First Place

Student World Impact Film Festival

Mark Leschinsky, Gary Leschinsky, Barbara Leschinsky

In 1 st place, the Student World Impact Film Festival (SWIFF) elevates the voices of young filmmakers from underrepresented communities. Mark Leschinsky, a Stanford University student, founded SWIFF with the help of Gary Leschinsky and Barbara Leschinsky, as an annual film festival aimed at addressing inequality in the film industry, and within the arts more broadly. They were mentored by Kymberly Acuña, school counselor at the Bergen County Academies. In 2023, SWIFF showed 13,890 student-films from 149 countries and has mobilized 996 volunteers to screen eligible films. Leschinksy has fundraised over $200,000 in grants from Google and became Amazon’s first youth distribution partner, circulating a SWIFF film to 100 million viewers. “Stories have a power to transform perspectives, connect people and inspire change,” said Leschinsky.

Second Place

Spread the Vision

Aarushi Guin, Anushka Chowdury, Bomini Chandra

Spread the Vision is a sustainable initiative to gather and distribute used eyeglasses to mitigate the societal impacts of health and education-based disparities for vision care. Aarushi Guin, Anushka Chowdury, and Bomini Chandra, high school juniors from outside of Atlanta, developed and implemented Spread the Vision. They were mentored by Melek Cetinkaya, a teacher at Fulton Science Academy. Spread the Vision established a partnership with Eye Foundation in Kolkata, India. Eye Foundation will use donated glasses from Spread the Vision in July 2024 during a biannual eye camp, which provides free eye care to rural communities in Kolkata.

Co-Third Place

Hopeful Baristas

Leyla Guclu, Aliye Kutlu, Hulya Yazici.

Hopeful Baristas are led by Leyla Guclu, a high school sophomore, and supported by freshmen Aliye Kutlu and Hulya Yazici. All students attend Pioneer Academy in Wayne, New Jersey, and were mentored by Nilgun Atay, an instructor, advisor, and college counselor. The Hopefully Baristas established “A Cup of Hope,” a project that provides scholarships to girls in Kenya. Guclu, Kutlu, and Yazici sourced wholesale coffee from Kenya and partnered with a sponsor organization, the Omeriye Foundation, to sell coffee and connect with the constituents they aim to support.

Co-Third Place

Nurturing Hope

Omer Tunca, Nihat Topcu, Mustafa Nalcaci, Mesut Aliyev, Abdulaziz Imanaliyev

Nurturing Hope, based out of San Antonio, Texas, implemented fundraising initiatives to impact meaningful change for survivors of domestic violence. Team members Omer Tunca, Nihat Topcu, Mustafa Nalcaci, and Abdulaziz Imanaliyev consulted with a Youth Advisory Council to identify local shelter needs and improve facilities through fundraising and organizing book drives. The team was mentored by Dr. Sumeyra Tek, board vice president at the Raindrop Foundation. Nurturing Hope donated more than 5,000 books and hosted a Teen Dating Violence awareness fundraiser to fund the purchase of necessary shelter supplies.

“Passing the Torch”

Community Action for Rising Engagement

Betul Ufak, Seyma Kilic, Meryem Korkmaz, Hafsa Tek, Hatice Goral, Elif Ufak, Neva Aksoylu, Neda Oguz

CARE, a youth-led initiative in San Antonio, is dedicated to improving community health by promoting education, raising awareness of health concerns, and encouraging healthy lifestyles. Their focus on civic engagement aims to unite diverse communities and spark informative conversations through inclusive gatherings. By connecting health professionals with local residents, CARE seeks to address common health issues such as mental health, hygiene, and menstrual health. Through a variety of past and upcoming events, including presentations, seminars, collaborations with health institutions, volunteering, and community runs, CARE demonstrates its commitment to empowering individuals and enhancing overall quality of life in the community.

“Environmental Consciousness”

Youth for EcoJustice

Nimet Aysan, Sueda Teke, Fatima Gurakar, Elif Sebnem Kalayci, Nermin Citci

Youth for EcoJustice aims to address environmental and social issues in the Pittsburgh community by bridging gaps between the Turkish community and local organizations. Their project focuses on organizing ecojustice events to raise awareness about climate change and air quality issues. By involving the Turkish community and partnering with local organizations, they plan to foster networking, inform attendees, and raise funds through auctions featuring traditional Turkish art. Their strategy involves planning events, establishing partnerships, inviting community representatives, and holding interactive activities like planting events and trash cleanups. Through ongoing communication with partners and continued event coordination, Youth for EcoJustice seeks to make a positive impact on environmental issues in the Pittsburgh area.

“Cross-Generational Engagement”

The Butterfly Effect

Elif Cicek, Nilufer Kabul, Nilgun Soysal, Hansa Oguz, Saliha Elif Dogan

The Butterfly Effect’s 2024 project aimed to alleviate loneliness and boredom among seniors at the Sunrise of Cupertino assisted living home by fostering meaningful connections through interactive activities. Their project focused on engaging with seniors through games, acrylic painting, and conversation, allowing participants to share stories about their backgrounds, families, and perspectives on how the world has changed. By exchanging personal experiences, practicing Spanish with a resident, and collaborating on creative projects, volunteers built relationships that emphasized mutual understanding and companionship. Through consistent visits and interactive engagement, The Butterfly Effect sought to create a positive and uplifting environment for the seniors in their community.

Freshman Girls of TASO

Nesibe Ozey, Betul Ucan,

Muhlise Kenc, Nadide Aydin

Freshman Girls of TASO group in Columbus, Ohio who worked together to fundraise scholarships for teens in foster care.

The Herd

Butterfly Effect

Nilufer Kabul, Hansa Oguz,

Nilgun Soysal, Elif Cicek

The Herd group in California raising money to provide homeless individuals hygiene products. After the devastating earthquake in Turkey and Syria they shifted gears to fundraise for earthquake relief efforts.

ECHO

Husna Akkaya, Zehra Kaya, Mary Mutlu,

Hatice Ozey, Hatice Kucuk, Asude Budak

ECHO group in Columbus, Ohio working with local organizations in identifying key issues in underprivileged areas in their community and working towards solutions. 

Raindrop Foundation Health Education Team

Zeynep Korkmaz, Ceyda Tunca, Ozge Alkan

Raindrop Foundation Health Education Team group in San Antonio, working to provide information on community health issues to immigrant communities that otherwise may not pay attention to normal public health communications channels.

Golden Youth Group

Hatice Kubra Ozey, Emine Meryem Kaklik,

Husna Akkaya, Meryem Sarikamis

Golden Youth group from Ohio, organizing school supply donation drives to help underprivileged youth.