WHEN YOUTH LEADS

WHEN YOUTH LEADS
2025 Global Youth Award Winners
Feature Story by Global Youth Awards

The Global Youth Awards were created to recognise, uplift, and celebrate young people who are turning compassion into meaningful action. Each year, we honour youth aged 11–25 who are leading social and environmental impact projects within their communities and beyond.

The following winners represent courage, innovation, and hope in action. Their projects remind us that change begins with purpose and that when young people are supported, extraordinary things are possible:

Empowering Leadership
Mahmadur Rahman Nayeem, 19, Bangladesh
A youth advocate protecting children from exploitation, Nayeem has prevented child marriages, rescued trafficking victims, and led nationwide awareness campaigns on child rights.

Empowering Innovation
Ariana Singhi, 17, India
Ariana created SWAPS, customisable eyewear arms launched with Lenskart, transforming glasses into a stylish and expressive accessory.

Empowering Change
Sarah Kittoe, 12, UK
Sarah is an award-winning author and philanthropist whose books fund literacy initiatives, charitable programs, and refurbished libraries for underserved communities.

Educational Leadership
Camila Novales, 18, Guatemala
Camila founded BeyondSight to make science and astronomy education accessible to youth globally through outreach and community projects.

Educational Innovation
Fatimah Zannah Mustapha, 23, Nigeria
Fatimah trains women in tech and co-founded Future Prowess Foundation, empowering displaced women through software, AI, and digital literacy.

Educational Change
Sabera Sayeed, 23, UK (Afghanistan)
Sabera supports 10,000+ Afghan girls through education and safe spaces, reducing forced and underage marriages and fostering leadership.

​Environmental Leadership
Lily YangLiu, 17, Canada
Lily is a climate educator and youth diplomat connecting classrooms, policy tables, and communities to move young people from awareness to action.

Environmental Innovation
Aarna Varre, 12, USA
Aarna invented the FloodGuard Bag, a biodegradable, automated system protecting crops from floods to combat food insecurity and climate-related disasters.

Environmental Change
Padraic Barry, 16, Ireland
Padraic leads “Not Around Us,” a campaign reducing vaping in rural Ireland through education, partnerships, and community engagement.

Creative Leadership
Sahil Kancherla, 16, USA
Sahil founded Sugar4Smiles, spreading joy to children and families facing food insecurity through creative birthday kits and community support.

Creative Innovation
Krish Nawal, 15, India
Krish founded the Children’s Art Museum of India, an online platform showcasing 20,000+ artworks and empowering 300,000+ young creators worldwide.

Creative Change
Amrutha Vanapala, 14, India
Amrutha founded Crossover Conversations, sharing untold stories from entrepreneurs and professionals to inspire young people with real-life lessons and resilience.

Songwriting Competition Winner
Rebekka Garcia Benito (Rebekka Louise), UK
Rebekka is a singer-songwriter whose soulful, genre-blending music captures emotional depth and personal growth through poetic storytelling.

At the heart of the Awards is a simple belief: young people are not waiting to be future leaders, they are already shaping change. Through storytelling, connection, and global visibility, the Global Youth Awards exist to ensure their voices are heard, their work is valued, and their impact is amplified. ∎

Find & follow the Global Youth Awards on Instagram:
​@globalyouthawards_rtg