Youth Leading Change: Responses and Recommendations for a Failing Aid System

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June 12, 2025

Youth Leading Change: Responses and Recommendations for a Failing Aid System

In this webinar, three young activists discussed the strategic responses of youth-led organizations to the current crises facing the international aid system, focusing on their strengths, lessons learned, and perspectives on the future of aid. They shared their key takeaways from advocating for youth rights, especially in recent months; key messages and recommendations for donors; and suggestions for other youth-led organizations navigating the crisis.

The webinar was held in English and Spanish, with simultaneous interpretation. This event was co-sponsored by the Kuja Platform, the Georgetown University Collaborative on Global Children's Issues, and Global Fund for Children.

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Participants

Kimberly Barrios

Kimberly Barrios is an internationalist, youth leader, and project manager with over five years of experience in volunteer work and political advocacy through citizen participation spaces. She is vice president and co-founder of Jóvenes Artistas por la Justicia Social (JAxJS), a youth-led NGO, and a member of the United Nations Population Fund Youth Advisory Group. She also serves as a young peacebuilder with the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations. Her work focuses on youth empowerment, leadership training, and network-building, with a strong emphasis on strategic partnerships to advance social justice and sustainable development goals.

Wardah Noor

Wardah Noor is a social entrepreneur and the founder of xWave Pakistan, an initiative that leverages technology to empower marginalized communities. Her work focuses on training underserved youth, especially women in rural areas, in employable IT and soft skills. Under her leadership, xWave has expanded across multiple regions, training over 300 students in technical skills and thousands more in essential workplace competencies. Recognized with the Prime Minister's Youth Excellence Award and honored by international platforms such as Giving Tuesday and the Global Fund for Children, Wardah’s commitment to inclusive digital education is transforming lives.

Krista Rivas Gutierrez

Krista Rivas Gutierrez is a student of architecture and international relations and the global lead of the Tertiary Refugee Student Network (TRSN), where she works to strengthen youth leadership and advocate for policies that expand opportunities for displaced students. Her work focuses on amplifying the voices of displaced youth and ensuring that their stories, challenges, and contributions are recognized in global decision-making spaces.

Mara Tissera Luna

Mara Tissera Luna (moderator) is a fellow at the Georgetown University Collaborative on Global Children's Issues and a consultant for the Kuja Platform, focusing on child protection, gender-based violence, forced migration, participation, and localization in Latin America and the Caribbean.