I Share Hope: Chris Williams

  Named by the Jaycees as one of the "Top Ten Young Americans", Amelia Rose Earhart recreated and symbolically completed the 1937 flight of her namesake, Amelia Mary Earhart. Her 28,000 mile flight around the world in a single engine aircraft became a symbol of determination, courage and empowerment for anyone who has ever decided to seek new horizons. Amelia is the president of the Fly With Amelia Foundation, a non-profit providing flight training scholarships to young women across America. She can be seen each morning on Denver's NBC affiliate, KUSA-TV reporting on breaking news and traffic, is an active member of the Board of Directors at Wings Over the Rockies, Colorado's Official Air and Space Museum and is currently working toward her multi-engine aircraft rating.Additional Notes:: My website is www.flywithamelia.org. Thank you!

  Doctor at Palestinian ministry of health, Horizons Representative in Palestine, Palestinian campaign to raise awareness about internet safety and pornography addiction, Healthy university Initiative. A motivated, young entrepreneur, volunteer, and social activist doctor, I am very interested in the innovation in the health care which leads to a better health for all people especially for my home which is a poor country live under difficult circumstances (Palestine). For this reason I got used to work hard and overcome my limitations. Therefore, since childhood period, I started building myself as strong, qualified person, then to work with youth and community members to solve many problems in environment of war, killing and destruction. I focused on building new motivated and creative generations, to be able to build our future and try to spread the hope, the knowledge, and the energy. Meanwhile, I worked with more than 1000 volunteers to establish campaigns like Internet safety, breast cancer awareness, health university, Horizons, health activities..etc. and I led many organizations and initiatives for that reasons. Eventually, I got many scholarships and Awards (more than 11), and I represented my home at many international conferences, in Norway, the Netherland, USA. And I appeared on TVs and media more than 15 times including Aljazeera channel. I have recently got a diploma in one of most prestigious business school in the world, Kelley school of business , USA. Happily, I had the privilege to represent Palestinian youth it at US chamber of state, Washington 2016. I'm the CEO of MWD company ( medical waste disposal company) startup.  

  Hunter Halder is an American at home in Portugal who, after a wide range of diverse and seeming unconnected career experiences, found his purpose as a dedicated volunteer when, at the tender age of 59, he founded the Re-food Movement. According to him "Now it all makes sense.."

  Human Postcards is an ongoing series of 60 second video portraits, capturing the inspirational and often powerful messages of everyday people from around the world. Nora's passion in life is to learn from others by observing and listening. As a child she would collect stories from people the way kids collect seashells. Nothing could stop her curiosity. Languages became a tool to open more doors. With time, her need to share stories and create connections led me to become a story teller. Being a part of Human Postcards fuels this passion, by capturing these moments for others to experience.  

  Amberley was born in California and moved to Utah when she was seven. She is the second of six children in her family. She started riding horses at the age of three and competing in rodeo at the age of seven. Amberley competed all through junior high and high school qualifying for numerous national rodeos. Amberley has won multiple titles including the Finals and World All-Around Cowgirl for the National Little Britches Association. She also served as the Utah FFA State President. Amberley just graduated from Utah State University obtaining a degree in Agricultural Education and is now pursuing a graduate degree in School Counseling. She was involved in a paralyzing car accident in 2010. The odds were against her as she began life in a wheelchair. Amberley returned to rodeo 18 months after her accident and in 2015 ran in the world’s richest one-day rodeo called The American. She ended her final college rodeo season fifth in the Rocky Mountain Region in the barrel racing. She is now competing on the amateur and pro rodeo circuit. Amberley travels the nation sharing her story of triumph over tragedy and hopes to inspire others that no matter what happens, they have the strength to overcome it.

  Lisa holds a B.A. in International Relations from Tecnológico de Monterrey in Mexico and the Institute of Political Studies in Paris (Sciences Po), a M.A. in Political Science from the University Paris I (Panthéon Sorbonne) and a M.Sc. in Public Management and Governance from the London School of Economics. At present she serves México Unido contra la Delincuencia (MUCD) and Transform Drug Policy Foundation (TDPF) as Director of the Latin American Programme for Drug Policy Reform, and is the Latin American “Associate Expert” of the LSE Ideas’ International Drug Policy Project. Called into the drug policy field by the need of urgently stopping the blood bath caused by the militarisation of drug control strategies in Mexico, she's been working for eight years now from both the public and the third sector (civil society) to achieve more humane, evidence-based drug policies that do not exacerbate violence and respect human rights. Professionally, she worked for the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission of the Organisation of American States from 2010 to 2012 and has collaborated with several civil society organisations such as Espolea, MUCD and TDPF. As a young activist, she has fought for different causes, ranging from sexual and reproductive health and rights to gender equality, HIV/AIDS and drug policy reform.

  Sophie Grig, senior campaigner at Survival International. She has been with Survival since 1995 and has campaigned against the annihilation of tribal peoples in Bangladesh, India, Siberia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, West Papua and Indonesia. She has visited tribal communities in South America, Asia and Melanesia. Sophie has also campaigned on uncontacted peoples in India and Melanesia; issues of tribal health and displacement; the dangers of imposing ‘development’ on self-sufficient tribal peoples; forcible evictions from tiger reserves and challenging prejudice against tribal people in India, where they are often portrayed as backward and primitive. She has a Bachelor's degree in Religious Studies and Anthropology from the University of Lancaster and an MPhil in Anthropology from Cambridge University. Sophie has spent time living in Brazil and Japan, and is currently living and working in the United Kingdom. Survival International is the global movement for tribal peoples’ rights. We help them defend their lives, protect their lands and determine their own futures.

  Gemma joined Change.org in January 2016, assuming responsibility for the company's General Management globally. She was previously Executive Director of Crisis Action, having joined as the second member of staff in 2006, and led the organization to receive the 2012 MacArthur Award for Creative and Effective Institutions and the 2013 Skoll Award for Social Entrepreneurship. In 2011, the World Economic Forum selected her as one of their Young Global Leaders. CNN named her as one of their inspirational women for 2014 and she became a Yale World Fellow in 2015. She previously worked for the Permanent Mission of the United Kingdom to the United Nations in New York, the European Commission and as a journalist.    

  Advocate of equality and social inclusion for those with intellectual disabilities, through his organisation, Stimulo. Stimulo is an organisation that has been working to defend the human rights of people with intellectual disabilities. We fight for total social inclusion, positive social participation and full access to opportunities. We do this through several activities and strategies, particularly through access to the employment market. Work should be for everyone in this world. It’s a right that enables other social, political and life quality advantages. That is why we have choosen to emphasise the right for people with intellectual disabilities, to be trained and hired for appropriate jobs.

  While hopping in between continents, Ms. Joana Bacallo managed to finish her postgraduate in Aviation Management in Coventry University. Her passion for aviation and customer care were surpassed by the fuel that fills her heart, which is water. She would like to believe She is a social entrepreneur and as an advocate, one thing you should know about her is that She is a serial crowdfunder: She pledged her birthday each year to a water project of her choice or She goes on hiking to rural areas where she can engage with children to teach them importance of hygiene and water conservation through arts and fun games. She rolls out a call to action on social media platforms to her friends, former classmates and co-workers to take a vacation off and celebrate with her. Her 30th birthday gained some international media attention and She was able to sponsor (through crowdfunding) 200 indigenous kids in the highest elementary school in the Philippines. As per Joana: The lives the youth live nowadays are unparalleled. I work among the clouds- I am responsible for your inflight safety and comfort because I am an international senior flight stewardess. I have moved away from the Philippines about eight years ago and embarked on a traveled life. Free flights are amazing- this is one of the perks of my day job and it made me experience art and beauty but I also saw the ugly side of it too especially with water, sanitation and hygiene to countries I visit. Although my office is 40,000 feet up, I spend my days on ground learning about surrounding topics on water and advocating for people in rural communities to have more knowledge and access to cheap drinkable water. I wanted my impact magnified even after I created Agua Pura Natural, a purified water filtration and refilling station startup in my hometown in Metro Manila and I am continuously pioneering on how to engage young people to be advocates of water and its conservation even they belong to different industries and practicing different crafts- they can make a change, they can start a difference in their respective communities. I believe entrepreneurship empowers communities especially its young women as this activity provides the tools to immediate solutions to grassroots yet basic social problems we usually take for granted like the lack of water and poor sanitation. This is where the real impact starts. Everyone can be a practical and a tangible sources of hope in their small respective circles- the ripple effect!

  Author of seven books about rational living, including "When Everything Fails, Try This" (2009), "Rationality Is the Way to Happiness" (2009), "The Philosophy of Builders: How to Build a Great Future with the Pieces from Your Past" (2010), "The 10 Principles of Rational Living" (2012), "Rational Living, Rational Working: How to Make Winning Moves When Things Are Falling Apart" (2013), "Consistency: The Key to Permanent Stress Relief" (2014), and "On Becoming Unbreakable: How Normal People Become Extraordinarily Self-Confident" (2015).

  Dada Gunamuktananda has been a yogic monk and meditation teacher since 1995 and have taught meditation in Australasia, Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, the Far East and North America. He practices and teaches the system of life known as yoga or tantra, the core practice of which is meditation. Meditation is about finding the essence of yourself within yourself and realising that essence as the inner self of all beings and the entire universe. This he believes will lead to the greatest happiness and fulfilment for everyone and the whole society, and that's why his mission is to teach meditation to as many people as possible.

  Started being a Recovery Educator in April 2009, but since April 2004,She have facilitated PSR classes in W.R.A.P., Self-Advocacy, Healthy Grieving, Understanding Bipolar Disorder, Ready for Change, Stress Management, Expressive Writing/Poetry, Expressive Arts, and various Pre-Vocational Classes at the DuPage County Health Department (DCHD). Her classes average 6-12 students, so each gets individualized attention, and the opportunity to express their points of view. She has witnessed much growth in many people during that period of time. She has also mentored some of my peers to lead classes on their own, e.g. Basic Drawing, Theater, and Arts & Crafts. In February 2010, She was promoted to a PSR Specialist. She believes she has a talent sharing her knowledge and experiences so that others may learn and benefit from them. An ambassador for the arts, am President of The Awakenings Project, where she has curated, organized exhibits, and written grants for this internationally recognized organization for the past 20 years. She worked full-time for nearly 20 years with Bell Laboratories, now Alcatel-Lucent, while living with and openly speaking about her bipolar disorder. While working full-time, She finished her B.S. degree, majoring in Computer Science, and graduated in 1986, Magna Cum Laude, from North Central College. She respects diversity and individual differences, and is open to learning more about all cultures. She speaks German, Spanish, and am proficient in American Sign Language. She was one of four illustrators of a children’s book entitled, “Coffee, Cream and In Between.” She has been prominently featured in several videos and articles produced by various media organizations, describing The Awakenings Project. She also maintains our website: www.awakeningsproject.org and have done so for several years. She believes she is an effective communicator, both individually and in groups. She has spoken publicly about Awakenings and about mental illnesses for many years. She loves my job, my volunteer work for Awakenings, and she loves people. I continue to do much public speaking about recovery. I believe I am a beacon of hope and encouragement for the people who receive services at DCHD, for Awakenings artists, for the general public, and she also learns a lot from everyone I come in contact with.

  Bjørn Ihler is a Norwegian activist, writer, designer, and filmmaker working across mediums to promote peace and human rights in defiance of violent extremism. A survivor of the 2011 attack on Utøya Island in Norway, Ihler works to promote an understanding of the influence design, narratives, and storytelling has on culture and how narratives can be transformed to build more peaceful societies. Ihler graduated from the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts in 2013 and is currently pursuing a master’s in Peace and Conflict Studies at Hacettepe University.

  Dr Ananda Shankar Jayant, inhabits the worlds of administration, academics, and arts; straddling them with equal ease. Celebrated as one of India’s most eminent and renowned classical dancer, choreographer and dance scholar, Ananda’s artistic body of work ,spans mythologies and abstraction, historical chronicles and women studies, poetry and abstraction, philosophy and humour. As the Artistic Director of Shankarananda Kalakshetra, Ananda, leads an acclaimed ensemble, besides training and presenting the next generation of Bharatanatyam artists. For her contribution to the field of classical art, she was conferred the "Padma Shri" (India’s 4th highest civilian award) in 2007 and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Puraskar (India’s apex cultural body) for Bharatanatyam in 2009. Ananda is a sought after motivational speaker and actively engages with young India on a wide range of topics, at leading corporate entities, leadership programs, hospitals, universities and schools. A TED speaker in 2009, her TED talk after her tryst with Cancer has been ranked as one of 12 Incredible TED talks on the subject. In January 2015, the Huffington Post ranked Ananda’s TED talk, as one of five greatest TED talks by Indians. Another rare honour was a recent invitation to speak at the Harvard Business School for the Inspire Series of the India Conference at Harvard    Ananda is an officer of the Indian Railway Traffic Service and is currently posted at the Centre for Railway Information Systems, in Hyderabad, India.

  Paul was branded as a “naughty child” at school. He was classically autistic in his early years and gained functional speech around the age of 7 or 8 years old. He went through mainstream school with no additional help or recognition of his autism. Consequently, he did not achieve his academic or his social potential and had very low self-esteem. After a string of unsuccessful jobs, Paul’s mental health suffered. He was referred to mental health services and misdiagnosed with “Asperger traits with a complex personality”, which did not satisfy Paul was diagnosed by an experienced psychiatrist, who diagnosed him with High Functioning Autism at 24 years old. Paul wanted to promote autism awareness and help others on the autism spectrum, in the hope that others would not have to suffer as he had. He became a speaker for an autism organisation and has not looked back! Presenting speeches, training and conducting consultancy, Paul is now a freelance speaker, trainer and consultant who continues to raise the profile of autism at every opportunity. Having done much research, he is keen to explain the differences between Asperger’s Syndrome & Autism using Autism Consultant Donna William’s (Polly Samuel's) ‘Fruit Salad’ model. Paul firmly believes in retaining the ASD acronym. He says there should not be a negative stigma around the word ‘disorder’. His message is that Autism is a complex mix of ability and disability and every person with autism (and all people) should be a valued member of society. Paul in his spare time likes to meetup with friends, create art and write poetry which is both a creative and relaxing output for him.

  Kathy Shorr was born in Brooklyn, New York.  Her work is rooted in documentary, portraiture and street photography.  She received her undergraduate degree in photography from the School of Visual Arts and an MS in Education, earned while working as a New York City Teaching Fellow in the public schools in crisis.  Shorr’s work has been shown in galleries in New York City, Houston and Los Angeles, and has been featured at the celebrated Visa pour L’Image Festival in Perpignan, France.  She lives and works in New York City.

  Jacob Cramer, at age 15, is the founder and executive director of Love For The Elderly, a nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring that our elders receive the utmost care and compassion in their final and most precious stage of life. A strong advocate for social reform, Jacob has given talks and speeches throughout the globe in his pursuit of inspiring others to break down age-related barriers. Although he is just a high school student, his maturity and compassion proves that he is just the right person to generate positive change. His age shows that anyone can make their mark on the world and strive to inspire others to help people, creating a ripple-type effect. He resides in Cleveland (Ohio) with his loving family.

  In 2005, at the age of 36, and only three months after giving birth to a beautiful daughter Lily Rose, Heather Von St. James was diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma. Upon learning of this life-altering diagnosis, Heather, together with her husband Cameron, embarked upon a search to find the best mesothelioma treatment care available. Their search eventually led them to Dr. David Sugarbaker, a renowned mesothelioma surgeon at the Boston based Brigham and Women's hospital. Dr. Sugarbaker recommended a relatively new surgical procedure called extrapleural pneumonectomy, a groundbreaking treatment option offered through the International Mesothelioma Program. Although there were some risks associated with the procedure, it also carried promise for the best possible outcome. Heather, with full support from her husband and family, agreed to have the surgery. Today, Heather Von St. James is a ten-year mesothelioma cancer survivor and continues to provide unending inspiration to mesothelioma victims around the globe. She carries out her mission to be a beacon of hope for those afflicted with mesothelioma by sharing her story of faith, love and courage both as a keynote speaker at conferences and through social media forums.

  Dean is very passionate about motivating others using his successful struggle for life to empower audiences. He challenges them to dare to dream and believe in themselves with his own life experience as the motivational tool. Dean created his company DMC Motivational over 10 years ago; Since then he has travelled the world speaking with groups and organisations as diverse as Primary School Children to Prime Ministers. What is so amazing about Dean Clifford you may say? Simple he is a survivor! Dean was born with Epidermolysis Bullosa which is commonly referred to by the media as Cotton Wool Kid, he was not expected to live past early childhood (5 years) let alone survive and contribute so immensely in the world to date by sharing his story and encouraging as many people as possible to believe in themselves and achieve their dreams. Dean’s life is one of extreme pain and hardship, yet he has never wavered from his own dreams to be a productive member of the community working and contributing. Dean’s story is powerful, moving and empowering, an audience is taken on the emotional roller coaster –that is Dean’s life! Dean sharing his story- is life changing and makes one look seriously at life and what we all take for granted. Dean has something unique and special to offer to everyone, from all walks of life and every age group, corporation, or business simply by sharing his story! Dean motivates, encourages and empowers all who come in contact with him, His Motivational presentations inspire everyone to follow their dreams and believe in themselves the way Dean has throughout his life. You most definitely come away inspired, realising what the power of One can actually achieve. In 2004 Dean became the first National Ambassador of ACE (Australia’s Disability Employment Services Peak Body). This is a voluntary role helping promote employment awareness to businesses and communities throughout Australia for people with disabilities. Dean is also the only official Ambassador of the Brisbane Broncos Rugby League Football Club. Dean is an advocate for DEBRA as mentioned in the opening. This is a voluntary organization to raise awareness for those and their families afflicted with Epidermolysis Bullosa (Cotton Wool Kids). This is a tragic and debilitation disease with no cure, usually containing an early death sentence. Dean has baffled medical science with his sheer will and determination to survive and fight for life. It has been said that few would be able to deal with the intense level of pain that those with Epidermolysis Bullosa have to deal with every single day of their life. On top of all that Dean is an integral team member for Ken Mills Toyota – Kingaroy and Nambour Dealerships. And that is just the start of Dean’s incredible life story.

  Journalist and cofounder of Women's Media Association AFEM, Congolese Organization. Chouchou Namegabe is a Congolese activist, radio journalist, and founder and director of the organization South Kivu Women's Media Association (AFEM in french). Ms. Namegabe trains rural and urban Congolese women as journalists specifically to report about sexual violence and human rights abuses. With her organization she uses the media to raise the awareness of rural women. According to the advocacy organization Women Deliver, who awarded her as one of the "top 100 most inspiring people delivering for girls and women", Ms. Namegabe's work has been "helping Congo's women broadcast to the world." She advocates for sustainable solutions of the conflict in Eastern DRC, targeting the causes, not the consequences. Ms. Namegabe has testified at the Hague to urge the International Court of Justice to classify rape as a political weapon in the DRC, and in Washington, before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, on violence against women. Ms. Namegabe met at several occasions with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to press the need for a non-partisan security force to end sexual violence in the conflict-torn region.

  Amy Bleuel is the founder of Project Semicolon. Project Semicolon is a global non-profit movement dedicated to presenting hope and love for those who are struggling with mental illness, suicide, addiction and self-injury. Project Semicolon exists to encourage, love and inspire. After overcoming many obstacles in her life including bullying, rejection, suicide, self-injury, addiction, abuse and even rape, Amy has found strength and a love for others. Amy struggled with mental illness for 20+ years and has experienced many stigmas associated with it. She now shares her stories around the nation giving hope to others struggling with mental illness.

  After making a few online ukulele tutorials to amuse a friend a few years ago, I've since managed to parlay it into a career as a full-time YouTube who has given up his office job in IT and travelled across the USA to meet several of my viewers in person. For a mini animated version of the story, check out my Draw My Life video here! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqspxvJB9LI. I had actually considered my story in the context of 'hope' even before you'd contacted me. Before I started making the videos I was incredibly depressed with my life - stuck in a dead end job, overweight, unhealthy, no social life etc. With the confidence I gained from the feedback I received from making the videos I ended up losing a lot of weight, getting a better job (which I was later able to quit entirely!) travel across the States and make lots of new friends. It's genuinely changed my life in ways that I never could have dared imagine when I first started. On top of that, I receive comments frequently from people who say that my lessons have helped them through difficult times and that is also hugely gratifying.

  Best mates Nic Marchesi and Lucas Patchett built a free mobile laundry in their old van to help the homeless and Orange Sky Laundry began. Aiming to connect the community and spark conversations, Orange Sky Laundry started helping people in September 2014. Since then, this world first idea has rapidly grown to eight vans in Brisbane, Melbourne, south-east Victoria, Gold Coast, Sydney, Perth, Adelaide and the Sunshine Coast– and they plan to expand their services Australia-wide. With the help of 250-plus volunteers, the custom fitted vans – each with two commercial washing machines and two dryers – service 22 locations and wash more than 200 loads each week. Orange Sky encourages people of all walks of life to come together. In February 2015, they took their mobile laundry to North Queensland to wash clothes in cyclone- ravaged communities. Nic and Lucas have found a way to treat others the way they want to be treated by restoring respect, while raising health standards and reducing the strain on resources.

  A man with one leg rides his bicycle and tries to change the world. Emmanuel is an athlete with a humble goal: to help people with disabilities in Africa, and eventually all over the world. He was born in Ghana, with only one good leg. In Africa, people born with a disability are shunned, left for dead or even poisoned. If they live, they are not accepted into schools or society in general. Fortunately, he had a mother who wouldn't bend to the pressure from the community to abandon him because he was a bad omen. Instead, his mother taught him that everyone is a child of God and every person deserves love and a chance to contribute to society. In his youth, he was determined to show his community that he could do what other kids did. He shined shoes to buy a soccer ball and learned to play on crutches. People saw him playing and it began changing their hearts. As he grew up, he started to ride a bicycle. And ride. And ride. He became an athlete and rode across the whole country— showing communities all over Africa something they had never dreamed possible. People in each village and town saw how a man with only one leg could do the same or better than a man with two. If this were true for riding a bicycle, perhaps it was true for other areas of life... Emmanuel’s determination began to change more hearts. Then, to his surprise, he became the most famous athlete that no one had ever heard of. ESPN called to tell him that he was going to receive its ESPY Arthur Ashe Courage Award with Jim Mac Laren. Oprah Winfrey presented the award on national television at the famous ESPY Award ceremony. He also received Nike’s Casey Martin Award for courage in sports. A documentary was released entitled Emmanuel’s Gift. He helped lead the way to get national legislation passed for people with disabilities in Ghana. And it was a success! But legislation alone does not always change hearts. Today, He dreams...to build the first school and Sports Academy in Ghana for people with disabilities— both students and staff. A school that will provide a place for people with disabilities to flourish and have a chance to contribute to society. And, ultimately to create a movement for justice and human equality across Africa.  

  Gene (88) and Martha (84) Finney share their story of hope from the 1950s. Gene is a World War II veteran who served the navy for about two years. After the war ended, Gene took the option of taking a course under the GI bill which offered a cosmetology course and a sheet metal course. Gene did not have a chance to go to school before joining the navy. In the interview, he relates how he started making money by the age of 8 by selling gum and taking on different jobs, constantly hoping to do better, until he joined the navy at age 17. Having the eye of an entrepreneur, Gene took on the cosmetology class (which he knew would pay better) and later became a hairstylist for Gould’s Salon Spa where he retired from just last year at the age of 87. He was a hairstylist there for 63 years. He’s done the hair of Elvis and Cybill Shepherd. Gene is also an avid harmonica player. He’s played individually, with a band and lately with his eldest son, Rick. Gene uses his gift of music to share hope to a lot of people – he plays in retirement homes and churches and wherever his music takes him! Click the links below to watch Gene Finney play harmonica and make wonderful music. Martha is a nurse and is an accomplished bowler. She is a city and state champion for bowling. Martha and Gene met when Martha was 15 and Gene was 19 in a dance and met again after a year where they’ve decided to get married. Martha fondly recalls how Gene had sent her out every morning from 11th to 12th grade to finish high school. When their last child went to school, Martha then took up nursing and later worked as a nurse for 25 years. Gene and Martha have been married for 67 years and are the proud parents of three children, Ricky, a pilot/crop duster, Sharon a teacher and Jeannie a caregiver.  Gene and Martha believes that in life, we shouldn’t give up and that we should know that there’s always a way to make it through.  

  Mpumi was admitted to the inaugural class of the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls, which opened in 2007 in Henley-on-Clip, South Africa, and graduated in 2011 amongst the top of her class. It was all part of a communal expectation for Mpumi, whose name means "success" in Zulu. “ From the social extreme of a young South African girl losing her mother to HIV & AIDS and being orphaned at the tender age of nine, to speaking across the United States at conferences, panels, fundraising events and being listed amongst motivational speakers such as Gloria Mayfield Banks; Schroeder Stribling, the executive director of N Street Village (a nonprofit for homeless women) and the media mogul powerhouse Oprah Winfrey herself– Mpumi Nobiva continues to reach for her dreams. In May this year, Mpumi Nobiva co-keynoted with 2011 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and Peace Activist, Leymah Gbowee at Queens University of Charlotte, North Carolina. She has spent the first half of 2015 in the City of Cape Town, as part of Ciee International Arts & Sciences study abroad program at the University Of Cape Town. Whilst attending to her studies at the University of Cape Town, Mpumi became an official Relate Bracelets International Ambassador, 17th April 2015. Mpumi has launched an international empowerment campaign titled: #ShareYourStory, Inspiring Courage.

  I am 41 years old, a husband, a father, a farmer, a musician, a carpenter, and the co-founder / director of a small non-profit organization, ECOVA MALI. ECOVA MALI is dedicated to increasing food security and promoting economic development in Mali by providing technical (and occasionally financial) assistance to Malian farmers.

  Adrienne Tingba is a 22 yr old Liberian Blogger and Writer who is using her voice to retell the Liberian story with Liberian voices. As the Founder of The Colloqua Dialogues (thecolloquadialogues.com), Adrienne highlights Liberia's progression and its shortcomings in an effort to increase awareness, and promote the overall development of the nation.  

  Nisreen Nasser is a Lebanese television producer and music instructor. She holds a Masters degree in Media and Communication, and a Bachelors in Audio-Visual Journalism from the Lebanese University. In 2014, she started an initiative to offer alternative education to children of Syrian and Palestinian refugee camps and underprivileged zones in Lebanon. In April 2015, she quit her career in television and co-founded Solidarity Through Humanity, an initiative that allows towns and communities around the world to come together and raise funds to support people in crisis. STH started a ripple effect across the United States, Europe and Asia promoting the concept that every single person can make a huge difference in someone else's life, and that saving lives does not really take superheros... it simply takes hope, a good intention and continuity.

  Moses Owen Browne, Jr., is Global Youth Ambassador, A World at School, United Nations Secretary General’s Global Education First Initiative. He’s advocating for Education for all. He holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Mass Communications and English with emphasis in Telecommunications Management and Broadcasting (Cum Laude) from the United Methodist University in Liberia and a prospective student of International Relations, Graduate School of Arts and Science, New York University. Moses is originally from Liberia and has worked around the United Nations in New York advocating for global education at the United Nations General Assembly. He is currently the Media and Communications Manager for Plan, the international children charity organization, www.plan-internationa.org. Moses is 29 years old, born May 15, 1986 unto the blessed union of Moses Owen Browne, Sr. (deceased) and Mother Beatrice Johnny, a peasant agri-business family from Grand Bassa County, one of the first three Counties that founded the Republic of Liberia. Moses is a devout Christian, happily married and blessed with four children. Moses Browne is a professional career development practitioner with idea-range of experience in the related fields of mass communications, telecommunications management, broadcast management, policy formulation and implementation and agribusiness farm radio program. As part of the Global Youth Ambassadors program, A World at School has launched several Global Education initiatives and campaigns drawing world leader’s attention to the plights of the 59 million children out of school. The #UpForSchool campaign was launched in September 2014 to galvanize support in promoting quality education and ensuring every child is in school and learning before the MGDs expires. Moses used his negotiating skills to pursue several businesses in Liberia and the World to support the #UpForSchool campaign. Moses believes with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in place, the World is in a great position to use its strengths and the external context to be a powerful force to help improve children's lives through the delivery of quality education for all. He’s also excited about introducing and sharing his own leadership values, which include trust, problem-solving, empowerment, transparency and collaboration amongst students of the World. Moses is executive director and founder of Browne Global Leadership Foundation (BGLF), a not-for-profit, non-governmental organization, registered in Liberia and is independent of any government or corporate interest founded in September 2015 as a response to the global call to intensify efforts for youth development and Education. Its founder draw experience from the historic 70thUnited Nations General Assembly where he had gone to New York from Liberia to create awareness for global education and leadership for young people. As a Global Youth Ambassador for Education, Moses Owen Browne, Jr. decided to establish the Browne Global Leadership Foundation to promote full participation of youth in national and global development processes. Moses believes for any global goals to be achieved it would require the active participation and involvement of young people, but advance that education is that platform that would engender the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Moses Owen Browne, Jr. is a well-known and household name in the Republic of Liberia, especially in the field of Media, Communications and Advocacy. He has worked for several media outlets in Liberia and Civil Society Organizations at least for a period of 15-years. He has used his skills to engage thousands of young people in the world to pursue and advocate for quality education encouraging them to see education as the only way to a leading a successful life and contributing the growth and development of their respective countries. Moses’ achievements would not have been possible without a cordial, interconnected, good working relationship and networking with other international organizations across the world. He is very passionate about education and has cultivated a positive habit to deliver impactful projects to students across the world. He has gained the respect of many young people in Liberia, at his job and across the different networks across the world. Moses has strong values and ability to deliver. He does this with a positive attitude and in a spirit of cooperation. He uses humor along the way which softens the path and gets people along.

  Blair Glencorse is Founder and Executive Director of the Accountability Lab, an incubator for creative, youth-driven ideas for accountability and transparency around the world. Blair is also a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Agenda Council on Anti-Corruption and Transparency and a Social Impact Fellow at the Center for High Impact Philanthropy at the University of Pennsylvania. Previously, Blair was an advisor to the now President of Afghanistan, Ashraf Ghani, and worked for the World Bank on issues of governance and development. He is an Echoing Green Fellow and winner of the World Technology Award.

  Tafadzwa Nyamuzihwa, founder of the organization Shine on Africa, grew up in an orphanage since the age of one. He attained primary and secondary education in Harare, Zimbabwe, and went to study in South Africa towards a Diploma in Sports Management in 2006. Tafadzwa, at the age of 25, became totally blind in 2009 due to a retinal detachment that resulted from cataracts. Consequently, he found life tough and felt his window to the world had been shattered. As a Christian, he never gave up on the Lord and he received grace and strength. He went for rehabilitation in unaided mobility and brail in 2010 and proceeded to obtain a Certificate in Counselling from Connect Zimbabwe. Later that year, he featured in a local national television drama series that ran from September 15, 2010 to March, 2011. In the same year, he received a one-year scholarship to study at the International Institute for Social Entrepreneurs in Trivandrum, Kerala, India (Southern India) in 2011. Through such opportunities availed to him, he embarked on a path to change the lives of blind people in Zimbabwe. He was a delegate at the UN African Youth Conference in Nairobi, Kenya in December 2012. In 2014, Tafadzwa was amongst the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders. He was at Northwestern University, Illinois, Chicago, USA, where he was studying Business and Entrepreneurship. His highlight was when he attended a 3 day presidential summit were he shook hands with President of the United States of America Barak Obama and first lady Michele Obama in Washington DC. The Junior Chamber International (JCI) awarded Tafadzwa in the 2015 Top 10 outstanding young Zimbabweans for his Humanitarian and voluntary work he has done with people with disabilities.

  I was born on the 20th of February in 1975 and at my birth there was something visibly wrong with me. My legs were large and my feet very large and deformed (for want of a better word to use).It wasn't until a few weeks later that i was actually allowed home with my parents as the doctors did not know if i would live or die, but hey I'm still here at 39 having fun! On reaching school age I attended a special school being there we all had physical problems so we knew that we had limitations, but we accepted that.   On reaching 14 I was enrolled part-time in a comprehensive school to do my GCSE's came away with 4 GCSE's. After school i started college to do an Art course and more GCSE's. I made good friends and along with studying enjoyed some weekends away with plenty of booze and drunken nights.   After leaving college i went to study a degree in Graphic Design away from home. However I had mobility difficulties and didn't find it easy so deferred my course and came home to have an operation to reduce the weight of my legs. Soon after i wanted my independence and found my own home and lived it up by spending weekends drinking and dancing the night away! At the same time i did courses in Sociology, Psychology and Criminology. I then went on to do a degree in Psychology, a long 3 years, but enjoyable and I met some lovely people and one person, Amanda, who is now one of my best friends.     After taking a quiet year of study and doing a course in Sign Language, i followed that with a desire to be a counsellor. 3 long years of the course lay ahead. However, 2 years into it i suffered a Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) and was paralysed for 6 weeks. Once the feeling returned I had to learn to walk again, which i did and got back on the counselling course and caught up with the work. During my counselling course i did lots of voluntary work in various fields, and found that it gave me a lot of confidence.    Living on my own and looking for some type of work i've spent lots of time on the internet and have met some lovely people. One person, who is now a best friend, is Sue she has been there for me when ive needed someone, especially after my long stay in hospital.     Then again, after another short course in mediation, i was admitted to hospital this time for 5 months. Developing blood infections, kidney and stomach problems, urine infections, severe anemia, and MRSA and foot drop. Again i had to learn to walk, it took a while but i'm at least now back to myself, walking is a little harder but it won't stop me! & 2005 what a change:      The beginning of the year (2006) i was still getting back on my feet, walking was slowly getting easier. At the same time i was in touch with Tracey Whitewood-Neal, founder of the Proteus Syndrome Foundation UK (PSF  UK) who put me in touch with the top doctor in the world who knows as much as there is to know about PS. Following a consultation with him in May i was finally told that i possibly do have Proteus Syndrome. It wasn't a definite diagnosis, but its the nearest i have ever to come to knowing.   After the help i received from the PSF i wanted to give something back and do some fundraising, so after a few weeks of organising the £ for PSF Day was born. So after this the media wheel started to turn and the rest as they say is history. See media appearances section for how life changed in 2006/7 and beyond. So after all the media coverage I have had, 2010 brought a year of big change, after living with infection after infection for up to 12 years, my ulcer on my left foot developed blood poisoning. This meant that it had to be amputated or it would have killed me. I was very ill at the time and it took 6 months for me to be discharged from hospital and then I had to start all over again to gain my independence and get my life back on track. It is now 2012 and I am still on the road of recovery, but I have belief in myself that one day I will achieve what I need to have a full and independent life. Here we are in 2014:     So here we are in 2014 & I am still striving for independence and I will get there, I am due to get a new vehicle soon that will mean I can drive from my wheelchair. This will make a huge difference to my life and will mean that I can actually leave my home on my own for the first time in 4 and half years! I still need a new wheelchair that I can get in and out of without hurting myself, but that will hopefully be in the pipeline soon, so watch this space for pics of me whizzing around in my WAV (wheelchair Accessible Vehicle)   So here he is, Walter, my new Wheelchair Accessible vehicle. There have been a few ups and downs since we met, mainly due to problems with the adaptations, but he certainly making my life easier.

  Izzy is a former middle school teacher who quit his job to follow his childhood dream: to become a ninja. That lead Izzy to Japan where he intensively studied Aikido for 4 years. Presently, he is on a journey to train 1,000 hours in the best dojos in the world.

  Beth Steinberg is the executive director and co-founder of Shutaf Inclusion Programs, offering year-round, informal-education programs for children, teens and young people with disabilities in Jerusalem. Shutaf is committed to an inclusive teaching model that welcomes all participants - with and without disabilities - regardless of religious, cultural and socioeconomic differences. Beth moved, with her family, to Israel in 2006 from Brooklyn, NY. She regularly writes on parenting issues for Times of Israel, and is also the artistic director of Theater in the Rough, offering engaging and affordable theatrical opportunities for Jerusalem audiences.

  Ben Kubassek was born and raised in a religious commune founded by his grandfather near Kitchener, ON. Canada. However Ben chose a different path for his life. He left the security of the commune at the age of 21 and started his own electrical contracting business. Ben quickly became a serial entrepreneur and started numerous other companies in the home building/land development, construction, retail, and speaking/training arenas. He is also the founder of Missionary Ventures Canada, Hands for Humanity and Life Legacy Foundation. Ben now lives in Romania and calls himself a mission entrepreneur. He believes entrepreneurs and not traditional missionaries and relief workers are the key to providing the long-term to poverty and hunger in the world.   May 2012 – Present Humanitarian (founder/Pres.) - Life legacy Foundation – Working in Romania, development of many social, cultural and educational projects   May 2001 - Present Humanitarian (founder/Pres.) - Hands For Humanity. - Working in Romania on relief, community development and business development projects. Building churches and community centres. Developing project for street kids. Developing agriculture projects including 10 chicken barns, a feed mill, and a hatchery.   1992 - 2000 Humanitarian (founder/Pres.) – Missionary Ventures Canada. - Built 12 schools for poor children in the country of Guatemala. Developed feeding centres for starving children and built housing for poor families.   1986 - 1996 Mechanical Contractor (founder/Pres.) – Kubassek Mechanical Ltd - Plumbing and heating contractor on commercial, industrial and residential projects.   1984 - Present Real Estate Developer (founder/Pres.), – Kubassek Holdings Ltd. - Developer and builder of residential communities completing over 700 homes, www.3ehouse.ro, www.canadianvillage.ro 1981 - 1996 Electrical contractor (founder/Pres.), – Kubassek Electrical Ltd. - Electrical contractor on commercial, industrial and residential projects. 1972-1981 Farmer – Community Farm of the Brethren - Managed a flock of 7000 laying hens. Set up a new slaughter house. In charge of electrical maintenance for the farm. Setup new feed mill.   Publication(s) Succeed Without Burnout (book, 1995) Five F-Words That will Energize Your Life (book, 1998) Achieving Real Balance (training manual, 2001)   Accomplishments Finalist – Canadian Entrepreneur of the Year Award, 1994 Listed – Who’s Who in Canadian Business, 1995 Listed – Who’s Who in Ontario, 1996

  On November 3, 2014, Ms. Nicole M. Forrester became the President & Chief Executive Officer of Pacific Resources for Education and Learning (PREL), an independent, nonprofit corporation that serves the educational community in the U.S.-affiliated Pacific islands, including American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia (Chuuk, Kosrae, Pohnpei, and Yap), Guam, Hawai‘i, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau. Ms. Forrester has over a decade of cross-cultural, global leadership experience in the education, community, business, think-tank and government sectors. Throughout her career, Ms. Forrester has built enduring relationships and created partnerships across diverse disciplines to lead innovative and complex initiatives which address multifaceted global, regional, and local challenges by implementing holistic, culturally responsive, stakeholder-owned programs. Most recently, Ms. Forrester served as director of the Young Leaders Program at Pacific Forum Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). Her deep roots in the Pacific underscored her career as an associate lecturer at her alma mater, Queensland University of Technology’s (QUT) Oodgeroo Noonuccal Indigenous Studies Unit, where she focused on health promotion and advancing educational outcomes for Indigenous students. Following her time at QUT, Ms. Forrester joined the Australian diplomatic service and was appointed Consul in Los Angeles and later, Acting Director of the United Nations and Commonwealth Section. She subsequently accepted the role of Senior International and Government Relations Advisor for the Australian Industry Group. In 2011, she moved to Hawai’i to become a fellow at the East-West Center’s Asia-Pacific Leadership Program and was awarded the Amanda and Natalie Ellis Women Leaders Scholarship. At Pacific Forum CSIS, she concurrently held a WSD-Handa Fellowship for her research on the impact of social media on Next-Generation attitudes toward international issues. She has been published on Australian foreign policy, Australia-U.S. relations, and modernizing the U.S. alliance system in the Asia-Pacific region. In February 2014, the U.S. Congress recognized her leadership of the Young Leaders Program and its contribution to cross-cultural interaction, education in policy making, and facilitation of inter-generational dialogues. Ms. Forrester is of Wiradjuri Australian decent, a heritage that serves as the foundation of her life-long personal and professional commitment to Indigenous communities in Australia and across the Pacific. She is a sought after thought-leader with U.S., with extensive international media exposure.   About PREL PREL envisions a world where all children and communities are literate and healthy, global participants grounded in and enriched by their cultures. Throughout the Pacific, a region of diverse languages and cultures, PREL collaborates with clients and partners using the proven results of research to improve schooling and promote community change. For more information about PREL, visit www.prel.org.

  Bisi Alimi is a CONTROVERSIAL, PASSIONATE, and POWERFUL internationally renowned researcher, public speaker, policy analyst, television pundit and campaigner. His expertise on Social Justice ranges from Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity to Race and Race Relations, Feminism, Education and Poverty Alleviation. He has appeared on many international television stations as a social and political pundit, including, CNN, BBC, Al Jazeera, and CCTV, and outlets like NPR and the Washington Post has profiled him. His TEDx talk, “There should never be another Ibrahim” has been listed as one of the 14 most inspiring queer TEDtalk of all time, his talk at the Aspen Ideas festival left the audience asking for more. Alimi gave the closing speech at a Daily Beast event hosted at the New York Public Library titled, “I am Bisi Alimi and I am not a victim.” “The Development Cost of Homophobia” is his most successful article that was translated into over 15 languages globally. His most recent article for the Guardian: “If you say being gay is not African, you don’t know your history” has gone on to great review and cited in many news article globally. He has many laurels for his work globally. He consults for World Bank on Economic impact of Homophobia and serves on the Bank advisory board on SOGI. He was a 2014 New Voices fellow at the Aspen Institute. Listed 19 most important LGBT person in UK 2015 and was named 77 on the World Pride Power List 2014.

  Ruth Ebenstein is an American-Israeli writer, historian and health activist who loves to laugh a lot and heartily. She has published her writing on both sides of the Atlantic and won two first-place Simon Rockower awards, sponsored by the American Jewish Press Association, One was for an essay that ran in Tablet about her Israeli-Palestinian breast cancer support group's trip to Sarajevo to meet other survivors who support each other across religious and ethnic lines. Through the group, Ruth befriended Ibtisam Erekat, a devout Muslim Palestinian woman whom she now calls sister. She has written about this friendship for The Atlantic. Ruth graduated from Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism and completed an M.A. in German history magna cum laude from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. A native of Southfield, Michigan, Ruth lives with her husband, three sons and two stepdaughters in Jerusalem. She is writing a memoir about her experience, tentatively titled, Ibtisam and I: An unexpected friendship across the Israeli-Palestinian divide. Ruth's story has been covered by the BBC, NPR, The Atlantic, & Alhurra TV. Her uplifting message: you can turn something bad into something good.

  My name is Dennis Gyamfi, born and bred in Ghana but moved over to the United Kingdom at the age of 10. At my arrival I had the opportunity to meet my siblings and mother for the first time. In the United Kingdom I lived on Somerleyton estate and attended Christ Church Primary school all in the South London area Brixton. Living and going to school in one of the deprived areas in London, Great Britain after moving from Africa I found myself involved in small drug dealing which lead me to a young man in my estate by the name Solomon, Solomon got me involved with a youth project because he saw the potential in me to do well. He got me involved with a youth programme by the name of X-it programme. I worked with X-it programme for over 3 years and in those 3 year i helped the programme achieve Public Service Award and and 72% of non offending young people. In 2008 I started my own company by the name of Endz2Endz, the name means to bring community together. We do this through media. Endz2Endz was started through friends, I went to college and got together with my friends to start Endz2Endz which was to promote the positives that young people were up to rather than the Negativity. Endz2Endz won Spirit of London Award, won Cinemagic award through Quiet Storm an advertisement company run by a very good friend of mine Trevor Robinson. I also interviewed most of London Mayor candidates for the London mayor Election, I interviewed Brian Paddick (Lib Dem), Jenny Jones (Green Party), Siobhan Benita (Independent Party) and Valerie Shawcross (Labour Party) all on the subject of unemployments, Education, Racism and community unity. From the time I won my Spirit of London Award in 2010, I got diagnosed with Leukemia which is a form of cancer. I was in hospital for 3years (2013), but while in the hospital I was still working on Endz2Endz projects. When I came out of hospital in 2013, I decided to run courses with Endz2Endz teaching young people photography, film making, graphic designing etc. I believed in empowerment and encouragement and through Endz2Endz I was able to deliver them both

  Joan Pons Laplana is a proud Nurse, a change agent and a Care Maker. He is on a mission to turn the healthcare system upside down and empower frontline staff & patients to lead together. Joan is also a Dignity Champion, a Dementia Friend and a PFD Champion. He is involved in promoting Equality and Diversity across all his activities. Recently he has also become an ambassador for the Mary Seacole statue appeal and very recently has join the HSCVoices Core Team. Joan became a Hubble (Change Day volunteer) and a Care Maker for the chance to encourage other frontline staff to make a difference and to convince them that you don’t need permission to initiate change. As a Nurse he tries to transfer his passion and ignite other people’s hearts, and hopefully inspire courage for others to take the first step to try to improve the place they work. He is very active in Social Media and in 2014 won the Nursing Times Tweeter Nurse of the Year. You can follow him at @thebestjoan Person-centered care is his passion. Making a difference is what motivates him to get up every morning and go to work with a smile. Honesty and transparency are also vital and they are part of his core values. Joan is an example of the new sort of nurse entrepreneur who never stops coming up with ideas. The difference between him and those who just talk about new ways of doing things is that he is unafraid to change his role, job and even location. He just gets on and delivers

  One of the world’s foremost experts on pharmaceutical supply chains in emerging markets, is a senior research fellow at the University of Michigan’s William Davidson Institute and director of the institute’s Health Care Research initiative. He was previously a professor of supply chain management at the MIT-Zaragoza International Logistics Program and a research affiliate at the MIT Center for Transportation and Logistics. Prashant is an advisor and consultant to the World Bank, the World Health Organization, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development, and the Government of Zambia. Recently, he worked on a project in Tanzania to study suppliers’ incentives for making artemisinin combination therapy (ACT) drugs available and affordable for the treatment of malaria. The Clinton Health Access Initiative is sponsoring this project with funding from the Gates Foundation. Earlier in his career, Prashant served as a Senior Strategic Modeler at Health Products Research in New Jersey and as an Operations Consultant at KLG Systel and HOLTEC Consulting. He is a Chemical Engineer by training and has an MBA and PhD in Management Science.

  English psychotherapist and author of The Mood Cards which is a card deck of 42 moods and emotions for self-awareness, empathy, connection, emotional intelligence and healing.

    Co Founder of The Kindness Offensive (or TKO for short). The Kindness Offensive (or TKO for short), founded in 2008 by Robert Williams with three of his friends, had mobilised volunteers to donate, wrap and then deliver 38 tonnes of toys across the capital. Recipients included children in hospitals across London, while the children of prisoners were also supplied with gifts so they could give their parent a present at visiting time. It was just one of the latest initiatives undertaken by the group as part of its commitment to undertake "random acts of kindness and senseless acts of beauty". So far, these acts have included: going round festivals giving out pineapple drinks to revellers; giving spare change to people instead of asking for it, like most charities; cooking free pancakes on Shrove Tuesday; and handing out chocolate bars to random people on streets of London.

  Daniella Cohen is a senior at Highland Park High School in Illinois and is passionate about empathy and education. She currently serves on youth advisory boards to Born This Way Foundation and Ashoka’s Youth Venture. She is also the co-founder of her own project, G.I.V.E. (go.innovate.volunteer.educate). G.I.V.E. funds and installs internet, films educational peer to peer videos, and sends computers, pen-pal letters, and flip flops signed with messages of hope to schools in India, Uganda and Rwanda. Daniella has spoken at TEDxRedmond, numerous universities, conference and has led multiple Ashoka’s Youth Venture workshops. She was featured in a Belgian documentary: “30 under 30 International Social Entrepreneurs” by GoYoung. Daniella has received several awards including the Princeton Prize in Race Relations, the Build-A-Bear’s Huggable Hero Award, and the Prudential Spirit of Community Award. (www.DaniellaCohen.co www.GoGiveProject.com)

  I'm just a regular dude, a nurse, a father, husband, a nerd and founder of a non-profit that builds EPIC costumes for kiddos in wheelchairs!!! I look at life through eyes that try to see the best in all. I cling to hope and happiness and know that no matter what comes my way if I just hang onto my faith, do right and good, things will work out the way they are supposed to. That's me a simple regular dude. I love life! -Ryan Weimer

  Currently the Executive Director & Founder Compassion Society, a non profit organization that assists in the growth of a generous community of people who help one another to lead improved lives. Ms. Mina Wahidi has a history of local and international volunteer work. Having visited Haiti and Afghanistan. Also, through efforts with Rotary Club of Oakville Trafalgar, achieved a $3000 donation for Badilisha Day Orphanage in Kenya.

  A Dyslexic by birth and a Dreamer by Choice , he’s often addressed as ‘The Madman’- Swapnil manifests the name to its core. Starting up in his early twenties post a coveted career at RBI, his Journey throughout has been the core of his Inspiration. His work has spanned poverty alleviation, opportunity creation, exploring and saving endangered civilizations in the Naxal Jungles of India through his venture Naked Colours. (estd. 2011). He now spins his learning from footpaths, gruelling jungles, kidnappings and empty bank accounts into a unique behavioural psychology based module called Livemad. His sessions have helped spread Hope among people with suicidal tendencies, depression, abuse and rape  victims, sex trade workers and children with special abilities. Inspired by the power to create, he has innovated with products ranging from contraceptives to mattresses, that heal! With 8 patents in process in the areas of Women Safety, Marketing Information dissemination, physiological efficiency, and concepts based on universal ratio. ‘Invention for Change’ remains his vision and has helped beget Joy in more than 35 regions across underdeveloped and developing economies of the World. As a vow to provide safety and honour to our Women, he developed World’s cheapest self defense device, Shakti, a unique whistle dagger that can be worn as a bracelet. The device accentuates the power to fight back and lets women defend for themselves. The idea is currently open for funding and support. Swapnil, with his venture Naked Colours is a case study at Newcastle University (NCU) and LBS (U.K.),  University of Tampa, Florida. HBR and IISc Bangalore.  At the age of 25, Swapnil’s became the Youngest Social Entrepreneurship enterprise to be featured in Forbes Magazine (International).  ‘Indian Express’, ‘The Better India’ magazine and Himalaya Foundation Award recently featured his Life story. A freethinker, and a devotee of Creation, Swapnil loves to create and is in the process of developing a 700 syllable rich language and its lexicon. Three books based on the inspiration he derives from the one Life we all have, are en route to find their way into bookshelves and hearts, soon. His Life story is soon to be portrayed in a feature film, as well. He may be reached at swapnil@livemad.org

  A professional athlete from Singapore in the sport of Rowing. In 2013, She took the risk of losing her job to train full-time. She went over to train in Sydney where the training environment is more conducive for high performance rowers. She used her savings to support herself in Sydney. The whole experience was worth it because I became Singapore's first individual Gold medalist in the South-East Asian Games in 2013. Now, Saiyidah is embarking on the journey to become Singapore's first rower to qualify for the Olympics. The journey has been long and arduous since she won 2 years ago with events that hinder her performance like injuries, having self-doubt and all the other distractions in life. She has been 5 months away from the qualifiers and I am not going to let anything get in the way between me and my dreams.

  JAIME BAUTISTA was born in Colombia, an ex-student of Civil Engineering and a self-taught artist. Amongst working with conventional art mediums he has also developed a special technique for his models and pictures with a material normally associated with kindergarten use- Plasticine-. Not only did he develop this technique in the artistic sense, he went further and at the Foundation Children’s Hospital over a year and a half, he developed and applied a rehabilitation programme for children with learning difficulties, with excellent results. He also developed teaching programmes for able and disabled children and adults, which are still in use. He has organised a number of conferences and practical art workshops in Colombia and other Countries including the UK, India and Sri-Lanka for teachers, art students, disabled people, psychologists, occupational therapists, experts in special education, corporate and public sector employees.