due to their lack of lived experiences. While she sees the reasoning behind this thinking, she also believes it is irresponsible for political leaders to make decisions about the future that youth will inherit when youth are not privy to the discussions themselves. To respect the youth, Sara notes, “we must give them a voice.” And if youth are given a voice, they can bring in outside perspectives that act as a check and balance on those in power to ensure the right topics are being tackled. Sara believes it is especially important to bring outsider youth perspectives into political decision-making because when individuals are given positions of power, they often forget the true problems of the populace or community in favor of their interests.

When asked to provide advice for her peers, Sara highlighted the growth mindset and the importance of “being open to new challenges and learning new things.” She has observed that many individuals often see themselves in a static way; however, she implores young people to constantly push themselves to be better, curious, and open-minded. Moreover, she views open-mindedness as one of the key traits for success in life as one should never judge a book by its cover. All individuals, no matter their history, are worth listening to as every individual’s story can provide insight into your own.

Read her 1st-place submission here.

Sara Shiraz, 1st Place — Winter 2024 ChallengeUS Future Leaders Competition, Analytical Writing

[Photo/Courtesy of Shiraz]

Meet Victor Ni: A Future Leader Turning Empathy into People-Minded Action

Fri, 25 Apr 2025 01:55:33 GMT

“Politics isn’t just the speeches or the televised debates, it’s a living, breathing force that shapes our everyday lives,” highlighted Victor Ni, a Senior at Canberra Grammar School in Canberra, Australia. For Victor, politics is personal. Through his work founding International Youth MUN (IYMUN), a free, online initiative designed to reach youth—especially those from underrepresented communities—he has connected students from across 20+ countries. By partnering with five NGOs and hosting regular MUN 101 workshops, he has seen firsthand how many young people are locked out of traditional opportunities—and learned that true leadership is about building others up.

As the captain of his school’s debate program, Victor sought to build more than just a winning record. Along with his peers, they launched a mentoring program that now supports over 70 students. Each week, mentors have worked directly with younger students to refine their public speaking techniques and, more importantly, build the confidence to stand at a podium and have their ideas heard. For Victor, he found “helping students find their voice” really powerful and inspiring. “It’s seeing students who once doubted themselves walk into a room believing their voice matters,” he shared.

Unfortunately, as Victor notes, while so many young people want to be part of decision-making, they often don’t get the opportunity, or they’re made to feel like they’re too “small” to make a real difference. Consequently, his passion for amplifying youth voices also led him to serve on the Vinnies Social Justice Council and as a Youth Ambassador with UrVoice Australia, an non-profit stigmatizing and promoting mental health in Australian schools.

In these roles, he has worked with young leaders across the state to improve access to mental health support for youth, helping to coordinate peer education initiatives from the perspective of youth. His advocacy culminated in delivering a 5-minute adjournment speech in local Parliament, where he called for greater investment in youth education and conservation. “Systemic change honestly starts with giving young people platforms to speak,” he shared, reflecting on how personal stories can shape public policy. Whether standing at a podium or organizing a campaign, Victor believes leadership is about listening. In the future, Victor hopes to study politics, international relations or and law so he can keep pushing for systems that include, rather than ignore, the voices of young people. Through this, he hopes to use those tools, not just to challenge structural inequalities from the “outside,” but to sit at the tables where the real decisions are made and open the door wider for those coming after him.

Is stronger leadership necessarily better leadership? He notes that vulnerability is one of the leadership characteristics necessary to ensure this change occurs. Vulnerability is not often the first characteristic that comes to mind when the idea of political leadership is posed; yet, Victor argues it is the most important. Vulnerability, as Victor argues, “should not be a weakness but a strength.” In his eyes, a vulnerable politician is a politician who listens and can acknowledge that the apathetic or oppositional voices are just as important as the active and supportive voices. Victor hopes to see his generation given a legitimate seat at the table in the future.

Importantly, he feels it is especially important to amplify youth voices, because “too often, education systems and policy frameworks aren’t naturally designed for youth.” Without the government actively listening to what young people need, policy cannot truly make an impact; “we can’t really create solutions for youth without first hearing their voices.” Leadership is thus not about a control of power but rather “steering” the group towards collective success. However, like many his

age, Victor believes this is not the case currently. He hopes to help change this by emulating this leadership in his own life and believes that the incorporation of youth into politics is a strong way to reverse such a pattern.

Victor’s belief in service-led leadership has shaped much of his journey, driving him to find ways to bridge politics and community action. His work advocating for greater youth inclusion in decision-making has been recognized globally: he was named a Crimson 18u18 finalist, selected as a HunDRED Global Youth Ambassador and awarded the Duke of Ed Gold Award for service. For Victor, these experiences have reinforced a simple idea: real leadership is about listening first, and making space for others to step forward too.

Victor advises his peers to “not wait until you feel qualified to care, contribute, or lead, because politics isn’t just reserved for the experts.” Oftentimes, politics is viewed as “distant,” especially for youth, but Victor highlights that “the most important political changes often begin with someone like you or me asking a simple question.” In the end, becoming involved with politics does not mean running for office. Whether you are advocating for a local issue or having conversations with your peers, you are participating in politics, and that matters. If you stay curious and informed, you have the ability and power to make meaningful change in the world.

See his 1st-place submission here.

Victor Ni, 1st Place — Winter 2024 ChallengeUS Future Leaders Competition, Speech

[Photo/Courtesy of Ni]

Meet Joyce Li: A Future Leader Showing the Power of Youth Voices

Fri, 25 Apr 2025 01:54:57 GMT

“You can’t lead if you don’t have people to lead, and you can’t lead if you don’t have other leaders around you,” explained avid debater and piano player Joyce Li, a junior at Port Moody Secondary High School near Vancouver, British Columbia. This is a lesson she learned through her position as the founder of the Lower Mainland Debate Society, a nonprofit that gives free debate lessons to 2,000 students globally. Throughout her role, she learned the necessity of trusting her team and delegating tasks, noting that being open to a collaborative environment is essential for the growth of any project.

Additionally, she serves as Vice President of her school’s student council – an experience that has taught her the importance of support systems in her life. Throughout her campaign, she recognized her friends’ impactful contributions, whether through campaigning for her or celebrating with her when her victory was announced. She believes the value of support systems can be applied to political leadership in general. To her, political leadership is not a position “you hold for yourself, but one that you hold for other people because they want to see you there.”

Unfortunately, as Joyce notes, while many youth and adults want to see youth in political leadership, this does not often occur. Joyce has noticed the disparity in how “student voices are heard, but they’re not appreciated.” Joyce has particularly experienced this in her own life through her unsuccessful efforts to start a debate club at her school over the past three years. While she has pushed hard, she has found the administrators at her schools to be steadfast. She understands that while students can feel limited by the support they receive from the adults in their life, she recognizes the reality that young people obviously don’t have as much personal or professional life experience. Nonetheless, Joyce argues that even though she and others her age may not have yet experienced the great highs and lows of life, they still have their own unique set of experiences and perspectives, perhaps only afforded to them because of their youth, that make their voices valuable. Thus, youth voices should not just be listened to but elevated.

In her future career, Joyce hopes to go into behavioral economics with the goal of becoming a lawyer. She is currently interested in constitutional and criminal law. One of her mentors, Professor Hollway from the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School, greatly influenced her interest in criminal law. Through a summer program, she heard from Professor Hallway about his work surrounding false incarceration, leading her to develop a passion for this area of law. Her interest in law has also intersected with her passion for writing. Since 7th grade, she has been developing a written passion project in the form of a tragedy surrounding law. To Joyce, “tragedies speak more profoundly about the human experience than any sort of happiness could” because the way we experience happiness is different for every individual, but we often grieve for the same things, allowing us to connect on a more personal level with those around us.

Joyce further highlights the importance of connecting with others in the sense of political leadership. Joyce notes that while political leaders can't make everyone happy, it is important for leaders to connect with others to ensure those they represent are confident in supporting them. As Joyce put it, “When you fly away to your own bird song, and there’s no one around to listen to you, then no matter how good your song is, you make no impact.”

When asked to offer advice to her peers, Joyce boldly says “not to fear failure but to fear giving up.” She implores her peers to, even when challenges arise, stay strong and continue pushing. And, if ultimately you do fail, “your fight in pushing is worthy enough.”

Read her 1st-place submission here.

Joyce Li, 1st Place — Winter 2024 ChallengeUS Future Leaders Competition, Creative Writing

[Photo/Courtesy of Li]

ChallengeUS Awarded at the National Conference on Citizenship

Sun, 15 Dec 2024 21:00:37 GMT

ChallengeUS' co-founder, Brandon Tran, was recognized as one of 10 Youth Civic Solutions Prize awardees at the National Conference on Citizenship this past week in Washington D.C. The award, and its accompanying $1,000 grant, was administered by the Institute for Citizens and Scholars with funding from the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation.

Centered around the the theme of "Renewing Civic Health," this year's National Conference on Citizenship attracted hundreds of leaders from around the country representing dozens of industries — politics, tech, local and national media, education, nonprofits, federal government, advocacy, academia, philanthropy, consulting, and more. Some notable speakers and guests included former Democratic Congresswoman Rep. Val Demmings, former Republican Congressman Rep. Rodney Davis, and Michael Smith (CEO of AmeriCorps).

Taking place at the Planet Word Museum, the conference featured a full day of panels, lectures, film screenings, networking events, award ceremonies and workshops — including one led by Brandon and the other student winners. One particular discussion that stood out to Brandon was the one between Katherine Maher, the CEO of NPR, and Sam Feist, the CEO of C-SPAN, on the role of media in a societal landscape that increasingly faces distrust from the public, the viral nature of social media, and the dissemination of misinformation. In his words, "This was really the first time I had the direct opportunity to hear from the leaders and stewards of our media institutions what they think of their own industry. People like Katherine Maher and Andrew Feist are decision-makers in their space, not the usual opinion-makers we hear from, and that vantage point was fascinating. Again, these weren't pundits and personalities. These were the executives behind the pundits and personalities."

That panel was just one of many moments at the conference aimed at "renewing civic health" in the United States. The day culminated with an award ceremony, where winners of the Institute for Citizens & Scholars' Youth Civic Solutions Prize were recognized alongside leaders like Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and Maryland Governor Wes Moore, who was unable to attend but accepted the award with a video recording.

With the momentum and support following this opportunity, we at ChallengeUS are perfectly positioned to successfully execute our upcoming Winter competition cycle. We're also excited at the prospect of continued partnership with the Institute for Citizens & Scholars as well as all the incredible connections we made the conference.

Youth Civic Solutions Prize Winners, 2024 National Conference on Citizenship

[Photo/Courtesy of the National Conference on Citizenship]

ChallengeUS Goes to the United Nations!

Sat, 26 Oct 2024 22:40:34 GMT

The profound declaration that “young voices often fill rooms but fall on deaf ears” resounded across the United Nations (UN) General Assembly Hall at the Summit of the Future Action Days. Two of our team members, Brandon Tran (CEO and Co-Founder) and Lauren Thomas (Director of Development) had the remarkable opportunity to hear these words in person at the UN. The idea behind the quote was truly a pervasive theme of the weekend as the UN geared up for the Summit of the Future. Youth stakeholders and experts alike touched on the necessity of incorporating youth voices into political spheres internationally over two full days packed with events, panels, presentations, celebration, and more.

The necessity and importance of incorporating youth minds in traditionally non-youth spheres is a core principle upon which ChallengeUS was founded. We believe that it is necessary to engage and elevate student voices on critical issues. As Josefa Tauil, a representative of the Secretary General’s Youth Advisory Group, emphasized in her speech during the “Conversation with the Secretary-General” event, Article 1 of the Human Rights Declaration provides evidence for no hesitation on the inclusion of youth in international political spaces. Thus, the youth have a human right to political inclusion, especially in political conversations that impact their future such as climate change. Conversations that include the youth, Tauil noted, are needed to end social isolation and inform the global environment on the essential needs of the present and future.

These core principles on youth incorporation was the basis of numerous roundtable talks throughout the two days that ranged from climate equity to gender equality. During a conversation relating to climate equity, Paulo Bacca, the Deputy Director of Dejusticia, stressed the transformative change youth are capable of bringing about. Bacca has seen this change first-hand when his organization aided Columbian youth in winning their case against the Columbian government for deforestation. A panel on sustainability followed Bacca’s conversation on equity as generational equity and the importance of investing in the world’s children were highlighted.

As many speakers at the Action Days acknowledged, including Bacca and the panel on sustainability, today’s youth will inherit the consequences of current actions and therefore should have their perspectives considered in decision-making. ChallengeUS strongly agrees with this shared belief in the importance of activating and elevating student voices on critical global challenges—climate change, poverty, war, inequality, and so on. UN Secretary-General António Guterres went even further during the Opening Ceremony, advocating not only for youth consultation but also “moments of active intervention from young people.” And these moments of active intervention, the Secretary-General stressed, need to be systemic and genuine, not tokenistic.

Overall, it was clear the thought leaders there felt that for governments to properly address the needs of the people, youth voices must be heard. And not just heard, but listened to and understood. The youth are the future, and as such, must have a seat at the table in conversations relating to the future. Otherwise, intergenerational conversations will not be achieved and solutions to global challenges will lack key insights from the most innovative cohort of the global population.

On the floor of the UN General Assembly Hall, Summit of the Future Action Days 2024

[Photo/Courtesy of ChallengeUS Team]

Meet Ciara O'Brien: A Fresh Perspective on Activism, Impact and the Power of Youth

Wed, 02 Oct 2024 07:46:38 GMT

“I like to say that sociology teaches me what I want to fix, and economics teaches me how to fix it,” explained Ciara O’Brien, a 2nd year at Trinity College Dublin. O’Brien is a 19-year-old Political Science, Philosophy, Economics, and Sociology student at Trinity from West Dublin, Ireland. A youth social activist with an undercurrent of practicality, O’Brien has been indirectly engaged with political action since her time at a convent school where she fought to change the dress code to allow women to wear trousers. The scope of her activism ranges from discussing Irish compliance with the United Nations Convention to teaching English to refugees. While her time around institutions like the UN provides a significant networking opportunity, she says that “the impact that is made is negligible” compared to the more hands-on, personal opportunity to work with refugees, where she feels she “makes much more of an impact, just in terms of their day to day.”

Her time working with refugees has taught her a valuable lesson in the quest for firsthand communication in understanding and addressing the needs of different communities. “For me, it would be talking to people rather than talking about them.” This lesson, O’Brien notes, is lost among some policymakers and activists as they tend to generalize what people need.

O’Brien further observes political leaders’ tendency to generalize from her work with the United Nations, where she has noticed a growing disconnect between the older generation of policymakers and the rapidly evolving needs of younger generations. “It’s impossible for older adults to understand youth’s interest without speaking to youth… If you’re making policies for young people, you have to speak to young people, because otherwise, what?” O’Brien boldly declares her strong belief in the importance and necessity of youth voices being heard by those in power, especially when they are “making policies that would affect us for the next 60 years.” When the adults take the time to understand young people, she explained, they inevitably discover what young people find important. Specifically, when it comes to approaching policy issues and activism, O’Brien feels that “for the most part, we all understand there is this set of problems, and we just disagree on how to fix them.” In her opinion, the real challenge is in figuring out how to order these problems. The youth, acting as a fresh set of eyes, aid in the ordering of such issues.

Building upon the power of the youth’s fresh creativity, she also promotes the value in reflection. “Reflection is the only way to make things better. Otherwise, we just keep repeating the same things.” For O’Brien, reflection is not about rethinking a big decision but rather understanding that what one did may not have been optimal and pledging to do a little bit better the next time, thereby leading to progressive improvement over time, especially if one is young.

When asked to reflect on her own experiences to offer advice to her peers, O’Brien showcases her pragmatism again by taking the time to differentiate her advice based on whether or not someone has a lot of time on their hands. For those who are busy, O’Brien recommends spending “the time in your head consciously,” making it more reflective, and less chaotic in order to proactively “[choose] how to spend your thoughts.” For those with time on their hands, she encourages spending more time on “something a little bit more inspiring” to boost one’s self-worth.

Ultimately, and as evident in her 1st place speech, O’Brien urges the youth to stay curious, ask questions, experience new things, and, above all, make their voices heard.

Listen to her 1st-place speech here.

Ciara O'Brien, 1st Place — Spring 2024 ChallengeUS Future Leaders Competition, Speech

[Photo/Courtesy of O'Brien]

Meet Laghima Pal: A Young Voice on the Importance of Young Voices

Wed, 02 Oct 2024 01:09:44 GMT

“Your voice does matter,” proclaims Laghima Pal, a Senior at Cumberland Valley High School in South Central Pennsylvania. An active member of her community, Pal strongly believes in the lasting impact youth can have on their communities. From participating in local events such as trash cleanups to serving on her high school’s student council, Pal has experienced firsthand young people’s capacity for positive impact on those around them, when given the platform to do so. In addition to large-scale ideas and solutions, Pal champions the necessity of local efforts because these efforts can also “have such a meaningful impact on others.” Simply helping someone out in your day-to-day life, Pal believes, is just as important as speaking to members of Congress or helping pass legislation.

Unfortunately, as Pal notes, the platforms available for youth to make an impact are scarce, especially in suburban areas such as her hometown. She argues that in order to create innovative policy solutions that push society forward to the future, student voices and their unique perspectives deserve to be better platformed and elevated. Increased opportunities for youth engagement not only benefit policy but also, as she highlights, dramatically “increase the youth’s confidence and comfort regarding the future.” If the youth are going to be tasked with leading the future, then they must have the ability to influence the future.

As an individual passionate about environmental studies and climate change, specifically, Pal affirms the sentiment that the leaders of tomorrow need to have a say in tomorrow. Sustainability and environmental issues are topics of ever-increasing importance as climate change continues to impact millions, and yet, she feels the generation that climate change will impact the hardest is often left out of the conversation. These issues have led Pal to develop a passion for creating pathways for young people to get involved in crafting climate change solutions and generating sustainable action. In college, she hopes to continue her climate change advocacy work while studying political science, economics, and/or environmental studies with the goal of creating lasting change for those around her in her future career.

Pal’s passion for advocacy work originates from her belief in the importance of speaking out on issues she is passionate about. For her, speaking one’s mind is amongst the most beneficial things one can do for oneself. Characterizing herself as a shy person growing up, Pal admits she did not always feel comfortable doing so. However, with the help of mentors, such as the Editorial Director of her local newspaper, she was able to learn how to stand up for herself and her passions. Driven by her personal experience, Pal advises youth to have mentors in their corner to help guide them and show them how to create platforms for themself.

When asked to offer further advice to her peers, Pal asserted the importance of being confident. While she notes that it is not necessary to be outspoken or extroverted, it is important to be confident in who you are, what you have to say, and what you want to do. While it may not always seem like one’s voice has an impact, Pal stresses that people greatly value others’ thoughts and opinions. Simply said, your voice is the most important tool you have and you should always, as Laghima Pal urges, try to get it out as much as possible.

Read her 1st-place essay here.

Laghima Pal, 1st Place — Spring 2024 ChallengeUS Future Leaders Competition, Writing

[Photo/Courtesy of Pal]

USC Spotlights ChallengeUS and Brandon Tran

Sat, 02 Mar 2024 07:06:49 GMT

We are excited to share that ChallengeUS and our co-founder, Brandon Tran, was recently spotlighted by the University of Southern California for our innovative work empowering high school and college students through academic competitions. As a nonprofit, ChallengeUS is dedicated to elevating youth voices and giving students the tools to tackle real-world problems. Our platform offers competitions that help participants hone critical thinking, communication, and problem-solving skills, while also providing scholarships to exceptional candidates around the world.

Guided by his personal and professional experience as a first-generation student, Brandon launched ChallengeUS as a commitment to help level the playing field. We believe that students from all backgrounds, irrespective of socioeconomic status, should have access to opportunities that help them grow and make an impact. Through competitions like speech and essay contests, we’re creating a space where students can showcase their talents, connect with like-minded peers, and develop solutions and insights to global challenges.

But this is just the beginning. While our initial focus has been on speech and essay competitions, we are actively working to broaden the range of opportunities. Our future plans and ambitions revolve around broadening our competitive offerings to include a greater range of academic disciplines while also enlarging our scholarship prize pool. In short, we hope to engage more and more students through increasingly innovative ways, all while awarding bigger and bigger scholarships.

One of our core goals is to provide meaningful scholarships to competition winners. We aim to award significant financial support, so that winning a ChallengeUS competition isn’t just a mark of prestige but also a meaningful boost to a student’s educational journey, thereby empowering the next generation of leaders to continue their education and make a real difference in the world.

At the heart of ChallengeUS is our belief in the power of exchanging ideas. Students not only compete but learn from one another. The platform is designed to foster connections across geographic and social boundaries, creating a global network of young thinkers who are committed to solving the world’s most pressing issues.

Thanks to the support of the USC Brittingham Social Enterprise Lab and other mentors, we’ve been able to grow ChallengeUS and refine our mission. We are continuously seeking additional support through donations and grants to expand our reach and impact. The funds we raise will directly support our competitions, scholarships, and programming, all of which are designed to give students a platform to shine. We are excited about what’s next for ChallengeUS.

This spring, we’re launching our inaugural round of competitions, and we look forward to engaging more students from around the globe. We’re grateful for USC’s recognition and for all of the individuals and organizations that have supported us on this journey. Together, we can unlock the potential of students everywhere, giving them the tools, resources, and opportunities to create real, lasting change.

Stay tuned for updates, and join us in building a future where students’ ideas and talents can make a global impact!

Brandon Tran, Co-Founder and CEO of ChallengeUS

[Photo/Courtesy of Brandon]