Yusuf Dogan, Nada Hadouch, Dania Amarouch, Mohammed Madmar, Elisa Simsek

Yusuf Dogan (17), Nada Hadouch (16), Dania Amarouch (16), Mohammed Madmar (16), and Elisa Simsek (16) are a group of student changemakers from Netherlands, many with migration backgrounds. Growing up in an area often seen negatively, and watching anti-migration sentiment rise across Europe, they became determined to prove that every child deserves equal chances and respect, no matter where they come from.

Together, they co-founded a collaboration between student councils across Amsterdam to improve children’s rights and opportunities. They organized fundraising campaigns that raised a significant amount for children in the Middle East and helped raise funds for the Fofie Foundation, supporting a school building project for children in Ghana. They’ve taken part in demonstrations for social justice, pushed for school policy changes to keep students safe, and co-founded “Mind over Media,” teaching young people to think critically about media. They even helped create classroom materials on AI-generated child abuse content, presenting their work to the Ministry of Education.

Backed by Amsterdam’s local authority, these five friends have reached 500 to 2,000 people through campaigns and workshops—using their voices to reshape their community’s story and lift up disadvantaged children everywhere.