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Boston, MA – February 2026 – Boston Global Youth Philanthropy (GYP) proudly announces its third consecutive year of participation in the Humanitarian Networks and Partnerships Weeks (HNPW), the Geneva-based global forum that brings together humanitarian practitioners, United Nations agencies, NGOs, scholars, and youth leaders from around the world.

Photos are from 2025 HNPW events

Unlike previous years when GYP delegations traveled to Geneva, the organization will participate fully online during the week of March 2–6, 2026, expanding global access and youth engagement.

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GYP Key Seminar

“Youth Storytelling for Humanitarian Impact: Journalism, Film, and Digital Media”

📅 Tuesday, March 3, 2026
🕓 4:00–5:30 PM (EST, Boston Time)
💻 Online via Zoom

🎟 Public Open Event – Everyone Is Welcome

This is a public online event, and anyone is welcome to join. Interested participants may visit the official HNPW website at www.hnpw.org for more information, or email info@globalyouthphilanthropy.org to request the Zoom link.

Hosted by Molin Wang and David Wang, 2026 Co-Chairs of the GYP Student Board, the seminar will explore how youth-driven storytelling across journalism, film, and digital platforms can generate awareness, empathy, and measurable humanitarian impact.

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Program Highlights

Opening Remarks
Molin Wang will open the session with reflections on youth leadership in global humanitarian dialogue.

Special Film Screening
A three-minute flagship film, “GYP in HNPW,” will showcase GYP’s growing engagement in global humanitarian conversations.

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Distinguished Guest Speakers

The seminar will feature five internationally respected professionals and youth leaders:

• Ali Latifi, Asia Editor at The New Humanitarian – An experienced journalist reporting on crises from Washington DC to Kabul, offering frontline insight into humanitarian reporting.
• George Nalo, Founder & Executive Director of Education in Crisis (EiC) – Leading efforts to address the global education crisis across five African countries.
• Kieto Mahaniah, Co-founder of the Next Humanitarians Network at HNPW and Operations Coordinator at HELP Logistics, Germany – Specialist in humanitarian logistics and sustainable supply chains.
• Nicholas Natalicchio, Associate Program Director, Film & Television, at Drexel University – Bringing academic and industry perspectives on socially engaged filmmaking.
• Cole Adefuin Aylaian, 2026 GYP Student Board Member and director of “Becoming Jeremy,” winner of the GYP Rising Filmmaker Award at the 2025 GYP Youth Humanitarian Film Festival.

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GYP Student Project Presentations

First-Stage Progress Showcase: “Youth Storytelling for Humanitarian Impact”

GYP student leaders will present collaborative research and media projects, including:

• From Story to Action: Turning Awareness into Impact – Jenny Bu
• Journalism: Telling Untold Youth Stories – Fausto Gao
• Film: Emotional Power of Short Humanitarian Films – Julian Shi
• Digital Media & Social Platforms: Impact in 60 Seconds – James Zhang
• Project Summary: Ethics & Responsibility in Youth Storytelling – Connor Mi

The session will conclude with an open Q&A discussion led by David Wang.

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Youth Representation in Additional HNPW Session

At the same time, Lucy Zhang, Senior Co-Chair of the GYP Student Board, will participate and present at another HNPW session titled “Young Humanitarian Voices,” hosted by the Next Humanitarians Network (USSG). Her participation reflects GYP’s commitment to elevating youth perspectives across multiple global humanitarian platforms.

Boston, MA — [Feb 3, 2026] — Global Youth Philanthropy (GYP) is proud to announce that its Mars Society GYP Chapter has officially received recognition from The Mars Society, marking an important milestone in GYP’s expanding youth-led STEM and space exploration initiatives.

The official recognition affirms the Mars Society GYP Chapter as an authorized youth chapter operating under The Mars Society’s global network, dedicated to advancing education, research, and youth engagement in space science, planetary exploration, and the future of human settlement on Mars.

“This recognition is a meaningful validation of our students’ dedication and vision,” said Michael Wang, Director of Global Youth Philanthropy. “It empowers young people to engage directly with real-world space advocacy, scientific curiosity, and global collaboration—while connecting humanitarian values with the future of space exploration.”

The Mars Society GYP Chapter is a youth-led initiative, designed to provide students with opportunities to:

• Learn about Mars exploration, space technology, and planetary science
• Engage with scientists, engineers, and space professionals
• Develop leadership skills through student-led research, discussions, and public outreach
• Explore the ethical, environmental, and humanitarian dimensions of space exploration

As part of Global Youth Philanthropy, the chapter also emphasizes storytelling, education, and interdisciplinary learning—bridging science, media, and global citizenship.

The recognition further strengthens GYP’s mission to empower youth through hands-on learning, international dialogue, and future-oriented education. It also opens new opportunities for collaboration with Mars Society chapters worldwide, participation in space-related programs, and youth involvement in global STEM initiatives.

More information about the Mars Society GYP Chapter and upcoming activities will be announced soon.

The first short video in our brand-new playlist, “Deep Dive,” has just been published on the GYP YouTube channel! We invite you to watch the video, subscribe to our channel, and help us grow by sharing GYP with your friends and community.

Following GYP Global Youth Brief!, “Deep Dive” is the second newly launched playlist on our YouTube channel. This series features youth-produced videos that research, discuss, and explore humanitarian topics in greater depth.

The first project in this playlist is “Geography & Culture,” a collection of short- and long-form videos. Over the course of three weeks, a dedicated team of GYP students completed the first video in the series, titled “GYP Deep Dive | What People Get Wrong About Life in the Sahel.”

For this project, students conducted in-depth research on the Sahel region, planned visuals, recorded a research-based voiceover, and edited the final video. Through this video and the broader Deep Dive series, we aim to raise awareness of humanitarian challenges and offer deeper insight into the lives, cultures, and realities of people in often-misunderstood regions of the world.

Boston Global Youth Philanthropy (GYP) is pleased to announce the launch of GYP Global Youth Brief!, a new YouTube Shorts–based weekly news update program focused on youth humanitarian action, student leadership opportunities, and pathways to social impact careers.

GYP Global Youth Brief! is designed to make the GYP YouTube channel a practical and accessible information source for young people interested in global humanitarian work and civic engagement. Each episode delivers concise, timely updates curated and produced by a team of outstanding student contributors from GYP.

The program features news and opportunities drawn from both GYP initiatives and the broader global youth and humanitarian ecosystem. Episodes are published on a weekly or bi-weekly basis.

During its initial phase, the editorial team closely follows youth-related updates from approximately ten leading organizations, including:

• United Nations Volunteers (UNV) – Youth Opportunities
• UN Youth Envoy – Youth Opportunities
• ReliefWeb
• Devex
• ImpactPool

GYP welcomes feedback from viewers and partners on additional high-quality news sources that would be valuable for future editions of GYP Global Youth Brief!

The first episode is now available on YouTube Shorts:
https://youtube.com/shorts/7Udm4npn_Sw?feature=share

Please help us to expand the reach of this youth-led initiative by sharing the launch announcement on your own social media. Thanks for the support!

As part of our ongoing commitment to youth empowerment and humanitarian innovation, Global Youth Philanthropy (GYP) is proud to explore a new collaboration with our Africa partner, the Education in Crisis (EIC), to support displaced and conflict-affected youth in Sudan—one of the world’s most urgent humanitarian crises.

Together, GYP and EIC are launching a GYP youth-led initiative to mobilize 100 (or more) gently used laptops from GYP-related schools, youth networks, and communities worldwide, especially in the United States and Canada. These laptops will be refurbished and delivered to young people in Sudan, especially those living in displacement camps and conflict-affected areas, to help them develop digital skills for remote work, freelancing, and online learning.

With Sudan experiencing the largest displacement crisis in the world, millions of young people have lost access not only to formal education but also to opportunities for skill development and employment. This initiative seeks to restore hope—offering digital tools, mentorship, and pathways toward self-reliance.

More than just a donation campaign, this project embodies global youth solidarity—linking young donors and volunteers in North America with their peers in Sudan through technology, shared learning, and humanitarian purpose.

Through this partnership, GYP and EIC aim to build a model for youth-led digital empowerment in humanitarian contexts, supported by mobilization campaigns, logistics coordination, and global advocacy.

If your school, youth club, or community would like to get involved—by donating laptops, providing technical assistance, or helping to raise awareness—please contact us at info@globalyouthphilanthropy.org.

Together, we can help build digital bridges of hope, learning, and opportunity for a generation of youth striving to thrive despite crisis.

Special Announcement:
The Opening Event of the GYP Youth Humanitarian Film Festival
EST 9:00 PM, Saturday, November 1, 2025
Everyone is welcome to join online.
Zoom Link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84795925882?pwd=fkddjmN0p9yJMMoaKei3DOvSbsmivH.1

Meeting ID: 847 9592 5882
Passcode: 57672 9

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Boston, MA – October 20, 2025 – Boston Global Youth Philanthropy (GYP) is proud to announce that 14 outstanding students have been honored with the 2025 GYP Volunteer Award in recognition of their exceptional commitment to community service, youth humanitarian projects, and social impact initiatives.

The GYP Volunteer Award celebrates young individuals who demonstrate compassion, leadership, and dedication to advancing humanitarian causes through active volunteerism and meaningful contributions to their communities.

Due to the suspension of the Presidential Volunteer Service Award (PVSA) program in the United States in May 2025, Boston GYP has extended equal recognition to all award recipients—both in the U.S. and internationally—through the GYP Volunteer Award. This decision reflects GYP’s commitment to inclusivity and to recognizing youth volunteers worldwide who contribute to its mission of empowering young people to engage in humanitarian action and global collaboration.

“Each of these students has shown remarkable dedication to service and a genuine spirit of philanthropy,” said Michael Wang, Director of Boston Global Youth Philanthropy. “Their work exemplifies the values of empathy, leadership, and global citizenship that GYP seeks to inspire in youth everywhere.”

Boston GYP continues to provide youth worldwide with opportunities to participate in humanitarian initiatives, research projects, and intercultural programs that foster awareness and collaboration on global challenges.

2025 GYP Volunteer Award Winners
(More names may be added)

Boston Global Youth Philanthropy (GYP) is pleased to announce a new collaboration with the Department of Cinema & Television in the Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts & Design at Drexel University, marking an exciting step toward expanding youth engagement in socially conscious filmmaking.

While the details of this cooperation are still under development, both organizations share a strong commitment to providing young people with meaningful opportunities to create positive social impact through film and media.

As part of the partnership, faculty members from Drexel’s Department of Cinema & Television will host online seminars and workshops for GYP students around the world, introducing them to professional insights in storytelling, documentary production, and ethical filmmaking. In addition, Drexel students may serve as judges for the annual GYP Youth Humanitarian Film Festival, helping to recognize outstanding youth voices advocating for humanitarian causes through film.

GYP, in turn, will offer social impact volunteer opportunities for Drexel students who wish to engage directly with global youth initiatives. The collaboration also includes mentorship opportunities, where Drexel faculty and graduate students will guide GYP participants in developing their filmmaking skills and amplifying their humanitarian messages.

This partnership will also strengthen the promotion and reach of the GYP Youth Humanitarian Film Festival, an international platform that celebrates young filmmakers ages 13–25 who tell stories that inspire empathy, collaboration, and global understanding.

“We are honored to partner with Drexel University’s Department of Cinema & Television,” said Michael Wang of Managing Director of Boston Global Youth Philanthropy. “Together, we aim to empower youth to use film as a tool for humanitarian advocacy and to connect creative talent with global purpose.”

Through this partnership, Boston Global Youth Philanthropy and Drexel University reaffirm their shared vision: to nurture the next generation of filmmakers who use creativity as a force for humanitarian change.

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About the Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts & Design at Drexel University
The Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts & Design is a nationally recognized leader in arts, media, and design education. Its Department of Cinema & Television offers industry-focused programs that prepare students for creative leadership in film, television, and emerging media industries.

A Global Platform for Youth Storytelling, Advocacy, and Humanitarian Action

Global Youth Philanthropy (GYP) is proud to introduce the GYP Youth Humanitarian Film Festival, an exciting new initiative designed to amplify youth voices and inspire action through the power of film.

Launched in mid-2025 as a pilot initiative, this festival aims to spotlight youth-led storytelling that addresses global humanitarian issues, promotes empathy, and encourages intercultural understanding. Building on the lessons and successes of our pilot year, we are preparing for our first official festival in October 2026.

2025 Pilot Initiative: Be Part of the Beginning

From October to November 2025, we are hosting a special pilot edition of the festival to showcase emerging youth talent, experiment with new formats, and gather valuable insights to strengthen the program going forward. This is your chance to be part of something meaningful from the ground up.

🌟 Call for Youth Participants

We are now inviting young filmmakers (ages 13–25) from around the world to register and participate. Whether you’re a first-time storyteller or an experienced media creator, if you’re passionate about humanitarian topics and eager to express your ideas through film and digital media, we want to hear from you!

Your work can be fiction or nonfiction, short-form or feature-length — what matters is the message and impact.

🤝 Join Us as a Partner or Supporter

To make this festival truly global and youth-led, we are also seeking collaborators who share our mission:

• Youth Ambassadors to help represent and promote the festival in their communities and schools
• Mentors with filmmaking, storytelling, or humanitarian experience to guide youth participants
• Content Collaborators who can provide resources, workshops, or co-create learning materials
• Promotion Partners to help spread the word and grow our global network

High school and college students can earn volunteer hours by supporting the festival. Contact us to learn more.

This is a unique opportunity to empower the next generation of humanitarians and changemakers through creative expression.

📩 Get Involved

Youth Film Submission Guidelines

If you are a student, educator, nonprofit leader, filmmaker, or simply someone who believes in the power of youth and storytelling, we invite you to join us.

👉 Register or express interest by emailing us at:
📧 info@globalyouthphilanthropy.org

Together, let’s build a platform where youth voices can be heard — and where their stories can inspire real-world change.

We are proud to announce that GYP student leaders have been invited by our partner, Education in Crisis (EiC), to participate in the upcoming Day of the African Child (DAC) on June 16, 2025. This year’s event will be hosted in hybrid format—onsite in the Nuba Mountains, Sudan, and online for participants worldwide—to bring together voices from across the globe in support of educational equity.

Representing GYP, Student Board Members Lucy Zhang and David Wang will deliver remarks via Zoom, sharing GYP’s ongoing commitment to combating education inequality and strengthening joint programs with EiC. Their presentations will highlight youth-driven solutions, global collaboration, and the future of humanitarian education efforts between GYP and EiC.

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About the Day of the African Child (DAC)

Observed annually on June 16, the Day of the African Child commemorates the 1976 Soweto student uprising in South Africa, when thousands of Black schoolchildren protested against apartheid-imposed education policies. Tragically, hundreds were killed during the demonstrations.

First instituted by the Organization of African Unity (OAU) in 1991, DAC honors the courage of those students and serves as a reminder of the ongoing struggle for children’s rights across Africa—especially the right to quality, inclusive, and culturally relevant education.

This year, EiC will mark the day through hybrid events in the Nuba Mountains, Sudan, and on Zoom, drawing attention to children in conflict zones and amplifying youth-led advocacy for education.

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About Education in Crisis (EiC)

Education in Crisis is a grassroots organization at the frontline of education emergencies in East Africa, operating in Sudan, South Sudan, Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. EiC focuses on restoring learning opportunities for children displaced by war, disaster, and marginalization, with an emphasis on gender equity, local leadership, and inclusive education. Their work is rooted in the belief that every child deserves the right to learn—regardless of circumstance.

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 Coming Soon: African Culture Month at GYP

In solidarity with DAC and in celebration of Africa’s rich cultural heritage, GYP will launch a month-long initiative: African Culture Month. This global online event will feature a series of youth-led seminars exploring African history, culture, and literature, and will also include mini-documentary projects produced by GYP students.

Stay tuned for more details on how to attend or participate in this exciting intercultural learning series.

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Stay Connected

Please follow the GYP YouTube channel for the latest updates on our programs, including upcoming GYP events, new youth documentary projects, and our expanding sub-channels:

• Youth4Impact
• Bridging Cultures
• Career Navigator
• Humanitarian Film Contest

For questions or to get involved, contact us at info@globalyouthphilanthropy.org or visit globalyouthphilanthropy.org.

We are excited to announce that a team of Boston Global Youth Philanthropy (GYP) students, parents, and advisors will participate in the 2025 Humanitarian Networks and Partnerships Week (HNPW) in Geneva from March 17 to March 28.

• Week 1 (March 17–21): Virtual Sessions
• Week 2 (March 24–28): In-Person Sessions at CICG Geneva

HNPW Conference Venue:

📍 Centre International de Conférences Genève (CICG)
📍 17 rue de Varembé, CH – 1202 Genève, Switzerland

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GYP’s Key Session at HNPW 2025

🗓 Date: March 25, 2025 (Tuesday)
⏰ Time: 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM (UTC+1)
📍 Location: Salle Lausanne, CICG Geneva
🌍 Format: Hybrid (In-person & Online)

Session Title:
🔹 Empowering Youth in Humanitarian Action: Insights from “GYP Youth Humanitarian Navigator” & Leveraging Digital Innovation for Environmental Training

We invite all students, parents, friends, and supporters to join us online or in person!

How to Register for the Session (Online Participation)

To attend our session virtually, please follow these steps:
1️⃣ Create an account on the HNPW website: www.hnpw.org
2️⃣ Click “Event Program”
3️⃣ Under “Network or Partnership”, select USSG
4️⃣ Click “Show Sessions”
5️⃣ Find our session under the title:
Empowering Youth in Humanitarian Action: Digital Innovation for Youth Engagement in Humanitarian Careers & Environmental Training
6️⃣ Register for the session to receive the Zoom link.

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Join Us In Person at HNPW

If you are in Geneva between March 23 and March 28, we warmly welcome you to attend our session on March 25 at 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM (local time) at Salle Lausanne, CICG Geneva.

📍 Visit Us at Booth #47!
Boston GYP will also have an exhibition stand (#47) at the conference venue. Stop by to learn more about our work and connect with our team!

For any questions, please contact us at info@globalyouthphilanthropy.org.

Thank you for your support, and we look forward to seeing you at HNPW 2025!