News
Faculty Spotlight: Professor Sanyal Encourages Reflection Among Youth and Aspire Leaders Program Participants
Dr. Sanyal believes that youth are a key element to making cities better. He emphasizes the importance of motivating youth to help them achieve their goals and prepare them to lead change.
Aspire Global Partner: Nepal Leadership Academy Builds Capacity Among Young Change Agents
The Nepal Leadership Academy, a non-profit based in Lalitpur, and Aspire Institute collaborate to provide leadership development opportunities for youth in Nepal and around the world.
Aspire Institute Establishes a Presence in São Paulo, Brazil
Aspire Institute officially launched a Foundry in Brazil on April 3, 2023 in partnership with Insper. During the month of April we hosted multiple alumni events and information sessions.
Aspire Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Michael Vortmann Believes Young, Passionate Leaders Can Make a Difference in Healthcare Around the World
Dr. Vortmann has worked with diverse communities in nations around the globe and led a faculty seminar for the Aspire Leaders Program on basic emergency medicine skills everyone should know.
Aspire Global Partner: Crown Prince Foundation Shapes Young Change Makers in Jordan
Aspire Institute and CPF join together to enhance opportunities for youth in Jordan and around the world to discover their potential.
Alumni Spotlight: Akbar Kurniawan ALP ‘22 Expands His Worldview and Seeks to Reduce Inequalities in Indonesia
Kurniawan, a recent college graduate and 2022 Aspire Community Action Award (CAA) winner, seeks opportunities for global exposure and community impact. His initiative, The Mula Sasmita Project, provides sign language training to the entire community to support the Deaf community.
Alumni Spotlight: Diana Citlali Avila Padilla ALP ‘22 Paves The Way for Women in STEAM
Diana Avila, alumna from Mexico, already co-founded a nonprofit and now won a Community Action Award for her initiative, SisterSTEAM. She aims to provide a community for women in STEAM to support each other’s goals and wellbeing through this initiative.
Aspire Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Despina Sanoudou Cites Her Work with Youth as Her Most Meaningful Contribution
Dr. Sanoudou, a leader in the field of pharmacogenomics, feels honored to have had a role in the origin of genomics and hopes her story inspires Aspire Leaders Program participants to pursue their passions.
Aspire Institute’s Inaugural Distinguished Speaker Series: Giving a Voice to Youth
Our keynote speaker for the first Distinguished Speaker Series and Liberian peace activist, Leymah Gbowee, outlined how youth can be partners for peace and recognize their own agency as future leaders.
Malawi Alumni Organize Event With Harvard Surgeon
Aspire Leaders Program alumni and current participants joined Dr. Kiran Agarwal-Harding, co-founder of Harvard Global Orthopedics Collaborative and SONA Global, in Malawi this month to meet, network, and think about the challenges and opportunities when starting community initiatives.
Hein Oo ALP ‘22, Refugee from Myanmar, Found a Community at Aspire
Hein Oo fled Myanmar in 2021 and settled in the U.S. As he works to find community here, he continues to support his home community and the planet as a young leader and environmental advocate.
Aspire Global Partner, Office of Industrial Links at IIUM, Provides Opportunities for Young Adults to Make an Impact
Aspire Partner, the Office of Industrial Links at IIUM, supports a global group of students explore their next step, valuing collaboration between academia and industry.
Aspire Faculty Spotlight: Doris Sommer Encourages Balance Between Purpose And Passion
Professor Doris Sommer will return to lead two faculty seminars in the 2023 Aspire Leaders Program. She inspires young adults to harness their passion and find their purpose.
Aspire Faculty Spotlight: Can Erbil Strives to Create Value for the Next Generation
Can Erbil, Boston College Economics Professor and Turkey Regional Faculty Advisor for Aspire Institute, specializes in bridging the gap between developmental economic theory and applied practice.
2022 Community Action Awards: Alumni-Led Social Impact
18 Aspire Leaders Program alumni pitched their social impact projects to a panel of entrepreneurs. Ten projects across nine countries will receive this award of up to $10,000 and begin their social impact journey. Projects solve problems from preserving post-harvest crops to providing awareness and greater service to those with disabilities.
India Alumni Field Day: Community Building Across Generations of Leaders
30 Aspire Leaders Program alumn gathered in New Delhi for the first ever India Field Day on January 24. Alumni and professionals from across generations came together as a community to share their ideas, experiences, opinions, and advice. Aspire Country Affiliate, Anil Nair, organized this exciting community-building event.
Peruvian Alumni Meet Aspire Programs Manager, Erika Sologuren
Alumni from Peru gathered in Lima with Programs Manager, Erika Sologuren, and discuss how their life has changed since finishing stage 5.
Nepali Alumni Gather at Nepal Leadership Academy
Alumni gathered at Nepal Leadership Academy and met Dr. Pukar Malla, Harvard Kennedy School graduate and nonprofit leader.
Alumni in Pakistan Connect and Learn From Industry Leaders
Aspire alumni in Pakistan met with industry leaders to network and open up doors for internships and other opportunities.
Jameson Pierre-Louis ALP ’21 from Haiti Feels Sense of Belonging after Aspire Leaders Program
Jameson Pierre-Louis learned that he is not alone in the difficulties he faces as a low-income student after the Aspire Leaders Program in 2021. Today, he works to make an impact and inspire other young leaders.
Aldahir Caballero Believes in the Potential of Young Leaders
Professor Aldahir Caballero, a specialist in business, alliances and innovation, has worked with youth for 10 years, teaching them the fundamentals of creating, defining and managing a new business through the use of innovative tools and methodologies. He is confident the Aspire alumni will continue to be leaders.
Aspire Global Partner, Babban Gona, Invests in Young People Today for a Better Tomorrow
Babban Gona is an Aspire partner organization in Nigeria. Founded during a time of turmoil and insecurity in West Africa, their mission is to make farming more profitable for smallholder farmers and turn at-risk young people into successful entrepreneurs. Together, Aspire and Babban Gona invest in young people for a better tomorrow.
Aspire Global Partner Science Clubs International Expands Education and Resources for Underserved Youth
In 2014, a group of Mexican graduate students studying at Harvard University came together to provide high-quality education and resources to those less-privileged. Originating as 'Club de Ciencia’ (Science Club) in Mexico, this organization has grown from a regional to an international effort. Together, Aspire Institute and Science Clubs International provide opportunities for underserved youth to discover their full potential through fully funded programs.
Şeyma Kara ALP ‘20 from Turkey Values Cross-Cultural Collaboration in Solving Community Problems
Turkish Aspire alumna and Aspire Alumni Ambassador values cross-cultural collaboration and research-backed solutions to community problems.
