Sanah is a Peace First accelerator winner and the founder of The Love Your Natural Self Foundation. The Love Your Natural Self Foundation has impacted 50,000 students and 150 schools. She applied for a Rapid Response grant after she saw the opportunity for COVID-19 submissions on social media. Sanah’s project was created to address the lack of social and emotional learning programming in K-12 campuses. She believes that every student deserves the resources to thrive and celebrate who they are. This is Sanah’s story.

Sanah is a Peace First accelerator winner and the founder of The Love Your Natural Self Foundation. The Love Your Natural Self Foundation has impacted 50,000 students and 150 schools. She applied for a Rapid Response grant after she saw the opportunity for COVID-19 submissions on social media. Sanah’s project was created to address the lack of social and emotional learning programming in K-12 campuses. She believes that every student deserves the resources to thrive and celebrate who they are. This is Sanah’s story.

Cynthia is a Peace First grantee and creator of the project: Helping the Overlooked NHS Workers. She is fighting to help cleaners and hospital laborers. She applied for a Rapid Response grant after her mum told her about the opportunity to create change. Cynthia’s project was created to address the treatment of overlooked key workers within the NHS. She believes everyone deserves respect, especially those who put their lives on the line to save others. This is Cynthia’s story.

Simon is a Peace First grantee and creator of the project: Raising Awareness to Combat COVID-19. He is fighting to help rural communities and youth. Simon applied for a Rapid Response grant after he saw the opportunity while conducting an internet search, looking for resources. Simon’s project was created to address the lack of information his community members had about COVID-19. He believes information is power. This is Simon’s story.

Marwa is a Peace First grantee, MENA Country Ambassador and the creator of the project: COVID-19 in Tunisia. She has aided her Multiplicity Janitors with necessary equipment to protect themselves and save lives. She applied for a Rapid Response grant after hearing about the opportunity through her Fellow-in-residence, Josiane Atallah. Marwa’s project was created to address the health and safety of community members. She believes that we all need to help wherever we can. This is Marwas’s story.

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.