We are delighted to welcome Dhairya Sharma, a 14-year-old student from Jammu and Kashmir, India, as the first participant from India to join Global Youth Philanthropy (GYP).
Dhairya brings with him a strong passion for journalism, geopolitics, and global affairs. He has actively participated in seven Model United Nations (MUN) conferences, where he has developed a keen interest in diplomacy, international dialogue, and problem-solving. Alongside his MUN experience, Dhairya has contributed to his school’s journalism initiatives, building valuable skills in research, critical analysis, and structured writing.
Growing up in Jammu and Kashmir, Dhairya has cultivated a thoughtful perspective on the complex global challenges people face today. His curiosity about world issues and dedication to understanding diverse viewpoints align closely with GYP’s mission to promote accurate, unbiased, and impactful reporting.
We are especially excited to welcome Dhairya as our first student member from India, marking an important step in expanding GYP’s global youth network. His enthusiasm for diplomacy and storytelling will undoubtedly enrich our community.
Please join us in welcoming Dhairya Sharma to GYP—we look forward to seeing his contributions and growth as part of our international youth initiative.
We are excited to announce that Manfred Xirinachs Ugalde has joined the GYP Student Board — marking several meaningful “firsts” for our global community.
Manfred is the first university-level student to join the GYP Student Board, the first representative from Costa Rica, and notably, the first member bringing extensive hands-on experience in space science and engineering.
Currently majoring in aerospace engineering, Manfred is recognized as the youngest analog astronaut in Costa Rica. His passion for space exploration is matched by a strong commitment to empowering others and expanding access to the field.
At a remarkably young stage in his career, Manfred has already founded and led multiple impactful initiatives:
President & Founder of Red PlaNet, an aerospace, engineering, and science organization at Texas Tech University – Costa Rica
Lead Engineer & Founder of Summit Tower, the first accessible microgravity tower in Central America
Chapter Director of The Mars Society Costa Rica, helping connect local talent with the global space industry
Beyond leadership titles, Manfred is deeply committed to hands-on learning and innovation. He leads student teams to design and build real-world projects — from microgravity simulators to underwater rovers — demonstrating that meaningful contributions to science and technology can begin long before graduation.
As he joins GYP, Manfred brings an inspiring vision: to encourage young people around the world to take initiative, explore boldly, and realize that they do not have to wait to make a real impact.
We warmly welcome Manfred to the GYP Student Board and look forward to the energy, creativity, and global perspective he will bring to our community.
As part of the global observance of Humanitarian Networks and Partnerships Week (HNPW), Global Youth Philanthropy (GYP) successfully hosted its 2026 seminar, “Youth Storytelling for Humanitarian Impact: Journalism, Film, and Digital Media.” Marking its third consecutive year contributing to HNPW, GYP brought together a diverse panel of international speakers and student leaders to explore how youth-driven storytelling can inform, connect, and inspire humanitarian action worldwide.
The session, hosted by GYP student leaders David Wang and Molin Wang, featured five distinguished guest speakers joining from across multiple time zones, alongside student presenters from GYP’s global network. The seminar highlighted the growing role of youth in humanitarian journalism and media, emphasizing the power of authentic storytelling grounded in lived experience and community perspectives.
Among the featured speakers, Ali Latifi, an editor at The New Humanitarian, delivered compelling insights shaped by his experience reporting across regions including Afghanistan, the United States, and Europe. Drawing from his background growing up between Kabul and California, Latifi emphasized the importance of reporting from within communities rather than as outsiders. He underscored that youth journalists bring fresh perspectives and a strong commitment to inclusion, particularly in an era where digital platforms amplify diverse voices. He also highlighted the need to seek multiple perspectives and uncover shared human experiences—what he described as a “universal truth”—to create meaningful and responsible journalism.
Other speakers further expanded on the theme of storytelling as a catalyst for change. George Nalo addressed the humanitarian crisis in Sudan, emphasizing that personal narratives from affected individuals can often communicate urgency and empathy more effectively than statistics alone. Kito Mahania spoke about the unique role of artists and storytellers in shaping public understanding and driving long-term social change, complementing the immediate work of humanitarian responders. Nicholas Natalio introduced participants to documentary filmmaking techniques, encouraging young creators to tell stories “with an amateur heart”—authentically, compassionately, and in the moment.
A particularly inspiring highlight came from Cole Alan, a high school filmmaker and GYP member, who shared his award-winning documentary following a recovering addict at his uncle’s clinic. Originally created as a school project, the film has since been screened at more than 40 international festivals, demonstrating the real-world impact youth storytellers can achieve.
The seminar also featured presentations from five GYP student researchers, who explored how youth journalism can evolve into meaningful action through initiatives such as expanding student clubs and GYP’s digital media platforms. They emphasized the ethical responsibility of storytellers to work with communities rather than simply reporting about them, reinforcing the importance of empathy, accuracy, and multiple perspectives in humanitarian narratives.
Overall, the session reflected GYP’s growing leadership in youth engagement within the humanitarian sector. By combining professional expertise with student-led innovation, the seminar created a dynamic and inclusive dialogue that resonated with participants worldwide. As GYP continues to expand its global network, its contributions to HNPW highlight the organization’s commitment to empowering the next generation of storytellers to drive awareness, understanding, and action in addressing global challenges.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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!
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:
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.
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.
