YHP Scholars

An incoming student of mathematics, computer science and earth systems at Stanford University, Aritro develops hybrid deep-learning and mathematical models to predict desertification and inform global land-use policy. 

As a Rise Global Fellow, World Science Scholar, and Non-Trivial Fellow, Aritro has delivered speeches at the 78^th and 79^th UN General Assemblies as one of the 25 global UN Youth Parliament members, where he co-drafted the Youth Stimulus to Deliver Agenda. He also founded The Eco-Perspectives Podcast, amplifying youth-led environmental initiatives across seven countries.

Aritro’s goal is to bridge rigorous computational science and institutional policy to build climate-resilient health systems for the world’s most vulnerable communities.

A public health advocate from Kenya, Caroline Mburu is the Communications Person for Stop Partnership Kenya where she leads advocacy efforts for inclusive healthcare. Holding a BA in Strategic Management, she is pursuing a Master’s in Public and Social Policy. 

Caroline is also the national Coordinator for Global Coalition of TB Advocates Kenya, where she mobilises and leads young people to advocate for better health systems. She has authored ‘Breaking the Silence’, an eBook containing lived experiences of people who have faced significant barriers to care.

As a survivor of TB and post-TB lung complications, Caroline uses her story to create awareness and campaign for timely care for vulnerable communities. Her current project ‘Nutrition to Heal’ aims to improve the treatment outcomes of patients and address lung health.

A Ghanaian molecular biology and biotechnology student at the University of Cape Coast graduating in August 2026, Eugenia is the founder of the Youth Impact Initiative. This grassroots programme delivers Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) prevention and health literacy workshops to young people in underserved peri-urban communities in Accra. 

Eugenia’s work bridges biomedical science and community health advocacy, with a focus on reaching young populations that formal health systems overlook. Her goal is to build a scalable, youth-led model for NCD prevention across Ghana and West Africa.

A biologist and science communicator from Mexico, Fátima works at the intersection of scientific rigor and community impact. With a degree in Biology and a specialisation in Journalism, she is also the founder of “Bichos Creativos”, an initiative recognised by the Jane Goodall Institute. Here, Fátima developed a “Learning by Creating” methodology and a bio literacy framework to reconnect urban youth with biodiversity as a strategic tool for public health.

As a regional ambassador for global sustainability fellowships, Fátima also manages a digital science communication platform.

Fátima’s goal is to turn her evidence-based frameworks into public health policies, demonstrating that reconnecting to nature is the most powerful way to create a healthier, more climate-resilient future for children.

A data scientist from Togo, Kodjo is dedicated to bridging the gap between advanced technology and public health equity. Currently serving as a Data Scientist at Quorima Tech and a UNDP Youth Ambassador for Tech for Peace (Tec4Peace), Kodjo specialises in leveraging geospatial analysis and machine learning to tackle systemic health challenges.

With an academic background in Big Data and Artificial Intelligence, Kodjo has led impactful data projects on non-communicable disease (NCD) prevention at Global Protect Initiative (GPI) Afrique Labs. His current work focuses on developing a Vulnerability Index to identify healthcare deserts in underserved regions, ensuring predictive data serves as a proactive shield against NCDs. As a reviewer for Deep Learning Indaba, he is a committed advocate for African-led innovation that prioritises human dignity and resilient health systems.

Kodjo aims to lead the digital transformation of Togo's health sector, making data-driven solutions accessible to the communities that need them most.

Leah is the Founder and Executive Director of the Peer Medical Foundation, a youth-led nonprofit advancing health equity, inclusivity, diversity, and racial justice in medicine. A rare-sibling and caregiver to her sister, her path into advocacy is rooted in lived experience.

Through Peer Med Zebra, she works to bridge gaps in rare disease education and health equity. Her podcast "Behind Diagnoses: Patients" shares the stories of people navigating healthcare with chronic illness, disability, and rare disease.

Leah serves on the James Lind Alliance Global Rare Disease Priority Setting Partnership Steering Committee, the RareKids-CAN EDI Advisory Council, and the RARE.Qc EDI Committee. The inaugural recipient of the American Academy of Pediatrics MHEI Excellence in Health Equity - Rising Leader Award, she aims to continue building spaces where patients with rare diseases from underserved communities are valued.

A Federal Attorney serving in the Brazilian Amazon, Luiz operates at the intersection of public finance law, environmental governance, and sustainable development. He currently serves as Legal Coordinator at the Superintendency of the Zona Franca de Manaus (SUFRAMA) and is a graduate researcher at the University of São Paulo.

Luiz focuses on fiscal instruments to fund climate resilience and advocates for the "Green Tax," an ecological revenue-sharing policy that rewards municipalities for forest conservation in Amazonian states. His research aims to institutionalize asymmetrical federalism as a tool for channelling global climate finance toward vulnerable populations at risk of respiratory and other non-communicable diseases.

Experienced as a health and social advocate since 2010, Margianta Surahman Juhanda’s work has ranged from grassroot initiatives to high level advocacy. 

Margianta has trained youth activists across Asia Pacific, particularly during his work as a UNICEF consultant. He has also spoken at One Young World, World Health Summit, Nobel Prize Dialogue, and other global platforms. He is a former Member of the Civil Society Organisation (CSO) Advisory Board of UN in Indonesia, a Fellow of Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy’s Next Gen Leaders, and a council member of Being Initiative that funds research and innovation for youth mental health in 12 countries. 

Margianta aims to bridge the grassroot communities and policy makers to foster meaningful partnerships amidst inequities.

Oluwadara Asaolu is a Nigerian public health professional and veterinarian dedicated to advancing health equity through evidence-based, community-led interventions and health systems strengthening. She holds a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree from the University of Ilorin and serves as Director of Community Impact at the Slum and Rural Health Initiative (SRHIN), where she leads the design and implementation of innovative health interventions that have reached over 14,000 people while expanding access to quality healthcare for underserved communities across Nigeria.

Her work focuses on translating research into practical, scalable public health solutions that strengthen communities and improve health outcomes. An award-winning researcher and recipient of competitive research funding, including support from the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (RSTMH), Oluwadara is passionate about fostering strategic partnerships and advancing sustainable, locally led solutions that build healthier, more resilient communities across Africa.

Omar is an EU JEEL Connector as part of the EU MedBridges network, building lasting bridges between people and climate action, as well as a Senior Veterinary Student and multi-disciplinary leader working at the intersection of global health, climate action, and international diplomacy. Currently serving as the General Secretary of the International Veterinary Students' Association (IVSA), King Salman Internation University (KSIU) and Project Manager for the ScholarX initiative, Omar has bridged the gap between scientific expertise and global advocacy.

His experience in climate diplomacy includes participation in COP27, being selected as a COP30 Simulation Fellow, and completing advanced training through Global Youth Climate Training 2025.

Recognised as a 2025 United People Global (UPG) Sustainability Leader and an FXB Climate Advocate, Omar has a strong foundation in cross-cultural dialogue and negotiation. As an accredited sustainability trainer with Egypt’s National Institute for Governance and Sustainable Development (NIGSD), Omar is committed to advancing the "One Health" approach. Additionally, he served as a Facilitator at Empower Hub, where he mentored 15 individuals through a three-month scholarship guidance program with Scholarships Academy.

A dynamic youth leader from Laos, Pavina Vongsakda (Bella) is currently an International Business student at Souphanouvong University and is serving as the President of the Student Association for the Faculty of Economics and Tourism. She is also a certified AI Master Trainer for the ASEAN Foundation's AI Ready ASEAN program and a co-founder of ‘Youth Communication’, a platform dedicated to enhancing communication skills among Lao youth.

With a strong background in environmental advocacy, Pavina has served as an Eco-School Team Leader for Zero Waste Laos and a Youth Guardian of Forest with RECOFTC – The Center for People and Forests. Pavina’s goal is to bridge the gap between technology and sustainability, leveraging AI and digital literacy to build resilient health systems and climate-secure communities.

A rare disease advocacy leader from China, Tao is the Secretary-General of the Illness Challenge Foundation, China’s first patient-led rare disease foundation. She holds an MBA from Peking University and was a Hubert H. Humphrey Fellow and visiting scholar at Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health.

With over 15 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, Tao’s work focuses on health equity, patient empowerment, and cross-sector collaboration. Tao leads initiatives that strengthen patient organisations, improve access to treatments and financial protection, and promote policy innovation for rare diseases.

Her goal is to help build more inclusive health systems where patients with rare diseases are not merely recognized as beneficiaries, but as vital co-builders in shaping healthcare policies and driving systemic change.

A global health advocate from China, Zixuan is currently based in Barcelona as a digital nomad.

Currently, Zixuan is a freelance researcher leading the “Nail Health Equity Initiative,” which addresses hidden toxic chemical exposures and respiratory non-communicable disease (NCD) risks among underserved women in the beauty workforce. By developing digital “Safety Navigators” that bridge linguistic barriers, she strives to make preventative health and workplace safety a functional reality the women she supports.

With an academic background in Global Healthcare Management (MSc, UCL) and Human Resource Management (BA, University of Liverpool), Zixuan brings a multidisciplinary perspective to health systems. Leveraging her expertise in international supply chain management, she is dedicated to optimising health service delivery and promoting sustainable workplace health standards across the global health ecosystem.