Youth Leadership Program
“Empower through Service and Knowledge”
TMWF’s Youth Leadership Program (YLP) will provide high school students with diverse experiences that instill a spirit of leadership and community collaborations. Participants will:
- Develop knowledge and confidence in presenting, participating, and leading service projects. Students are trained in leadership techniques, preparing them to make a positive impact in their communities.
- Partner with local non-profits and experts to create awareness webinars on topics such as mental health, gender stereotypes, bullying/harassment, anti-racism, healthy relationships, self-defense, and self-image.
- Host and participate in a wide variety of service events and projects. In doing so, they will learn the value of community service and civic engagement, build awareness around social issues, and learn leadership skills.
- Provide self-defense and self-image training for their peers, especially within the refugee community.
The Youth Leadership Program is led by the all-volunteer Youth Council Members. Interested volunteers please complete the following form to apply and someone will contact you shortly.
#WhatWillPeopleSay Podcast
The #WhatWillPeopleSay podcast is hosted by young adults, for young adults. It aims to educate and inform about the complexities of mental health, particularly in the Muslim community. Our hope is that those listening in will find a safety net in resources and conversation.
Listen to the latest episode of the #WhatWillPeopleSay Podcast:
Podcast Hosts
Aasim Siddiqi is a newly transferred student at the University of Houston. He is pursuing a chemical engineering degree and is on the pre-med track. He hopes this podcast will help the local Muslim community come to a better place in facing their mental health.
Haniya Siddiqui is a rising junior at the University of Texas at Dallas. She is studying political science and public health. Since mental health is so often looked over in so many communities, she hopes to create an environment where youth can feel welcomed, supported, and respected.
Hamza Iqbal is a student at the University of Texas at Dallas. He is majoring in psychology and is on the pre-med track. He recognizes the urgent need to raise awareness about mental health, on both a local and a national level.
Elisha Shamim is a first-year student at the University of Texas at Austin. She is majoring in psychology and is on the pre-physical therapy track. She looks forward to having productive conversations about mental health through an empathetic lens.
Arez Aziz is a Sophomore at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. He is pursuing a major in computer science. He hopes to promote mental health awareness and reduce societal stigma so adults and children can access the resources they need to live in a safer world.
Podcast Advisor
Samiya Nasim is one of the co-founders of LonePack, one of India's first youth-led mental health non-profits. Having lived experience with mental health, she aims to facilitate a holistic ecosystem on mental health to drive accessibility across the country. Since the inception of the organization in 2016, she has facilitated numerous on-ground and online awareness campaigns, events, and workshops at colleges, corporate offices, and schools across India. Her most recent initiative, LonePack Buddy, has been selected as one of the top 10 innovations in India that will be incubated by UNDP Asia Pacific, under their Youth SpringBoard program.
LonePack has worked with numerous stakeholders across domains including Freshworks, Uber Eats, Google, SRM University, and CMC Vellore. They have reached over 100K people since their inception and have been featured on numerous media publications, including Times Of India and New Indian Express. Samiya is currently pursuing her MBA at Wharton Business School and hopes to continue leveraging her technical skills and consulting background to drive the cause of mental health in the coming years.
"TMWF’s Youth Leadership Program was an amazing opportunity that allowed me to grow as a leader, public speaker, and engaged community member. This experience helped [me] develop strong interpersonal skills and learn how to network. I got to work with an amazing team and it was a life-changing experience!"
--Haya Arafat, YLP President 2019-2020
