Our Youth Ambassadors 2025/26

Alma is a politically engaged student who has shown a strong commitment to social causes from an early age. She began her involvement through various school clubs, starting with the UNESCO Club, followed by the First Aid Club, and later the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE) program. Over time, her school-based activities extended into her personal life. She became active in several grassroots collectives, where she took part in organizing demonstrations and fundraising initiatives in support of people in need. In addition to her political engagement, Alma developed a passion for the arts — particularly calligraphy — through her participation in the DofE program. For more than a year, she has been continuously refining her skills in this field with enthusiasm. Since joining the DofE program, Alma has also dedicated herself to improving her equestrian abilities and began bouldering as part of her Gold Award level.

She is currently completing her Abitur (university entrance qualification) and remains deeply committed to her goal of fostering a fairer, more feminist, anti-racist, and democratic world. Alma recognizes the importance of supporting programs like DOFE — especially within public schools and throughout society. She firmly believes that such initiatives can empower young people in Germany and around the globe by helping them develop a strong sense of self-efficacy, discover their talents, and cultivate meaningful hobbies and ways of engaging with the world around them.

Antonia is involved in numerous clubs at her school in her free time. Be it of a political nature, such as the debating society, literary with the school newspaper or more sporty with lifeguarding and sailing in the nautical service. She has a wide range of interests and also plays the trumpet and basketball. Last year, Antonia spent a year in the USA and before that she took part in exchanges to France. For many years, she has shown great interest in current political events and filled the position of spokesperson for a political youth organization for a year. Antonia is enthusiastic about the DofE Award because it gives her the opportunity to surpass herself again and again and to take on new challenges. As a Duke Ambassador, Antonia hopes to make many new contacts and convince both young and old people of the program. In addition, Antonia would like to discuss social challenges, especially her core topics of democracy and climate protection. She would be delighted to bring about positive and sustainable change, for example by inspiring people at events.

Hi, I’m Amani, 16 years old and this is my second year as a Youth Ambassador. I’ve been volunteering for over two years – in a retirement home, at a children’s hospital where I paint kids’ faces, and in my school’s student council, where | help organize donation drives. My heart lies with children: I want to bring them joy, empower them, and show them they are seen and valued. The DofE Award helped me grow and try new things. As a Youth Ambassador, I want to inspire others to step out of their comfort zone and take on new challenges – no matter their background or type of school. Everyone deserves the chance to be part of this program.

Antorip Ghosh is a passionate individual, actively involved in STEM Competitions, and Outdoor activities. He  has completed multiple DofE expeditions across Germany, enjoying the joy of Hiking and Navigation . Antorip deeply values the camaraderie of his DofE team, finding strength in shared challenges, with a deep appreciation for the connections and discoveries made along the way! He aims to promote awareness about Biodiversity and climate change among DofE participants, encouraging sustainable practices through outdoor adventures !

Arian is passionate about debating. Not only does he take part in competitions because of this enthusiasm, he also runs the debating club at his school to give his fellow pupils the tools they need to get politically involved and stand up for their values. In his free time, he plays the piano, hockey and is in the choir. Co-determination is also important to him at school, which is why he represents the interests of the school community as deputy student representative and organises projects such as a winter ball.

The DofE Award has shown him that you can always motivate yourself as a team and that something positive can always come out of difficult situations. As a Duke Ambassador, Arian wants to enable as many people as possible to experience Duke and inspire people. Above all, he wants to use his knowledge of debating to help others to stand up for their values with confidence and to have the courage to spread and stand up for them in the world. He is particularly looking forward to meeting many new people and realising moving projects.

Cora is currently taking part in the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Bronze Award and particularly appreciates the many opportunities for personal development that the program offers her. It has already motivated her to get involved in volunteering. She finds her regular volunteer work in her school’s outreach program extremely rewarding.
In her role as an ambassador, Cora wants to raise awareness of key social issues such as gender equality, feminism and democratic values within her age group. She is also keen to encourage other young people to take on the challenges of the program and leave their comfort zone.

Another goal for her is to exchange ideas with committed young people and make new friends.

will follow

Dilara is a 17-year-old student from Turkey currently pursuing the Silver level of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. With a rich international background, she has lived on three continents—America, India, and Germany—which has greatly shaped her into an open-minded, globally aware individual. These diverse experiences have fostered a deep sense of gratitude and adaptability, allowing her to thrive in multicultural environments. Passionate about creative expression, Dilara actively participates in theatre and enjoys engaging in school activities. She is an enthusiastic member of her school’s SMV (Student Council), where she plays a key role in organizing various events that bring the school community together. Additionally, she contributes to the school’s sustainability initiative, working to raise awareness and promote environmentally conscious practices. Through the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, Dilara aims to deepen her understanding of the world, contribute meaningfully to her community, and grow as part of an intellectually driven and socially engaged network. Her goal is to make a positive impact while continuing to evolve as a thoughtful and active global citizen.

Ella is currently working on her Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award and very much enjoys how the Scheme encourages her to develop in such a variety of ways. It has already led her to become a very committed and motivated runner which was an entirely new sport for her. She finds her regular voluntary work, providing practical first aid along with a leadership role, to be rewarding. She enjoys challenging herself and is very happy to try new activities. During her time as an Ambassador she hopes to raise awareness in her peer group around the extremely important topics of democracy, gender equality and feminism. She also wants to encourage more young people to take on the challenge that the Award Scheme provides, in order to achieve their full, perhaps unrealised, potential. Lastly, she is keen to meet and engage with like-minded people and make new friends both in Germany and internationally.

Emma is passionate about STEM fields, particularly mathematics and chemistry. In her free time, she enjoys playing chess, experimenting with her 3D printer, and exploring new ideas. As one of the top chess players at her school, Emma strives to be a role model for young girls, inspiring them to take up chess and excel in traditionally male-dominated areas.

Through her participation in the Duke of Edinburgh Award program, Emma has embraced opportunities for personal growth and environmental action. She planted and cared for trees in North Berlin, practiced karate, and further built on her chess skills. Her expedition for the Bronze Award allowed her to connect more with nature and develop resilience without having technology to fall back on.

As a Youth Ambassador Emma wants to grow as a person and show other teenagers that they too can learn, grow and have fun when doing the DofE Award. She appreciated exploring the nature through the expedition and the volunteering and would love to see more people fight for the and give back to the environment we all share and live in.

Frederic is a 17-year-old from China, is currently working towards the Silver level of the Duke of Edinburgh Award. He sees the program as a great way to challenge himself and strengthen his willpower.

Having lived in two international countries in two separate continents, Frederic has become more open-minded and improved his language skills, which helps him connect with people from different backgrounds. He enjoys playing table tennis and is actively involved in his school community. As year representative and a member of the SMV, he takes on responsibilities and works to support his fellow students.

As a Youth Ambassador, Chen hopes to gain new perspectives and contribute to better intercultural understanding. He wants to help people from different backgrounds connect and communicate more openly with each other.

Grace is an International Baccalaureate student with a deep passion for education, social justice, and global issues – especially advocating for the rights of women and children. A lifelong book lover and believer in the power of literacy, she volunteers regularly in her school library and recently organized a successful fundraiser for Room to Read, which supports access to education worldwide.
Though naturally introverted and often finding public speaking and leadership roles daunting, she continues to push her boundaries through involvement in Model United Nations,  a debate club, and, most recently, her first Duke of Edinburgh Award.

Well-traveled and globally minded, Grace has visited 32 countries across four continents, experiences that have shaped her curiosity about cultures, perspectives, and the challenges facing communities around the world. She is fluent in German and English and is currently dabbling in American Sign Language.
In her downtime, she enjoys running to stay fit, practicing guitar, crocheting, and exploring creative projects.

Hannah is particularly enthusiastic about aviation, her favorite country Sweden, photography and ice skating.
Hannah wants to become a pilot and takes every opportunity to be close to aviation. Her love for Sweden motivates her to spend a six-month year abroad there, starting this summer.

Through the Duke project at her school, she was able to fulfill her desire to be even more active and get involved. By becoming a Youth Ambassador, Hannah has now found a wonderful platform to get even more involved in the social sector and raise her voice. She is particularly passionate about current political issues, equal rights, more openness and diversity, as well as promoting education in general. She would therefore also like to help make the Duke project even better known in schools and get more pupils interested in it.

Ida is a highly talented student with a passion for the saxophone, ballet and theater. She loves expressing herself artistically – whether through music, dance, or acting – and values the opportunity to tell stories and touch people’s hearts through these art forms.

During her participation in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, where she volunteered in a nursing home and a kindergarten, she discovered her deep enthusiasm for the program’s social aspect. She found it incredibly rewarding to meet new people, support them, and make a positive impact through her commitment. This experience strengthened her personally and showed her the profound value of human connection and collective action.

As a Duke Youth Ambassador she is dedicated to inspire others to take part in the program and to showcase the countless opportunities it provides. At the same time, she actively advocates for equality and hopes to encourage young people to use their voices to drive change.

Jiani is dedicated to personal growth and believes that challenges provide the best opportunities for development. She began her journey with the Duke as a volunteer and has since become a trained Award Leader while also working toward her own Award. Her love for travel reflects her passion for new experiences. During her gap year in China, she broadened her horizons by living with international students and immersing herself in diverse cultures.

As a Youth Ambassador, Jiani is passionate about promoting the Duke and helping expand the program to more schools. Through this role, she also hopes to develop the skills to inspire and motivate young people.

Julianna is highly interested in sports – as she is leading the climbing club at her school and an enthusiastic skier – but also a musician, playing the flute and violin. For Julianna are the expeditions an important part of the award, as she appreciates the time in nature and the planning of the route and provision.
As a Duke Youth Ambassador, she wants to bring young people closer to the award, but also meet new people and broaden her perspective. She also sees this opportunity as a chance to change something in climate change, educational support and personal development for young people.

Lucas is a 14-year-old from America, currently working towards the Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award. He is an engaged student who enjoys football and exercise as well as speaking English, German, Russian and is learning spanish. Having recently entered a new sort of education and school system, he has been able to become more open minded, and be able to network with others in various contexts. As a member of academic support groups along with campaigning for several student council roles at his school he enjoys being able to connect with a community and lead discussions with a variety of individuals.
For him, the program is a great way for him to challenge himself as well as explore new opportunities. As a Youth Ambassador, he hopes to be able to engage with others from diverse backgrounds, express his ideas, and connect with like minded individuals to contribute to positive change.

Maria is a passionate and engaged student who loves tennis, playing the piano, and dancing. She speaks English, German, and Russian, with some French, and enjoys exploring new cultures. As the leader of her school’s climate club, she actively supports environmental action, gender equality, and fair immigration policies.
For her, the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is a great opportunity to challenge herself. As a Duke Youth Ambassador, she hopes to express her views, and connect with like-minded young people to others to take part and contribute to positive change.

Mette is not only a passionate tennis player and cellist, but she is also constantly seeking new challenges and experiences. The award opened the door to exploring new interests, including learning the basics of her fifth foreign language, British Sign Language.

In the future, Mette is eager to share her enthusiasm for the impact of the Duke Award with other young people. She also plans to volunteer and travel after her graduation to broaden her global perspective and develop intercultural skills. Mette is determined to pursue a degree that will allow her to gain new insights and make a meaningful contribution to society.

Hello!你好!
My name is Anna, and I’m currently in year 11 at the Birklehof boarding school and high school in the Black Forest. In my free time, I enjoy sports, creative pursuits, reading, and spending time with my friends.
The role of Duke Ambassador offers me many opportunities to share my principles regarding the relevance of social engagement and the values ​​of democracy, representation, and environmental protection with new people and to further my education.

The biggest challenge for Mila is to fit all her plans into one day. Her interests range from science to music (piano) and creative projects. She also loves reading, traveling, getting to know new cultures, interesting people and their stories.
At the top of her to-do list right now is running a half marathon, exploring the Boundary Waters by canoe, and finding the best vegetarian burger in the Midwest during her year abroad.

What excites Mila about the Duke program is the approach of constantly challenging yourself and pushing your limits, as well as the opportunity to make a positive contribution to this world and society with like-minded people.

Noelle is a competitive tennis player and successfully represents her school as Team Captain at international tournaments. As President of the Student Council, she is passionately committed to strengthening the entire school community. In addition, she has founded and leads several school clubs with the aim of supporting and empowering her fellow students on an individual level. Her dedication to social causes is particularly evident in projects for Tanzania and Sri Lanka, where she co-organized fundraising campaigns to improve school and preschool facilities and has already worked actively on-site. Noelle is the Co-Founder and President of Alpha Epsilon Omicron, Germany’s first selective international honor society with over 200 members. In this role, she is committed to implementing social and environmental initiatives on a global scale. In recognition of her outstanding efforts, she was awarded first place in the ZONTA Young Woman in Leadership Award 2025.

As a Youth Ambassador, Noelle wants to encourage other young people – especially girls – to grow beyond themselves, take on responsibility, and believe in their own strength. After graduating from school, she plans to study Social Entrepreneurship.

Selina Yildirim is a very committed person. Especially in the Protestant church in Schwetzingen, where she has been involved in children’s and youth work for over 7 years. She organizes children’s church weeks, leads and accompanies camps, as well as leading the confirmation classes. She is also involved in the SMV at school, has been class representative several times and a member of the school conference. She is active in political youth work in Schwetzingen and Oftersheim. In her free time, she enjoys acting and has been a member of the choir and a chamber choir for many years. Selina reads a lot, but also enjoys drawing and painting. She also plays tennis. Furthermore she is very interested in world politics, history and religion.

Due to her many years of extensive experience in working with children, she would particularly like to campaign for children’s rights. The topics of child poverty, inclusion and sustainability are close to her heart. She hopes to draw more attention to these issues as a Duke ambassador.

Sirpa Pierce is passionate about first aid, climate protection and sustainable projects. With five years of experience in the school first aid service and leading the team, she shows how important it is to her to help in acute situations and to motivate other young people to get actively involved. She has already deepened her enthusiasm for renewable energies through practical projects such as the installation of two solar panels. She is also learning Spanish on her own as she really likes the culture.

The Duke Award has shown her the importance of perseverance and initiative – qualities that she has demonstrated in expeditions and challenges such as a 24-hour run. As a Youth Ambassador, Sirpa wants to inspire others to take part in the Duke Award. She sees it as an opportunity to motivate young people to get involved in issues such as climate protection and social commitment. With her experience and passion, she wants to raise awareness of the programme and implement sustainable projects together with like-minded people.