Shu-Xin
Introduce yourself!
I'm Shu Xin, 19 years old this year and I come from Malaysia. I joined the HundrED Youth Ambassador Programme since 2020 to learn more about education innovations around the globe and involve myself in discussions about education issues. As an advocate for quality and equitable education, I also started Project 30,000 Hours to develop Malaysian students' soft skills.
Why did you choose to participate in HundrED Tank?
People around me tend to complain a lot about problems within the education system, however, only a few are actively thinking of solutions. Therefore, inspired by HundrED's mission to impact education through innovations, I participated in HundrED Tank to be part of the solution!
What project idea did you submit for HundrED Tank?
I proposed Project Fun Fund to develop students' financial literacy through a mobile app (online) and a learning resource box (offline). Through financial literacy courses with gamified activities and expenditure planning tracker in the mobile app or learning box, students can obtain financial knowledge and save consistently. This project aims to help all Malaysian students cultivate a saving habit.
What have you learned from this experience and how are you taking these learnings forward?
I have learned the importance of taking action to actively review gaps within the education system and solve them! If everyone contributes a little, these innovations will have a huge impact on our children’s future.
Rishita Rokariya
Introduce yourself!
My name is Rishita Rokariya and I am in grade 11 in Florida, USA. I love dancing, teasing my sister, and finding small ways to make big changes.
Why did you choose to participate in HundrED Tank?
I chose to participate in the HundrED Tank because I found the idea of giving youth the opportunity to improve the world by implementing their own creative ideas extremely fascinating. From the day that the competition began till the very last, I was ecstatic about how my project would impact the world.
What project idea did you submit for HundrED Tank?
The innovation my partner, Baseerat Noor (featured below!) and I worked on was named "GirlsIgnite." Our plan was to create a website which would have resources ranging from motivational videos to resume building tips that women can use around the world to become more independent. This website would be run entirely by volunteers and would be a low-cost, high-effect implementation.
What have you learned from this experience and how are you taking these learnings forward?
What I learned from this experience is that many times when you plan something out, it will not always go your way. Throughout the journey of making this project, we had to make tweaks to the project to make it more practical and easy to approach. I look forward to using the skills I gained from this experience in college and in my career.
Baseerat Noor
Introduce yourself!
Hi! I am Baseerat Noor. I am a photography enthusiast and studying Biotechnology. I am determined to learn new things and I am passionate about juvenile's education. I have been a part of HundrED as emerging leader, HundrED youth ambassador and academy member and this experience helps me to make a difference and boosted my confidence .
Why did you choose to participate in HundrED Tank?
HundrED tank was a great opportunity for me to share the comprehensive idea of youth education by combining it with SDG's, to work on a global impact project, it gives our thinking a great exposure and competence building.
What project idea did you submit for HundrED Tank?
Our innovation "Girls Juvenile" is a platform to boost the morale of middle and lower class girls in South Asia, provide them with enough educational resources with respect to their employment prospects, skill building and career growth. Our particular aim is to learn through motivation, passion and cultural diversity.
What have you learned from this experience and how are you taking these learnings forward?
Due to this experience I learned a motivation to improve my attainments , a willingness to learn exciting things from other people and recognized my skills. All these new experiences are going to help me in my career building and skill development in my practical life.
Vamsikrishna Vaidyula
Introduce yourself!
My name is Vamsikrishna Vaidyula, and I am currently a sophomore at the Bridgewater-Raritan High School. Coming from a family of immigrants, I am passionate about advocating for health- and education-related issues faced by resettling refugees and immigrants. I also serve as the President and Founder of the Students Together Assisting Refugees (STAR) chapter at my high school.
Why did you choose to participate in HundrED Tank?
I chose to participate in HundrED Tank because I wanted to learn more about challenges facing the globe and come up with possible solutions that could contribute back to my New Jersey community. As a youth ambassador, I knew that HundrED would provide me with the resources, support, and direction I needed to build my Tank project.
What project idea did you submit for HundrED Tank?
An unprecedented influx of refugees into the US over the last couple of years has overburdened local resettlement organizations, decreasing their capacity to provide adequate health education for newly-resettling migrants. Through my innovation, The Health Partners Program, student volunteers are trained to introduce the US Healthcare system to migrants. Student volunteers help migrants build self-sufficiency in healthcare by teaching migrants how to schedule and attend appointments, use insurance, differentiate between healthcare providers, and more–and in the process of volunteering and advocating, students develop their cross-cultural empathy skills.
What have you learned from this experience and how are you taking these learnings forward?
By taking part in HundrED Tank, I have learned more about social entrepreneurship and how it can be used to support my community and advocate for those who do not have access to the same resources that I do. I strongly believe that every individual deserves equal access to healthcare, education, and more, regardless of citizenship, language, or cultural background, and HundrED Tank allowed me to dive into this value of mine. Additionally, HundrED Tank has taught me the value of setting bite-size goals to achieve long-term plans. Moving forward, I hope to weave these concepts and skills that I have learned from my HundrED tank experience into future advocacy efforts and projects.
This year's HundrED Youth Ambassador Programme in partnership with IBO supports future innovators and changemakers to create and build upon social impact projects tackling the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). If you're interested in joining an inspiring and safe online community of young people aged 12 - 19, apply by February 25th.
