9 Teens Changing The World In 2015

Exploros_logo

9 Teens Changing The World In 2015

1. As a child, Ziad Ahmed, a Muslim Bangladeshi-American, was placed on the TSA watch list because he had the same name as someone who was already on the list. Now, the 16-year-old serves as the founder of Redefy, an organization committed to fighting bias and stereotypes. He wants to fight ignorance and help innocent victims who cannot properly defend themselves. Ziad said: "Teens don't realize we need to be in this conversation, injustice is our fight too."

2. Fifteen-year-old Brandon Brooks bravely captured a video in McKinney, Texas. In this video, an armed police officer aggressively handled a group of teens near a pool party. His video made national news, particularly because Officer Eric Casebolt forced Brooks' friend, 15-year-old Dajerria Becton, to the ground. Officer Casebolt has resigned, and there has been dialogue about racism and police brutality in America.

3. Alessia Cara, an 18-year-old Canadian singer-songwriter, sings about the teenage experience in her music in a way that's relatable, and real. Her hit single, "Here," is an anthem for everyone who's ever felt out of place.

4. In April 2015, the Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) at Marshall High School in Michigan created a bulletin for International Transgender Day of Visibility. When a GSA educational display was removed by a school staffer, the kids decided to peacefully fight back by painting the school rock in the colors of the transgender flag. Later, the superintendent apologized for how poorly these events were handled.

5. Musaz Nawaz, Daanyaal Ali and Chirag Shah, three students from London's Isaac Newton Academy, won the TeenTech Awards in the health category for their groundbreaking invention -- a condom that changes colors if it detects a sexually-transmitted disease (STD).

6. Sixteen-year-old Washington native David Zhao wanted to make sure others got the chance to love music as much as he does. So he founded Instruments for Change, an organization that provides public classical music concerts.

7. Fifteen-year-old Hunter Gandee carried his brother, who suffers from cerebral palsy, for 57 miles. He wanted to educate people on the disease, which affects muscle movement. "I think it's up to my generation to change things and make the world more accessible," he said.

8. Fifteen-year-old guitar goddess Tina S plays solos on her Vigier guitar and breaks sexist stereotypes about being a female rocker. Her "Eruption" cover has over 12 million views. She said, "To be a woman is by no means a weakness nor a shame but a strength."

9. A 17-year-old student in San Francisco, Patricia Manubay, was honored this year by the Jefferson Awards Foundation for her public service project, Dream Boxes. The project gives students the basic supplies and resources that they need to be successful in school. The project helps give them the empowerment and support they need to make their dreams happen.