Makayla is a Peace First grantee and the founder of Revolution Now: a multimedia organization that strives to increase youth political involvement. She applied for a Rapid Response grant after she saw the opportunity for COVID-19 submissions on social media. Makayla’s project was created for young people around the world who are struggling to continue fighting for the causes they care about during this time. After losing her grandfather to COVID-19, She believes that staying informed and connected is the key to staying safe and saving lives. This is Makayla’s story.

Samrat started project, “Creative Me” after learning the real reason kids were leaving the classroom. “I have seen a lot of children quitting school at an early age. When I talk with them, most of the time the reasoning around dropping out isn’t poverty or lack of resources-- they quit school simply because it’s boring.” Read more about Samrat and his project.

For Finn, the creator of #MyStoryYourStory, one thing is very clear; there is a substantial lack of appropriate and necessary mental health support in schools in Northern Ireland. Finn says that being a peacemaker means standing up for what you believe in, against injustice and for underserved communities.  Read more about Finn and his project.

While playing with some young students in the hilly region of Terai, in northern India and southern Nepal, Rishav D. noticed that many of these students were suffering from poor dental hygiene. After talking with them, Rishav learned that there just wasn't much awareness about proper oral hygiene or the consequences of oral disease. So Rishav started an oral hygiene health awareness program called "Project SMILE." Read more about Rishav and his project.

Growing up, Sarah B. heard stories of generations of women in Ghana who were forced to sacrifice their education due to lack of affordable basic hygiene products. Years later, after graduating with a masters degree, Sarah returned to Ghana to see girls still having to make those same sacrifices. That's when Sarah decided to do something. She created a project called Menstruate and Educate where Sarah and her team provided kits to young women that include underwear and reusable pads. Not only do these kits address the immediate need for proper hygiene tools, but they also set an important example for sustainability within the sanitary napkin market. Read more about Sarah and her project.