Group 1

My name is Sara Filali, and I am from Morocco. I am currently pursuing a Combined Bachelor's /Master's of International Studies and Diplomacy at Al Akhawayn University, with a minor in Organizational Studies, and I spent last spring as an exchange student at Uppsala University in Sweden.

My engagement with democracy is rooted in two convictions: that a democracy which excludes half its population is incomplete, and that a democracy that ignores its environmental future is unsustainable.

On gender equality, I have worked as a volunteer with AIESEC's Raise Your Voice project in Bahrain, facilitating workshops on gender rights and inclusion for diverse international audiences. Beyond gender, I believe democracy is only as strong as the next generation it produces,  which is why I spent two years with AIESEC dedicated to creating opportunities for young people to discover their voices and grow into leaders. Democratic participation demands not just legal rights, but the confidence, tools, and platforms to exercise them, and that is what I have tried to build for the youth around me.

On climate, I worked as a Climate Action and Disaster Risk Reduction Fellow with Climatic Peace, collaborating with global peers and experts on policy-oriented projects at the intersection of environmental diplomacy and sustainable development. Climate change is not only an ecological crisis but also a democratic one, disproportionately stripping vulnerable communities of the stability and resources needed to engage in civic life.

I am honored to be part of the Youth Democracy Forum and look forward to learning from and contributing to this community.

Hi everyone! My name is Maria Eduarda Arêdes Brasil de Mendonça, and I am from Porto Velho, Brazil. I am a fourth-year undergraduate student at Saint Mary’s College in Notre Dame, Indiana, where I am double-majoring in Global Studies and Political Science with a concentration in International Development.

My interest in democracy comes from my home country, Brazil, and my academic focus on political systems and international development. Studying politics has helped me understand how institutions, governments, and people shape society, and how democracy depends on civic engagement. I am especially interested in how young people of different political backgrounds can participate in productive discussions and contribute to more inclusive and responsive democratic systems.

At Saint Mary’s, I have served as a Class Representative for the Political Science Club, participated in the American Model United Nations International representing Nigeria and Iran, and studied abroad in Rome in 2025. These experiences strengthened my interests in political debate, international affairs, and cross-cultural learning. During the summer of 2025, I also worked with the Legislative Assembly of the State of Rondônia in Brazil, where I supported official legislative events and observed the role of communication, protocol, and public service in democratic governance.

I am very excited to be part of the Youth Democracy Forum and to meet students from different countries and backgrounds. I look forward to learning from different perspectives, sharing my own experiences, and discussing the challenges and possibilities of being young people in politics and democratic settings today.

My name is Inderias Samson, and I am an undergraduate student from Lahore, Pakistan, pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science with a minor in Mathematics at Forman Christian College (A Chartered University). My academic interests lie at the intersection of technology, governance, and public policy. I am particularly interested in how data-driven systems can improve institutional responsiveness and equity.

My engagement with democratic values has been shaped by both global and campus-based experiences. As the sole representative from Pakistan in Soliya’s Global Connect Program, I participated in dialogue with peers from four continents, discussing issues such as identity, conflict, and democratic practice. I later completed advanced dialogue facilitation training, where I developed the ability to lead inclusive and constructive discussions across diverse perspectives.

At my university, I have over two years of experience working in student societies. I have contributed to organizing discussions, publications, and collaborative initiatives. These roles have strengthened my ability to engage diverse audiences and communicate ideas clearly.

Growing up in Pakistan, I have observed governance challenges that directly affect vulnerable communities. This has shaped my interest in how policies are designed and implemented. At the Athens Democracy Forum, I hope to contribute a perspective grounded in both technical training and lived experience, with a focus on building more proactive, adaptive, and equitable democratic systems.

My name is Jenny Yakarta Pérez Alejandres, and I am a student at Earlham College in the United States, where I am pursuing a major in Computer Science with a minor in Art. I am originally from Oaxaca, Mexico.

Growing up as an Indigenous Mexican woman from Oaxaca shaped the way I see the world and taught me the importance of community, identity, and collective care. Being selected as a student at UWC Robert Bosch College gave me the opportunity to live abroad at a young age and experience an intensely multicultural environment, where I learned as much from my peers as I did inside the classroom. More recently, participating in Semester at Sea further expanded my perspective on global interconnectedness and cultural exchange.

Throughout these experiences, I became deeply interested in intercultural dialogue, activism, and education as tools for social change. At UWC, I participated in antiracism education initiatives in German schools, helping organize workshops and conversations focused on discrimination, identity, and inclusion. Currently, at Earlham, I serve as the Business Manager of the Latin American and Caribbean Student Association, where I continue exploring how leadership and community-building can create more inclusive spaces.

I am excited to participate in the Athens Democracy Forum because I hope to learn from people with different perspectives, engage in meaningful conversations about democracy and social change, and contribute with my own experiences and voice.