The YouthMADE Festival is a global celebration of youth creativity and innovation that invites students, educators, and advocates to showcase youth-led work. Leading up to the 2027 YouthMADE Festival, we are sharing a series of stories highlighting youth creators and changemakers around the world who are putting their hands, hearts, and minds toward projects and causes they care about.
In this story, college student Inares shares his work on Youths4Change, a youth-led movement of 2,000+ volunteers across 12+ African countries. His project received a 2026 YouthMADE Festival Amplify Grant, sponsored by Ciena.
I grew up in a polygamous family in Cameroon, where financial challenges often made education difficult. I took on small jobs to support my schooling and learned early what it means to face hardship.
I saw many young people struggle with challenges that could have been prevented if they had access to the right support and opportunities. I also saw how girls often faced additional barriers due to stigma and limited resources. Those experiences shaped my desire to create opportunities for others, especially young people who face barriers that are beyond their control, through initiatives like EmpowerHer and GreenFuture.
The idea for EmpowerHer emerged after learning about girls who missed school because they could not afford sanitary products or felt ashamed to discuss menstruation openly. I realized that menstrual health was not only a health issue but also an education and dignity issue.
EmpowerHer focuses on menstrual health education, sanitary pad distribution, and breaking the stigma surrounding menstruation. The project educates girls on menstrual hygiene management while also engaging boys, teachers, and parents in conversations that promote understanding and support. For students, I built an AI-powered chatbot they can use to learn about menstruation and to clear up common misconceptions.
Messages from workshop participants.
GreenFuture emerged from witnessing environmental degradation in communities and recognizing the growing threat of climate change. I wanted young people to understand that they are not powerless and that even small actions can contribute to lasting change.
Through tree planting, climate education, and community awareness campaigns, the project seeks to inspire young people to take responsibility for protecting the environment and creating a more sustainable future.
A collage of photos from menstrual health workshops.
One of our first milestones in establishing Youths4Change was building a team of committed volunteers. We then developed project plans, organized educational sessions, conducted outreach activities, and built partnerships that helped us expand our impact.
Feedback has been essential throughout the journey. Teachers, students, community members, and volunteers have shared insights that helped us improve our educational materials, communication strategies, and project implementation. For example, we learned the importance of involving boys and parents in menstrual health discussions to create more supportive environments for girls.
The Amplify Grant represented an opportunity to transform our ideas into larger-scale action.
For EmpowerHer, we plan to expand menstrual health education programs to more schools and rural communities; distribute sanitary products to girls who need them most; train youth ambassadors; and involve parents, teachers, and boys in conversations to help eliminate stigma around menstruation.
For GreenFuture, we plan to increase tree-planting efforts, establish environmental clubs in schools, organize climate education workshops, and equip young people with practical tools to take action on environmental issues in their communities.
Students and volunteers at a worskhop.
Our work gives young people the opportunity to identify real problems, design solutions, collaborate with others, and create meaningful impact in their communities—all examples of Powerful Learning. Students are not simply learning theories; they are applying knowledge to improve lives.
Creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving are essential because the challenges facing our communities do not come with ready-made answers. Young people need opportunities to experiment, adapt, and develop innovative solutions to problems they care deeply about.
My advice to teachers is to trust students with meaningful responsibilities and encourage them to pursue projects connected to real-world challenges. Some of the most powerful learning happens when students are given the freedom to explore, lead, and learn through experience.
My advice to students is simple: Start where you are with what you have. You do not need perfect resources or a perfect plan. Every meaningful project begins with a small step. Be consistent, stay curious, learn from setbacks, and never underestimate the impact one person can make.
My dream is to build a generation of young people who believe they can create change rather than wait for change to happen. Through Youths4Change, we are proving that young people have the creativity, passion, and leadership needed to build healthier, more equitable, and more sustainable communities.
