WINNER (Under 16s)
Samantha Fung: Music For Every Child
I founded a registered Canadian charity led entirely by full-time student volunteers called Music For Every Child to fight against unequal education for children with developmental disabilities and other disadvantaged children by providing music therapy that introduces a unique avenue for learning, a means of communication beyond words, and builds a more interconnected community. We currently run over 1000 music therapy sessions per year in 30 schools benefitting over 500 underprivileged children. I am also leading partnerships in Kenya, Uganda, Liberia, and Chad to bring the power of music to uplift isolated and underprivileged children in Africa.
WINNER (Under 21s)
Allison Choong: Safiya Speaks Up
Allison Choong illustrated and co-created Safiya Speaks Up, a multilingual children’s book and mentor’s guide on sexual and domestic violence, reaching over 10,000 girls globally. As a Malaysian youth activist and illustrator, she has spoken with the UN, trained educators, and led peer-led campaigns across Malaysia. Her work dismantles stigma around gender-based violence, using art and advocacy to spark critical conversations in classrooms and communities. She believes that every girl deserves to feel safe, heard, and powerful, and is committed to building the tools that make that possible.