Global Youth Matters

Shougla Hameed is an Afghan doctor from a Pashtun family, who defied societal norms and personal struggles to pursue her dream of becoming a doctor. Raised in a middle-class family that prioritized education, she overcame significant cultural barriers, including the conservative values of her homeland to study medicine. Her journey led her from Afghanistan to Turkey, where she volunteered with refugees. She eventually ended up in t...

Jayci Simon shares her journey as a Paralympic silver medalist, discussing her unique challenges as an athlete with dwarfism. From her late diagnosis to her determination to succeed in badminton, Jayci emphasizes the importance of resilience, community support, and a positive mindset. Jayci's story serves as a powerful reminder that with hard work and dedication, no dream is too big to achieve.

To contribute to her training/future ...

Kenneth Downing has had a very active life thus far. He’s been a professional tennis coach, worked for the Washington DC’’s Mayor’s office, and is now a Manager at Bergamot Asset Management. At the same time, he is also a writer of books and is working on a PhD. He shares his challenging life experiences, from growing up in the US and Germany to facing homeless...

Lily Vining is a podcaster, storyteller, lover of words, and fitness fanatic. Originally from Connecticut, Lily is a recent graduate of Franklin & Marshall College with passions for showcasing inspiring stories through her writing and content creation. After battling an eating disorder in her teens, she developed a love for strength training and is an aspiring bodybuilding competitor. She documents her journey through social me...

Rodrigo Pedraza, a 22 year old first generation Colombian immigrant, has overcome challenges with Coming Out, mental health, and confidence. He is the oldest of four boys, a die-hard Swiftie, and a strong believer in the power of self-reflection. He recently graduated from the University of Maryland with a degree in Biological Sciences and currently works as a high school biology teacher at DC International School. Rodrigo aspires ...

Hana’s guest is a 15-year-old student at Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington DC. Asher shares their passion for technical design and production in theatre. They discuss the impact of DC Scores on their life, particularly in discovering their talent for writing and performing poetry as a means to manage and express emotions. Asher also opens up about their experiences with family challenges, the value of embracing mistak...

Zarea is a DC-based writer and educator who works closely with youth and activism groups in her community. Zarea’s passion for poetry was sparked when she joined DC SCORES when she was 7 years old. She continued with DC SCORES through the organization’s enhanced writing program, Youth W.O.R.D. Project. Zarea has performed her poetry all over DC including Audi Field, Busboys and Poets, Arena Stage, and Capitol Hill. Zarea is current...

Tanaka Cliff Nhokwara grew up in Zimbabwe and Uganda. In pursuit of his dream to be a physician, he was attending medical school at Sumy State University in Ukraine when the Russian army invaded. Like millions of others he was forced to flee the country amidst almost daily bombings, drone strikes, and tanks. Eventually he completed his medical degree in neighboring Poland. His story is one of resilience and determination in the fac...

Tolu is a 23 year old Nigerian student who was pursuing her dream of going to medical school in the Ukraine. In 2022, in her fifth year of medical school, the full scale invasion of the Ukraine began. With bombs falling on or near her city, she and hundreds of other students were forced to flee to neighboring countries. Buses and trains were overcrowded, discriminated against non-Ukrainians, and none were able to go all the way to ...

Inspired by their deep connections to the African Diaspora, Atlanta natives Macire and Nassim have transformed their educational achievements into powerful vehicles for social change. Macire, with roots in Conakry, Guinea, holds a Master's in International Affairs from Columbia, building on her Bachelor's in Global Development and International Affairs from Mercer University. Nassim, of African American and Jamaican heritage, compl...

Hana's guest, Yasma, is a remarkable youth of only 16. Born and raised in Lebanon, the economic situation in that country lead her family to move to Dubai in 2020. At the same time, she fought an eating disorder that eventually required temporary hospitalization. While in the hospital, she and her mother started a charity - leveraging Yasma's creative artwork - to benefit children with cancer through donations.  While still in a 'r...

Sevyn, age 14, is an aspiring basketball player and a top student. Growing up in a neighborhood with violence, he share some of his wisdom on how to stay focused in this environment. He also shares his experiences and knowledge gained through his participation in youth activities at the Hustlers Guild.

The Hustlers Guild (HG) is a 501 (c)(3), social impact organization founded by policy experts with over 15 years of experience to e...

Cateo and David met at an organization called Life Pieces to Masterpieces in Washington DC when they were both only in elementary school. LPTM uses artistic expression to develop character and leadership and prepare African American boys and young men to transform their lives and communities. https://lifepieces.org/ Now college students at Delaware State University, they make time to serve as Junior Mentors at LPTM, giving back to ...

Selena “Noir” Jackson, born and raised in Washington DC, attended Montgomery College School of Art where she earned her A.F.A. in Studio Arts and is an active alum of the Sitar Arts Center. Noir remains active in her community as an art educator. She finds passion in bridging the gap between class and art for DC youth through the emphasis on activism, individualism, and the creation of antiracist spaces.

Her website: https://www.se...

Raised by his mom in DC with his three sister, money was challenging growing up. Israel was born in New York, grew up in DC, and has an Afro-Latino background. He graduated from Shepherd University in West Virginia with a B.S. in Biochemistry, with the goal of becoming a toxicologist. He credits his community of support at Sitar Arts Center in Washington, DC with much of his success not only as an artist, but as a scientist and a l...