This Month's Projects in Numbers:
24,000 students supported through school and university
1200 youth empowered through skills based training
168 provided sustainable livelihoods
...
Meet the Ambassadors
Ala'a Al Soudi - Jordan
(She/Her)
Ala’a founded Limonene, an eco-innovation initiative focused on applying circular economy principles to address water poverty, environmental degradation, and youth unemployment in Jordan and Syria. Through its nature-based solutions, Limonene utilises locally available resources to develop natural citrus-based water filters capable of removing over 85% of heavy metals, including mercury, from polluted sources. Under Ala’a's leadership, the initiative supports local farmers through access to organic fertilisers and water-efficient irrigation practices.
To date, the programme has trained and engaged more than 200 young people from Jordan and Syria in agriculture-related and circular economy activities. Limonene has created over 120 sustainable income opportunities for youth and refugees through citrus-based product manufacturing, including the production and distribution of thousands of eco-friendly air fresheners. By revitalising orchards previously affected by water scarcity and reducing the reliance on chemical fertilisers, Ala’a’s work has consistently improved crop health and soil quality.
Connect with ala'a on linkedin
Nomqhele Siziba - Zimbabwe
(She/Her)
Nomqhele is the Founder and Executive Director of Youth Invest (YI), a feminist organisation started in 2018 to support young people and women in Zimbabwe. The group focuses on helping people from minority communities, such as the Tonga and Nambya, to have a say in local decisions and protect their rights. Youth Invest works across three main areas: local governance, protecting the environment, and boosting the economy through tourism and small businesses. They provide hands-on training to help people manage their own natural resources and build a more stable future for their families.
To date, the programme has helped local artisans obtain an average of 87% increase in income through the Siyazenzela Crafts and Tours project. Nomqhele’s work has reached over 1,000 women and youth through financial awareness campaigns and has mobilised hundreds of community advocates through local radio clubs and action groups. By setting up trade associations, Youth Invest also ensures that marginalised communities are leading resource management and sustainable growth.
Monal Bhattarai - Nepal
(She/Her)
Monal is the Director of Canopy Nepal, a non-profit dedicated to keeping students in school and making learning more exciting through storytelling. In Nepal, where nearly three quarters of students drop out before finishing secondary school, Monal’s team focuses on helping children from marginalised backgrounds stay in education. By partnering with local governments and schools, Canopy Nepal identifies students who are the first in their families to attend school and provides them with scholarships, mentorship, and interactive learning opportunities.
So far, the organization has reached over 250,000 community members, 23,000 students and supported more than 550 scholars. Under Monal’s leadership, students in the programme have reported a 59% boost in creativity and a 91% improvement in their academic results. The impact is particularly clear among scholarship recipients, who have seen school attendance jump by 77%, with every single graduate successfully finding a job. The organisation also manages international branches in the US and France to build global support.
Connect with monal on linkedin
Martin Ortiz - Philippines
(He/Him)
Martin leads FyrLab Accelerator, a youth-led startup acceleration programme under the Youth First Initiative Philippines (YFI), focused on building an innovation ecosystem in the Western Visayas. Through its cohort-based acceleration program, FyrLab has supported startups across sectors such as technology, healthcare, logistics, and sustainable agriculture. Founders undergo intensive training in areas including financial management, legal compliance, and fundraising, while being connected to industry leaders, investors, and fellow entrepreneurs.
To date, the programme has supported over 100 startup founders through workshops, networking events, and community projects across several provinces in the Philippines, including Iloilo, Capiz, Antique, Aklan, and Guimaras. FyrLab has supported multiple startup cohorts, consisting of five or more startups per cohort, with intensive training and mentorship to become investment-ready.
Deqa Daud - Japan
(She/Her)
Deqa, who is based in Japan, leads SomaThrive, a youth-led initiative dedicated to opening up global education opportunities for Somali students. The project focuses on helping talented young people overcome financial and information barriers that often stand in the way of international study. SomaThrive provides personalised mentorship and clear guidance on complex application processes. The initiative helps students navigate everything from finding the right fellowships to successfully applying for study abroad programmes, ensuring that their ability to attend university is not limited by a lack of resources.
To date, the programme has reached over 1,000 students across Somalia and Somaliland through its online sessions and dedicated outreach efforts. Deqa has overseen more than 10 webinars and multiple mentorship cycles, successfully supporting students in securing fully funded scholarships to study in countries such as Japan, the UK, and Malaysia. Beyond just academic support, SomaThrive also focuses on leadership development, encouraging young scholars to become changemakers who can eventually contribute to the sustainable growth of their own communities back home.
Sara Berkai - United States
(She/Her)
Sara Berkai is the founder of Ambessa Play, a social enterprise that teaches children science and engineering through DIY kits.These kits allow children to build and create their own scientific innovations through hands-on making . Sara also developed Tavi, a digital platform where children can upload and showcase their creations while also finding inspiration from other young makers around the world .
With over 250 million children currently out of school, including 40 million displaced, Ambessa Play exists to help close this gap. The organisation operates a one-for-one donation model: for every kit purchased, one is distributed to a child in an underserved community. Through this approach, Ambessa Play has reached children across 8 countries, while DIY kits have been sold in 32 countries, including schools and museums globally. Ambessa Play has received global recognition, with features in WIRED, the Financial Times, Fast Company, and Disegno, and the organisation won Dezeen’s Product of the Year.
Michael Gatt - Malta
(He/Him)
Michael Gatt is a law student at the University of Malta and a leading figure in European youth leadership and democratic engagement. He attended the One Young World Summit in Munich as Malta’s Leading Scholar and serves as a Young European Ambassador with EU NeighboursEast and a Youth Decide 2040 Ambassador.
He currently serves as Director-General for Model European Union Strasbourg 2026, overseeing Europe’s most prestigious simulation of EU legislative processes, held at the European Parliament in April 2026. In this role, he coordinates a multinational directorate team and brings together 150 international participants, ensuring both academic and operational excellence.
Connect with Michael on linkedin
Franz George - St.Vincent & Grenadines
(He/Him)
Franz George is the founder of the Grassroot Business Empowerment Programme (G-BEP), a capacity-building initiative. The programme is designed to strengthen the skills, confidence, and sustainability of business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs in marginalized communities, providing practical business education where access is limited.
Through this approach, G-BEP has reached over 150 participants across 15 communities, including micro-entrepreneurs and informal business operators. Participants engage in interactive workshops and hands-on mentorship that combine knowledge acquisition with real-world application, helping them refine business ideas, solve problems, and build resilience in the face of challenges.The programme has achieved measurable impact through both psychosocial and learning outcomes. Participants reported a 100% increase in confidence in running a business.Collectively, this result demonstrates how G-BEP supports inclusive economic empowerment and lays the foundation for stronger, community-based enterprises.
Connect with franz on linkedin
Kathrine Tinggaard Nicolaisen- Denmark
(She/Her )
Kathrine Tinggaard Nicolaisen is the founder of Olives & Heather, a marketing agency operating in Palestine. Built on a team of skilled marketing professionals, the organisation aims to create dignified job opportunities for marginalized groups. To achieve this mission, it helps startups and social impact businesses succeed through world-class branding and storytelling, particularly working with companies that share its values.
Since its founding, Olives & Heather has supported over 100 founders in Palestine through mentorship programs and professional coaching. The organisation has also worked with 40 freelancers, contributing to over 90 projects for 50 clients across 15 countries, helping them scale their marketing strategies and strengthen their professional skills.
Connect with kathrine on linkedin
Angela Lucrecia Chiquin Chitay - Tanzania
(She/Her)
Angela Lucrecia Chiquin Chitay is the founder of Kemonels, an organisation that brings together indigenous Q'eqchi' women weavers in Guatemala to combat economic marginalization and cultural appropriation by preserving and commercializing ancestral textile art. The collective uses an intergenerational leadership approach, where elder weavers act as teachers to pass on traditional knowledge, while younger weavers focus on scaling the business.
Through Kemonels, 18 families have been empowered, creating sustainable jobs and exporting products to the United States through partners like The Quetzal Collective. The organisation has helped break generational cycles of marginalization, enabling women to access education and healthcare. Kemonels also competed in the national Empréndete G100 program, standing out among 300 small businesses and securing a place as one of the four winners, receiving an equity-free capital injection.
Connect with Angela on linkedin