Caileigh Winslade 
Have you ever wanted to make a change in the world, but didn’t know where to start? Well, here’s an opportunity for you: Rise Global.
Rise Global is a world-wide program for teens age 15-17 who want to make a difference. Every year, teens from around the globe work to create programs for public benefit and can receive funding and mentorships from Rise. They also choose a handful of Rise Global Winners who get additional scholarships, partnership opportunities, and an in-person summit with other winners.
Rise describes the Global challenge as an “opportunity to apply for funding to experiment with innovative ideas to address major problems in local communities or around the world—ranging, for example, from seed money to start a social enterprise to a grant for a non-profit.”
This means Rise Global is an innovative opportunity to create change in your community or world as a young teen who wants to make a difference.
This year, 100 teens were chosen as Rise Global Winners. Three of them were spotlighted by Teen Vogue. The first is Jakub Dobosiewicz from Poland. He created an online platform called Mendly, which connects customers to professionals who can repair clothing. This is an effort to reduce over-consumption of clothing, as fast fashion is a leading cause of pollution around the world. Dobosiewicz hopes that his app will encourage people to repair their old clothes instead of buying new ones frequently. He said, “Talking to my friends about my Rise Project, I encouraged them to buy less and local and ignited them for action.”
The second winner is Charlotte Ava Rosario from California. She created an app called ALSO, that matches teens who are feeling similar experiences relating to grief or challenges and provides them with a support system with people who understand. This app was created from Rosario’s personal experiences with the loss of her father to suicide. She said that after her father’s death, “I was presented with two paths: I could either give into fear and shame and never speak about or acknowledge suicide, or I could confront the issue head on.”
The third winner is Brenda Faith Ochieng from Kenya. She created the Black Dolls for Black Girls Initiative, which is a program that provides dolls to young Black girls that reflect their various skin colors, hair textures, and cultures. This too was drawn from her own experiences, as she grew up only seeing white dolls. Ochieng wishes to combat colorism and boost self-love in Black girls. She said that “it became an unwritten rule that we should strive to look like our dolls. If I had a toy that reflected who I am at an early age, my perception of myself would have improved greatly.”
All of these projects were made with the support of Rise Global, and you too can create your own. The last day to submit applications is January 17th if you want to complete the 2024 challenge and apply to be a Rise Global Winner. You can learn more at their website.
By Caileigh Winslade, Freshman, DePaul University
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