1000 Visions of Global Change

Youth are powerful. Everyone can make a difference. Read on, and get inspired by the unique power and creativity of our generation. Founded at Clinton Global Initiative University (CGIU), we're telling the story of youth making a difference at the local,...

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This all-female coding school in Afghanistan is tearing down gender inequalities

“We are going to empower girls online without being worried of physical and geographical distances.” 

Fereshteh Forough fled Afghanistan with her family when the Taliban took power in 1996, but once the regime ended, she returned and opened Afghanistan’s first all-girls coding school called Code to Inspire (CTI). Read more about it here!

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1000 Visions of Global Change: Meg Critzman

Job/School: University of Maryland, Baltimore County

What global challenge(s) are you passionate about and how do you hope to change the status quo?

Global environmental issues has been the source of my passion since high school. As an enthusiastic vegan in high school, I cared greatly about the treatment of animals, but more-so, my protest was fueled after I learned about the toxic relationship of hyper-capitalist factory farms and the environment. I began to realize then that every action affects a global chain. The U.S. has one of the highest carbon footprints, so whether we choose to compost our food waste matters, whether we choose to recycle matters, whether we choose to walk rather than drive matters. This list could go on, but what matters is that work to halt climate change requires individual people to ask tough questions and make lifestyle changes for the sustainability of the earth for future generations to come.

What are you doing about it?

Supporting local communities matters greatly. If you buy local it not only helps local businesses, but it reduces the carbon footprint that accompanies food transportation, like bananas that are delicious but unfortunately have traveled thousands of miles to get to my Baltimore community. Volunteering for CSAs or urban farms are a great way to work with communities to provide fresh veggies to food desert neighborhoods.

Individual actions matter tremendously, and can be fun and rewarding, such as composting any food waste and turning that soil into a beautiful green space for plants and vegetables. By living in the city, I have the opportunity to bike instead of filling up a gas tank

When do you feel most inspired and/or challenged?

No one has the time to work with each environmental issue, but when I read about new topics, it is important to research what is being done in my local community, whether it is community land trusts, access to solar panels, or steps to get healthy food in school lunches. The more I read about the work of local organization, the more inspired I become to remain strong-willed in my daily lifestyle changes that address climate change.

What advice do you have for other people interested in creating change?

Look to the local! Addressing global change head-on can be overwhelming and may cause apathy due to the slow-moving pace of global change. Local communities are the foundation of changing perceptions of global issues, so get involved and get to know your community of whatever issue it is that drives you.

You can reach at Meg on her email at [email protected] for more information.

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She snuck out to take exams after her parents burned her books…twice.

Tay Thi was a rebellious teenager who defied her parents by staying in school.

Tay Thi dreamed of becoming a teacher to share the value of learning with others in rural Vietnam. However, when she was in the 8th grade her parents burned her textbooks and demanded that she drop out of school to start working.

Take action to help bring equal opportunities for education to girls around the world here

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Serena Williams literally helped build a school, and it's not her first

Serena Williams is a star on and off the court.

Serena Williams may be a powerhouse with a racket in hand, but she’s an even bigger star with a hammer in hand.

In February, Serena (through her nonprofit The Serena Williams Fund in partnership with Helping Hands Jamaica) built another school! As in, literally helped to build it.

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Celebrities using their influence to change the world- Serena William

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1000 Visions of Global Change: Heather Poole

Job/School: Volunteer Educator in Riobamba, Ecuador

What global challenge(s) are you passionate about and how do you hope to change the status quo?

Some global challenges I'm particularly passionate about are computer literacy/access to information, gender equality, sexual assault awareness, and education equality.

What are you doing about it?

I get involved by staying up-to-date with the news, volunteering online or with local organizations and attending educational events such as documentary screenings. I currently teach English as a Foreign Language (EFL) in Riobamba, Ecuador and strive to expose my students to global issues through in-class discussions and research projects.

When do you feel most inspired and/or challenged?

I feel most inspired when I talk to and learn from people who feel passionate about the same issues I do. Going to documentary screenings, getting involved with local organizations or just talking with friends who care about the same issues are great ways to spark inspiration.

What advice do you have for other people interested in creating change?

Learn more about issues you care about through documentaries, news articles, events, etc. Research organizations that are involved with these issues and don't be afraid to reach out to people at these organizations. Talking to people who share similar interests/passions is a great way to find out how to get involved!

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Being a tech geek is cool, I should know, I am one

14-year-old Zea is building an app to encourage people to recycle more. She explains why being a geek is cool and how tech has changed her ideas about the future

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Global Citizen pays tribute to MP and passionate activist, Jo Cox

A tragic loss for the UK and the world

Global Citizen’s Europe Director, Amy Agnew, pays tribute to Jo Cox for her tireless commitment to building a better country, and a better world 

Read her response here

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A Teenager Taps Social Media to Help Change his Struggling Community - DML Central

“Intense shootings happening at this moment in the Complexo do Alemao!” tweeted teenager Rene Silva on Nov. 9, 2010. Using his personal Twitter account (@Rene_Silva_RJ) and the Twitter account of a newspaper he created, “Voz da Comunidade,” (Community Voice – @vozdacomunidade), Rene was able to broadcast information about a standoff between police and drug traffickers from inside the “Complexo do Alemão,” one of the major groups of favelas in Rio de Janeiro. During the dangerous conflict, Rene and two other kids drew media attention in Brazil because they were able to send out news in real

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1000 Visions of Global Change: Toni O'Boyle

Job/School: Business Analyst (Independent Contractor)

What global challenge(s) are you passionate about and how do you hope to change the status quo?

As a public health major, I believe it is important to develop adequate public health systems for all communities worldwide. How public health services are administered, and the barriers that these workers and professionals must overcome to do so, involves infrastructure and collaboration that is lacking in underserved communities or, on a larger scale, in developing nations. More specifically, under the larger umbrella of "public health," I am interested in women's health and reproductive rights, as well as environmental health, and what we can do to make our planet a safer, and healthier, place to live.

What are you doing about it?

I attempt to stay updated on current events and developments surrounding women's health issues, both through information presented in the media as well as seeking out materials, such as books and blogs, on my own. I also aim to live a more "green" lifestyle at home, and will be having orientation next week to become a Medical Reserve Corps volunteer to support my local Alexandria Health Department and learn more about public health practices in my own community.

When do you feel most inspired and/or challenged?

I feel the most challenged when I begin a task that not only exceeds anything that I've done before, but goes beyond the scope of anything that I had ever even considered doing. Therefore, I am the most inspired when I hear stories of individuals that have embraced these sorts of unfamiliar and enormous tasks without complaint or question

What advice do you have for other people interested in creating change?

Find something that you truly care about, big or small. To create true change requires true passion.

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Many of RaSia Khepra’s peers, giggling at RaSias’ silly actions, may immediately blurt out that he is one of the most energetic, fun and gregarious individual. Born to public health and sociology p…

“As a fun, extraverted, and energetic person, RaSia lives every day as his last, but also lives 90 years from now. According to RaSia, his motivation was the death of KCP majorette, sophomore Hadiya Pendleton. It was a devastating reality in RaSia’a life. Pendleton, which was a close friend to him and his family, notified him one of his sisters or brothers can be killed.“Her death hit close to home,” RaSia said.According to RaSia, Pendleton’s death was a rude awakening that his sister, Nza-Ari could possibly be killed. That’s why RaSia wants to make a difference in Chicago’s African-American community.”

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Meet Smartists Sophie Hauser and Andrea Gonzales: Creators of the Feminist Video Game “Tampon Run”

http://amysmartgirls.com/meet-smartists-sophie-hauser-and-andrea-gonzales-creators-of-the-feminist-video-game-tampon-run/

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A very important video game. -Emily

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“These girls met at the Girls Who Code summer immersion program, and bonded over their concern with the stigma that exists in our society about menstruation. In fact, they felt so strongly about the taboo that they created an 8-bit video game which encourages people to be more open about this normal bodily function that every woman experiences.“

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1000 Visions of Global Change: Carly, high school student

What global challenge(s) are you passionate about and how do you hope to change the status quo?

I get fired up about Islamophobia. I am passionate about creating tolerance and support for all (including oneself) and I see Islamophobia as a huge and important obstacle our world must face and overcome in order to become the best version of itself.

What are you doing about it?

I have had the incredible opportunity to become friends with several foreign exchange students over the last couple years of my life. I have become friends with kids from Germany, Hungary, France, the Gaza Strip and Morocco. Although many of these people have returned home, we have still been able to keep in contact. These have been some of the coolest friendships I have ever made. Although I believe that I am a very tolerant and open-minded person, meeting kids from other countries and cultures has inspired me to become even more so. It has also opened my eyes to more issues that I believe young people of the world need to become aware of. Many of my foreign exchange friends have been from Muslim countries or have been practicing Muslims themselves. Being able to create relationships with these amazing young people allowed me to learn about issues like Islamophobia on a more personal and close-to-home level. Knowing that my friends experience Islamophobia on a daily basis in one form or another (on the street, in the media, etc) strikes within me the determination to create a new age of tolerance and love.

When do you feel most inspired and/or challenged?

I feel most inspired when I am walking through my favorite neighborhood park, when I am listening to good, powerful music and when I am spending time with supportive, passionate and creative people.

What advice do you have for other people interested in creating change?

I believe that creating change is all about being really, really, really passionate about an idea or an issue and creating relationships with people that share your passion. Collaboration and communication with like-minded (or perhaps different), passionate and creative people is my favorite way to start to create change.

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Meet the Senegalese rapper fighting to end FGM for good

Senegalese rappers, DJs and community leaders are uniting to overcome FGM once and for all.

Despite a nationwide ban in 1999, FGM persists in Senegal.

To protect young girls and women from the practice, a new wave of rappers, DJs and community leaders are uniting to change attitudes and overcome FGM once and for all.

Read more about how these activists are fighting for change here

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“As you grow older, you will discover you have two hands-one for helping, the other for helping others.”

~Audrey Hepburn

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1000 Visions of Global Change: Theodore Berry

Job/School: Educational ambassador

What global challenge(s) are you passionate about and how do you hope to change the status quo?

Indigenous rights, religious freedom (both expression and practise), sustainable development/living, women's rights, LGBTQAI, peace education, refugee and asylum seeker rights, and foster/orphaned youth.

What are you doing about it?

Currently teaching culture and English in China. When I am not working at the school I am attempting to form a programme that seeks to create future leaders by empowering those most affected by injustices. I also volunteer with CISV, Children's International Summer Villages, where we seek to create experiences to encourage the youths of today to be the movements of change tomorrow.

When do you feel most inspired and/or challenged?

When I listen to music or when I reminisce about injustices I have faced I begin to try and problem solve a way to create an effective change in our world.

What advice do you have for other people interested in creating change?

Living a good story. It's not just about doing things for fun or the heck of it. It's about creating impactful moments that will ripple throughout your life, and maybe others. Living a good story is first making your life meaningful so that you can empower others to make theirs just as meaningful.  

You can reach at Theodore on his email at [email protected] for more information.

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A promising test for pancreatic cancer ... from a teenager

Over 85 percent of all pancreatic cancers are diagnosed late, when someone has less than two percent chance of survival. How could this be? Jack Andraka talks about how he developed a promising early detection test for pancreatic cancer that’s super cheap, effective and non-invasive -- all before his 16th birthday.