Audios

Deaf guitar teacher shares joy of music
Some experience music through their eyes, others use their ears, says Mischa Gohlke. He is nearly deaf, but that hasn’t stopped him from playing the guitar – and teaching music to others with hearing impairments.

Dutch food activist encourages ethical eating
Samuel in Amsterdam loves to eat. A trained chef and political scientist, he co-founded the Youth Food Movement to get other young people thinking about where their food actually comes from.

Disabled politican making waves
Australia has been a forerunner in granting political rights to women. Today, a young woman is making big changes on the political scene, despite some enormous challenges, but Kelly Vincent is not letting that stop her.

One legged cyclist inspires others to ride
Dedan Ireri in Nairobi, Kenya, is all about bicycles. Maybe one day, a bicycle ride will earn him international recognition in sports. But Dedan Ireri is also on a mission: he wants to help others to take up cycling.

New Delhi woman unlocks power of music for street kids
A young woman in New Delhi opens up the world of music to at-risk kids. Many of them have been traumatized and abandoned, but Faith, 23, gives them self-confidence and new skills with her organization, Music Basti.

Mission possible in Paris
Tiffany from Paris discovered a passion for helping others during a year in Vietnam. Now back home, she offers spiritual support and down-to-earth friendship to the teens in her neighborhood.

Canadian high school student campaigns for gay rights
Leanne, a high school student in Toronto, is battling the principal and board at her public Catholic school for the right to found a Gay Straight Alliance club.

South African neighborhood turns purple
Marcelle from Cape Town helps her impoverished, troubled town by cultivating what grows there naturally: lavender. She is not only turning the whole area purple, but also creating desperately need jobs.

Young refugee from Burma organizes medical aid for others
A refugee and young mother, Snow organizes medical care for other refugees and migrant workers in Thai territory and internal displaced people inside Burma.

Activist uses hip-hop music to help Brazil’s poor
When fire swept though her shantytown in Sao Paulo, 27-year-old Alessandra immediately began coordinating emergency relief for those who lost everything.

Peace, one person at a time
Viola in the Netherlands gave up her high-level job to start making a difference in the world. She and the organization Masterpeace are mobilizing people all over the world ahead of the 2014 International Day of Peace.

The power of words
Writing can sometimes be like pulling teeth, especially if you’re a kid. But Amy from San Francisco boosts schoolkids’ confidence by showing them that they’re a lot better at it than they mave have though.

India’s Paperman recycles waste to fund education for girls
India’s ‘Paperman,’ 23-year-old Mathew, makes the most of trash. He organizes recycling projects to raise money for girls’ schooling – and the environment and the country’s scrap dealers benefit, too.

Russian student works toward honest democracy
Anatoly from Moscow distributes white ribbons at political demonstrations. They’ve become a symbol of the people’s longing for free elections and a functioning democracy.

Equine therapist opens doors for disabled children
Treating disabled kids is no easy job. But one young woman – Kim Michel – has been doing it on her own now for 5 years. The 29-year-old is one of the few exponents of equine therapy in Germany.

Kenyan environmentalist gives butterflies a future
Emily from Kenya protects the butterfly species that are native to the area. She works with the local young people, raising awareness of the butterflies and of the importance of protecting the environment.

Young Afghan politician sacrifices for change
Young politicians in Afghanistan face deep-rooted cultural and religious prejudices. But despite the intimidations, young activists like Said Mahmoud Pahiz are fighting to make their voice heard.

Colombian theater teacher passes down his native culture
Edwin from Bogota teaches theater – but also the ancient values and traditions of his native Muisca culture. He’s stood up to threats from criminal organizations and encourages his students to be better human beings.

Afghan street artist longs to share her work
A 23-year-old Afghan graffiti artist longs to share her work at home, but she faces harsh political restrictions. Instead, she sets up private exhibitions to give other women courage to be bold and colorful.

German student becomes inspirational mentor
Berlin med student Jens Hagel has become a dedicated mentor through Rock Your Life, a German organization that finds young students to work with school pupils who need a little more than just help with their math.

Saving endangered Sea Turtles in Hainan
Frederick Yeh is a young American-Chinese biomedical engineer driven to protect Sea Turtles while visiting family in Hainan. Hard up against a struggling fishing industry, locals had been selling the turtles to get by.

Turning trash into treasure with a new business initiative
This young university graduate started turning other people’s trash into treasure when he couldn’t get a job after graduating.

Young engineer helps India’s poor
Matthew returned to India, his country of birth, to improve access to education and health services. Before embarking on the project, he tried to find out what it was like below India’s poverty line.

Syrian activist uses mobile phones to campaign for freedom
Syria is not experiencing a Facebook Revolution; it’s more of a mobile phone uprising. And 24-year-old activist Rashid is risking his personal safety to fight for democracy in his country.

Young Swede lends a hand on traditional Japanese rice farms
Richard, a 20-year-old Swede, is dedicated to learning the traditional art of harvesting rice in Japan and helping farmers get back on their feet after the tsunami disaster.

Serb teen blogs about democracy
Unlike most teens, 13-year old Belgrade native Rastko Pocesta is concerned about the direction of his nation. So much so, that he’s devoted himself to the life of a political commentator and human rights activist.

Dutchman revives social activism among his peers
Jeremy in Utrecht is bringing activism back to life in The Netherlands. He’s mobilizing Dutch students with debates and movie nights in the city of Utrecht.

Palestinian artist gives hope to community under occupation
Eid, a 26-year-old Palestinian Bedouin, turns scrap material into art. His own house may be facing imminent demolition, but he is determined that his children will inherit his capacity to dream.

Adoptive mom in Uganda provides food and love to 13 girls
Four years ago, Katie Davis was homecoming queen at her high school in the United States. Today, the 22-year-old is a single mother of 13 girls in Uganda and feeding hundreds of hungry children every day.

Miguel rescues Cape Verde’s endangered giant sea turtles
Giant sea turtles in western Africa are threatened with extinction. But Miguel from Cape Verde faithfully patrols the beaches to keep them safe while they lay their eggs.

Latvian IT expert gives the people a voice in politics
Kristofs, 23, from Riga wanted to get his fellow citizens more involved in politics. He launched a unique website that allows for digital petitions – and it’s been an immediate success.

Belgian woman sweetens life for homeless during Ramadan
Yasmina is a 24-year-old accountant from Brussels. During the month of Ramadan, she and her friends provide food for homeless people living in the city’s North Station.

Burmese activist risks personal safety for political change
Bo Bo, a 23-year-old Burmese student and musician, left his home behind because of politics. But his group of young political dissidents still advocates for change inside Burma, despite the huge risks.

Med student broaches tough issues with teens
When teens face tough issues, like sex, alcohol and drug abuse, parents and teachers are the last people they want to talk to. So Italian medical student Barbara co-founded a peer group to address teen’s questions.

Ivan in Mozambique preserves his towns cultural heritage
Ivan comes from a poor city in Mozambique, but one that is rich in cultural history. He founded a tour organization that takes tourists off the beaten path and helps preserve the hidden cultural treasures in his home.

US college student stays committed to Romanian orphans
Clare first went to a Romanian orphanage 11 years ago. She was 17, and her school offered a chance to volunteer over spring break. That week, she got an idea that would change her life – and the lives of the kids.

Berlin upcycler turns trash into treasures
Used teabags become necklaces and empty tetra paks turn into shower curtains. Julia Vernersson encourages others to think differently about waste by making useful – and beautiful – everyday objects out of it.

Liberian radio host helps fight HIV on air
When Cornelius, 23, returned home to Liberia after 10 years in a refugee camp, he decided to do his part to rebuild the post-war country. He’s breaking barriers and changing lives by talking about sex on the radio.

Stand-up comedy teacher spreads confidence
Bryan Bowden is a teacher and a rebel. In his classroom, kids are encouraged to raise their voices, instead of their hands. By teaching stand-up comedy, Bryan helps his students discover their talents.

German musician brings change with song and crowd funding
Fabian from Berlin is raising money for charitable projects by traveling the world with his guitar – and a positive attitude.

City girl broadens horizons in remote Cambodian village
College graduate Leom left her modern, fast-paced life in Cambodia’s capital city to go teach in a small village, bringing knowledge of English, hygiene and environmental protection to a remote corner of her country.

Finnish gymnast takes time to be a role model
Twenty-one-year-old Lotta from Turku is passionate about gymnastics – and about volunteering. She’s combined the two and spends her time encouraging young gymnasts to be the best they can be.

Prague clown brings smiles to troubled kids
Petra and her colleagues in Prague dedicate their time to making life a little rosier for kids who live in homes. They dress up as clowns, paint the children’s faces, and spread cheer.

Youth Hamburg culture guide, prononent of volunteering
For some people, access to cultural events is made difficult, or even impossible by financial constraints or physical difficulties. In Hamburg, however, 20-year-old Lukas Johannsen is helping change all that.

Kenyan DJ is a real-life role model behind the mic
Kades, from one of Nairobi’s largest slums, plays DJB in Shujaaz, a comic book series and weekly radio show. Shujaaz is capturing the imagination of young Kenyans and inspiring them to take charge of their own futures.

From inner-city LA to the farms of Nepal
Roxy Cruz, a 22-year old Mexican-American, spent a year in Nepal working with peasant farmers and migrant workers. She’s now an environmental activist in Los Angeles.

Omar advocates for refugees on Spanish stages
Omar was just 17 when he embarked on the treacherous journey from Senegal to start a new life in Spain. Now 23, he shares his story in a theater project aimed at sensitizing locals to the plight of refugees like him.

Columbian youth rock their world
Puerto Wilches in Colombia is a small village where donkey-drawn carts share the streets with cars and motorcycles. Now, 21-year-old Ramiro Caicedo and his friends are using rock music to revolutionize their town.

Former street child in Indonesia gives back to kids in need
Willie from Indonesia grew up as an orphan on the street, where he faced sectarian violence, forced labor and broken promises. Now, he is working, studying and volunteering at the crisis center where he’d found refuge.

London teen campaigns for autistic adults
With her popup café project, 16-year-old Bella Tommey of London breaks down prejudices again autistic adults and helps integrate them into society.

Ethiopian teenager offers strength to fellow refugees
Despite the trials she’s faced, 19-year-old Sadia Happi faces life as a leader and not a victim. In the Kenyan refugee camp where she lives, she broaches tough topics like rape, AIDS, and women’s rights.

Shooting survivor works toward stricter gun controls
Colin Goddard survived the 2007 Viriginia Tech shooting. He still has three bullets in his body. The 25-year-old is now committed to tightening gun laws in the US and uses his advocacy to find meaning in the tragedy.

Surfing for hope in Morocco
One of Morocco’s top surfers at just 26, Bouchma uses his talent to give back to his small fishing village. There, he teaches the kids to surf – and shows them they can make something of their life.

Canadian goes self-sufficient for a year
Inspired by Hollywood films like ‘Julie and Julia’ and enviro-challenges like the 100-mile diet, young Canadian Elizabeth Fraser has decided to get back to basics by creating what she consumes with her own two hands.