At the One Young World Summit, I was so inspired by the incredible work of the Mental Health keynote speakers that I wrote on my blue ribbon, “I will found an initiative to help young people’s mental health".
This Month's Projects in Numbers
Meet This Months Ambassadors
Mashrur Hossain Shurid – Bangladesh
(He/Him)
Mushrur is the CEO of Aunckur AI, an agricultural intelligence platform that helps smallholder farmers make science- and climate-resilient decisions. The platform combines locally developed artificial intelligence, field-ready soil diagnostics, hyperlocal weather intelligence, digital farmer profiles, and institutional dashboards to turn fragmented farm data into practical action. Its soil-testing devices assess conditions within minutes and provide recommendations, helping farmers reduce avoidable costs while improving access to advisory services and buyers.
To date, Aunckur AI has registered more than 33,900 farmers, including 7,980 paying smallholders, and serves 37 institutional customers. Its community-based delivery model has enabled 107 rural micro-enterprises and created 187 jobs. Participating farmers have achieved up to 15% higher yields, 25% lower fertiliser use, and 32–42% improved profitability, while mitigating 344 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually. The platform has also helped mobilise around US$850,000 in agricultural finance. As a dsm-firmenich Scholar, Mushrur believes that the One Young World Summit was a transformative experience that broadened his perspective on how global innovation ecosystems can drive meaningful change.
“The insights I gained from the Summit have been instrumental in my journey at Aunckur AI, helping me bridge the local agricultural challenges of millions of small farmers with scalable global solutions.”
Connect with Mashrur on LinkedIn
Loemchou Say – Cambodia
(She/Her)
Loemchou is a project manager tackling plastic pollution in ocean-bound environments and waterways. Her work focuses on reducing plastic leakage through collection and clean-up programmes, awareness campaigns, and inclusive systems that recognise and strengthen the role of informal waste workers. Her mission is to help build a cleaner, more resilient Cambodia by bringing local communities together to create lasting impact.
To date, the project has supported the collection of more than 800 tonnes of plastic from the environment, preventing it from leaking into the oceans. More than 300 informal waste collectors have benefited from the programme through increased incomes, enhanced skills and awareness, and improved livelihoods. Through community education programmes, she has also raised awareness among local community members, students, and the public, helping them better understand plastic pollution and play a role in the solution. At the One Young World Summit, she had the opportunity to share her story and came away with a stronger belief that lasting change can begin with one small idea and one small action.
Connect with Loemchou on LinkedIn
Shergaun Ziko Roserie – Saint Lucia
(He/Him)
Shergaun is the CEO of Orbtronics, an organisation that strengthens the capabilities of governments and enterprises through technology. Orbtronics develops custom software, digital platforms, and engineering solutions that modernise institutional processes and improve service delivery. Through his vision for a Caribbean “Silicon Forest,” Shergaun connects institutional technology development with investment in local talent and entrepreneurship. Orbtronics trains young people in AI, programming, robotics, and product development, coordinates Saint Lucia’s first Global robotics team, and supports founders from idea validation through to investment readiness. Its clients include the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank, OECS, IDB Lab, and Techstars, while its work also spans World Bank-funded projects and ITU-supported programmes.
In its first full year, the Innovation Hub reached more than 500 beneficiaries, upskilled over 250 young people, and supported more than 30 entrepreneurs. Its programmes helped create 18 jobs and supported the development or deployment of 10 technology solutions, strengthening the Caribbean’s capacity to build technology, businesses, and expertise that can compete internationally. Being part of the One Young World community has broadened his international network, connecting him with changemakers who share a sense of purpose that continues to shape how he builds partnerships and approaches his work at Orbtronics.
"One Young World has given me people I can collaborate with and reinforced my confidence that the mission we are pursuing in the Caribbean is on the right path"
Connect with Ziko on Instagram
Bijna Balan – Germany
(She/Her)
Bijna is doing a doctoral research project at the Institute for Ethics in Artificial Intelligence at the Technical University of Munich, where she is building the Human Dignity Framework Toolkit for AI. Her research addresses a specific gap: every major AI governance framework names human dignity as a core value, but none offers a way to measure whether an AI system upholds or violates it. The project is developing that missing measurement tool through four linked studies. The first examines how four leading AI governance frameworks, which are the EU’s HLEG guidelines, UNESCO’s Recommendation on the Ethics of AI, the OECD AI Principles, and the US NIST AI Risk Management Framework, treat dignity. The second develops and validates an instrument to identify specific patterns of dignity violations in AI systems. The third maps these patterns against UN Sustainable Development Goal targets to understand where AI-mediated dignity risks are highest. The fourth applies the validated instrument to a live AI system through a real-world audit.
So far, her work has mapped seven targets across five goals, spanning exploitation, violence, inclusion, legal identity, and healthcare access. She attended the One Young World Summit in London, where she first understood that ethics are not a constraint on technology, that its the infrastructure that determines who technology actually serves .This experience shaped her approach to asking how human dignity can be measured and became the foundation of her PhD research.
Connect with Binja on LinkedIn
Kleidy Migdalia Sacbá Coc – Guatemala
(She/Her)
Kleidy leads Local Roots to Global Action: Indigenous Youth Leadership and Intercultural Development. The work strengthens the leadership, economic opportunities, and participation of Indigenous peoples and rural youth, while connecting community knowledge and solutions with national and international cooperation opportunities. Her leadership journey began in Alta Verapaz, Guatemala, where she learned that sustainable transformation begins by listening to communities. She now leads development and cooperation projects in areas such as youth entrepreneurship, the economic empowerment of Indigenous women, interculturality, gender equality, environmental protection, Indigenous peoples’ rights, peacebuilding, and conflict transformation.
To date, Kleidy has contributed to the accreditation of Seed Investment Funds totalling USD 500 for 50 young people, alongside training and support programmes that have reached more than 500 young people and entrepreneurs. Kleidy has also facilitated leadership, dialogue, prevention, and peacebuilding processes with more than 200 young people, and developed digital content on Indigenous rights, the environment, and participation in the Q’eqchi’ language, reaching approximately 45,000 people. Attending the One Young World Summit broadened her perspective and strengthened her belief in the potential of her own path.
"Attending One Young World inspired me to keep pursuing my dreams. It reminded me that where we come from should never limit how far we can go."
Connect with Kleidy on LinkedIn
Alain Kilajian- Portugal
(He/Him)
Alain works for the Hydropower Sustainability Alliance, where he shapes the standards that define sustainability for hydropower projects around the world. It is a multi-stakeholder organisation that brings together governments, financial institutions, industry, and civil society to build consensus on the challenges and opportunities facing the hydropower sector. Through these four chambers, it creates a platform for difficult but necessary conversations, with the aim of defining outcomes that all stakeholders can support. The organisation works to make sustainability globally applicable while still locally relevant. Its team has visited and certified projects on every continent, helping unlock premium financing from banks and climate bonds. In addition, the Alliance provides training for government and power utility staff, building their capacity to understand and manage sustainability issues.
Alain believes that the biggest achievement has been the relationships and social fabric created through this work. He has learned that people and relationships are the true markers of success. Today, the Alliance’s standard has supported projects from more than 20 countries, including Zambia, Mozambique, Brazil, Canada, Albania, Iceland, Nepal, the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Tajikistan, and China, reflecting the truly global reach of the organisation’s work. One Young World reinforced his belief that meaningful change comes from people and the connections between them, shaping how he leads the Hydropower Sustainability Alliance and brings different voices together around a shared goal.
Connect with Mashrur on LinkedIn
Kiyoka Tokumasu – Japan
(She/Her)
Kiyoka founded Voices of Self-Made, an educational platform empowering the next generation of global citizens to discover their own potential and develop the confidence to help shape a better world through experiential learning. The organisation creates opportunities for young people to engage directly with an inspiring and diverse network of professionals and leaders from around the world. Speakers include elite athletes, business executives, entrepreneurs, diplomats, and Ambassadors. Through interactive dialogues and masterclasses, they share their career journeys, lived experiences, challenges, and the mindsets that shaped their paths. By creating these opportunities for young people to hear real-world perspectives and personal stories, the platform aims to inspire future leaders to broaden their horizons and build confidence.
To date, the organisation has provided experiential learning and mentorship programming to more than 200 students and young professionals. After attending the One Young World Summit, Kiyoka returned with a stronger sense of purpose and a community of lifelong friends that continues to inspire and motivate one another.
“Attending the One Young World Summit in 2021 was a life-changing experience. I came back with a stronger sense of purpose, passion and energy, and a community that continues to inspire and motivate one another.”
Connect with Kiyoka on LinkedIn
Tyra Omeir – Spain
(She/Her)
Tyra is the Director of Survivor Care for Europe at Our Rescue, an NGO working to ensure that survivors of human trafficking and sexual exploitation have access to safe, trauma-informed, and holistic care. She develops partnerships with local anti-trafficking organisations and government entities to strengthen services offered to survivors. She also works alongside local NGOs and law enforcement agencies to provide immediate, on-the-ground assistance during exit operations and helps coordinate person-centred responses for those leaving exploitation.
To date, Tyra has supported more than 300 survivors of human trafficking and sexual exploitation in Europe. Many survivors have received vital support through safe accommodation, therapy, education, and vocational training, enabling them to rebuild their lives and pursue new opportunities. She attended the One Young World Summit, where Rejoice Osadiaye’s workshop on human trafficking reinforced her commitment to empowering survivors, amplifying lived experience, and inspiring young leaders.
Louis Peters – United Kingdom
(He/Him)
Louis is the founder of ‘human, kind.’, an initiative aiming to embed emotional intelligence, mental health understanding, and values-based learning into the school curriculum as a dedicated subject. At its core, it exists to support a generation who too often feel they do not belong, struggle to find a sense of purpose, and find it hard to feel hopeful about their future, with the goal of putting pupils’ wellbeing on equal footing with their academic achievement so that all young people can develop the capacity to dream and pursue their goals.
To date, more than 100 young people have been directly impacted, with hundreds more reached through talks and events. Parents, teachers, and staff have also been involved, and this September, human, kind. began piloting wellbeing modules in mainstream secondary education. After attending the One Young World Summit, he committed himself to founding a mental health initiative for young people, which he went on to do after graduating from university.
Connect with Louis on LinkedIn
Sujit Lalwani – India
(He/Him)
Sujit is the Founding Trustee of Joy of Giving, an initiative that enables individuals, families, and organisations to celebrate life’s milestones through structured acts of Seva. Based in Bengaluru, the initiative bridges the gap between donors and community needs through three key pillars: Ashram Seva, Annaprasadam, and Gau Seva. Ashram Seva serves nutritious meals to residents of old-age homes, children’s homes, and special schools; Annaprasadam organises large-scale meal services at temples and community centres; and Gau Seva provides fodder, fruits, vegetables, and custom rotis to trusted gaushalas.
To date, Ashram Seva has served meals to more than 50,000 people. Annaprasadam has delivered 500+ drives and served more than 200,000 people, while Gau Seva has provided roti and fodder to more than 10,000 cows. The initiative has also delivered more than 100 celebrations. Being part of the One Young World community showed Sujit that global impact can be achieved through his projects and made pursuing this vision feel more accessible.
Connect with Mashrur on LinkedIn
Swabir Shariff – Canada
(He/Him)
Swabir is the founder of The Good Guides, a youth-led grassroots non-profit whose work spans one-on-one mentorship, youth leadership development, violence prevention, sports initiatives, and co-op placements for young people aged 11 to 18. At its core, The Good Guides ensures that young people have a seat at the table in decision-making. It grew out of informal mentorship hangouts, and is built on a youth-led model where young people co-design programmes and hold decision-making roles.
To date, Swabir has mentored thousands of young people across Toronto and raised millions from government and non-government partners to support youth initiatives. Attending the One Young World Summit left him more convinced than ever that young people should not only be included in the conversation, but also entrusted with real responsibility and the power to shape decisions. That conviction now runs through everything The Good Guides does.
“The One Young World Summit put me in rooms with young leaders from everywhere. It sharpened how I lead and left me more convinced than ever that young people need real responsibility and the power to shape decisions.”
Connect with Swabir on LinkedIn
Dr Zsofia Szlamka – United Kingdom
(She/Her)
Zsofia is the co-founder of Let’s CEE, a social enterprise building a network of mental health hubs in Central and Eastern Europe. Regionally, the organisation operates a community of practice for mental health professionals, while locally it is setting up accessible, low-intensity youth mental health hubs for young people aged 12 to 24. It also provides training for allied mental health professionals and engages them in the delivery of low-intensity services. In addition, the organisation has an advocacy component, working to support the adoption of its methodology within public health systems across the region.
To date, the team has engaged and served more than 300 young people, launched and delivered its Regional Learning Programme, and raised over EUR 450,000 in funding. The organisation has also contributed to the appointment of a mental health commissioner in the new Hungarian government. Attending the One Young World Summit unlocked new opportunities beyond her training as a psychologist and showed her that the willingness to act and the power of teamwork are what make social entrepreneurship happen.
Connect with Zsofia on LinkedIn
Rodrigo Catusso – Brazil
(He/Him)
Rodrigo is the founder of Belonging Club, an initiative created to tackle one of the growing challenges in modern workplaces: social disconnection. Inspired by the strong sense of belonging experienced at the One Young World Summit in Munich, the team launched a global initiative that fosters local, interest-based communities across departments and seniority levels. Beyond social activities, the initiative promotes mental wellbeing by reducing isolation, strengthening support networks, and creating opportunities for meaningful relationships. It also generates social impact by empowering employees to build communities, develop new skills, share common interests, and contribute to a more inclusive workplace culture.
To date, more than 14 clubs have been established. Belonging Club has reached over 300 people across five countries to develop ideas, with more than 20 senior leaders helping to open doors and support the launch of at least 14 new clubs across seven sites worldwide at Dsm-Firmenich. These include book clubs, language exchange groups, yoga, beach volleyball, running, cooking, darts, padel, zumba, and volunteering activities, with more than 130 active regular participants. Attending the One Young World Summit showed him that everyone has the power to create change and reignited his spark to keep going.
Connect with Rodrigo on LinkedIn
Saeed AlMehairi – United Arab Emirates
(He/Him)
Saeed is the founder of Arabeasy Gaming, an Emirati-founded venture creating Arab games for a global generation by turning cultural heritage into original intellectual property that connects communities and builds a sustainable creative business. Through entrepreneurship, he is building a studio that combines storytelling, cultural insight, and game development. Arabeasy’s first game, Camel Racing on Roblox, brings a cherished Gulf tradition into a digital world with Arabic language and regional landmarks.
To date, Arabeasy’s 2026 GameForward Demo Day pitch reports that the game reached 600,000 players within four months of launch, alongside a 95% positive rating. These milestones highlight strong international reach and show how the project is inviting audiences from different backgrounds to discover the region through play. Saeed wants young people to see heritage as a source of creativity and entrepreneurial opportunity. The studio is now developing the wider Camelverse, with plans for a mobile game, publishing, animation, educational experiences, and licensing.
Connect with Saeed on LinkedIn
Marcelo Ortiz Contreras– Ecuador
(He/Him)
Marcelo works in the Ecuadorian Amazon, where he leads SEMBRAR: Rural Youth Building Local Development and Rootedness in Their Territories. The project strengthens opportunities for young people, producers, and rural organisations through training, education, and entrepreneurship. He supports young people to build life projects within their own territories. The project works primarily in Morona Santiago and Zamora Chinchipe. Its purpose is to generate opportunities, strengthen local economies, and contribute to biodiversity conservation and youth retention
To date, the SEMBRAR Project has 330 registered rural youth and works with 10 agricultural production organisations and one social organisation. Currently, 82 young people are pursuing technical degrees at higher education institutions; of these, 60% are women and 55% belong to Indigenous nationalities. In addition, 29 community mentors have been trained to support educational processes, strengthen student retention, and maintain young people’s connection with their communities and territories. One Young World reinforced his belief that young people are not only capable of proposing ideas for change, but can also become active agents who turn those ideas into action and drive meaningful transformation in society.
"One Young World reinforced my belief that young people are not only capable of proposing ideas for change, but can also become active agents who turn those ideas into action and contribute to profound transformations in society."