Recipients of the 2025 AYA Global Youth Trailblazer Grants recently completed their projects—student-led initiatives dedicated to creating meaningful change in their host communities. From initiatives designed to combat student poverty to others aimed at increasing intercultural understanding, all these projects share values of education, cultural exchange, and service. Below, we highlight the final results of each Trailblazer’s project and the impact these exchange students have made in just one semester.
Lia’s Hygiene Kits
Lia from Germany used her Global Youth Trailblazer grant to supply local families in need with basic hygiene items. With the help of her host mom, her peers at school, and social media, she was able to reach a wider audience and encourage donations and community engagement, thereby increasing the impact of her project. The final result was the creation and donation of 90 hygiene kits, each containing five essential products. Lia’s project allowed her to serve her community while also building organizational, communication, and leadership skills.
Robin’s International Potluck Celebration
For his Global Youth Trailblazer project, AYA student Robin from France brought his host community together for a fun and engaging cultural celebration. Over 70 community members participated in the “International Potluck & Games Night,” which Robin organized with support from his grant.
The event kicked off with “Mini Olympics,” an international competition featuring games and activities for people of all ages. Afterward, some community members set up tables and shared their favorite dishes from around the world, allowing everyone to enjoy the flavors of various international cultures. This project demonstrated how food, fun, and shared experiences can create stronger bonds and promote global understanding.
Thore’s Goals for Good
Thore from Germany organized a community service project called Goals for Good for his host community in Arkansas. The event consisted of a soccer kick-a-thon where participants could score goals to raise money from sponsors to go to local schools to help school counselors meet student’s physical needs. In the end they raised over $5,000, and Thore was the recipient of a Hero Award from the Lovis Foundation!
Chase and Brooke’s “Paint N Pages”
Chase and Brooke are two American students whose families hosted exchange students in 2023 and 2024, respectively. Their dedication to The Global Youth Trailblazer project reflects the lasting impact hosting has on the AYA community. Chase and Brooke came together to organize and buy supplies for their “Paint N Pages” project, where they invited school-aged children to paint bookmarks for a night of creative expression, fun, and connection.
This project aimed to reduce stress and anxiety, encourage children to be creative, and offer an alternative to spending time online. During this event, friendships were formed, including that of two Elementary school girls who met for the first time and discovered they’d be taking the bus together to the same school. Before leaving, each child was given a book that was donated for this project. Plus, extra bookmarks were donated to a local senior assisted living facility.
Qursum’s International Fair
Qursum from Pakistan organized an International Fair for her Global Youth Trailblazer project, encouraging students to share their cultural traditions and build connections with classmates.
The project was a huge success—several school clubs and students from various backgrounds participated in the event, with a total of 10 stalls showcasing different cultures from around the world. Qursum writes, “What was most surprising was that there were so many people interested in learning about different cultures and each stall was fully packed with [interested] students.” Not only did this project help students learn more about cultures across the globe, but it also helped Qursum develop valuable project management skills as she worked to promote her event and bring people together!
Leave a Reply