Group 5

Hi everyone!! My name is Karam Shadi Ezzeddin, and I was born on September 5, 2005, in Damascus, Syria, where I was raised in a family of four members. Growing up in Damascus shaped my resilience, adaptability, and early awareness of how social, economic, and political realities influence everyday life.

I am currently a second-year Marketing major at the American College of Greece (ACG) in Athens, maintaining a GPA of 3.4/4. Prior to transferring to ACG, I began my academic journey in Syria, and moving to an international academic environment has significantly expanded my perspective and strengthened my ability to engage across cultures.

Alongside my studies, I have gained hands-on experience working on multiple marketing portfolios, including projects related to construction, residential development, and chips factory. Coming from a family business background in construction and real estate, I have been closely exposed to how markets operate in practice, which has deepened my interest in business strategy, development, and economic systems.

In addition, I have completed certifications in Digital Marketing and E-commerce by Google, as well as Human Resources courses from the University of Minnesota, further strengthening my analytical and professional skill set. I also participated in humanitarian work with the Syrian Arab Red Crescent, an experience that reinforced my sense of social responsibility and community engagement.

Through my academic studies, I have also explored environmental issues and their broader societal impact. This has led me to strongly believe that environmental challenges are not separate from democracy—they are at its core. Environmental degradation directly affects people’s ability to live with dignity, stability, and opportunity, and therefore cannot be addressed without inclusive, accountable governance. In my view, democracy is not only about political representation, but about ensuring that communities have a voice in decisions that shape their environment and future. Without this, solutions risk becoming ineffective, unequal, and disconnected from the realities on the ground.

Today, as the world faces increasing environmental pressure alongside rapid population growth, the challenge is not only technical, but fundamentally political. I believe that meaningful progress depends on the active role of societies, where informed and engaged citizens drive sustainable and equitable solutions.

I am excited to participate in the Youth Democracy Forum, where I hope to contribute a perspective shaped by my background and experiences, including a Global South outlook. I look forward to sharing ideas, learning from others, and engaging in thoughtful dialogue that challenges assumptions and generates new approaches. I am especially eager to exchange perspectives and return with deeper insight and renewed motivation. I truly look forward to our time together in Athens!!

My name is Haya Wael, and I am an undergraduate student at The American University in Cairo majoring in Middle Eastern Studies and Economics, with minors in Political Science and Arab and Islamic Civilizations. I am originally from Egypt, and much of my academic and personal interests revolve around politics, social change, and the relationship between society and governance in the Middle East and beyond. Alongside my studies, I have been involved in environmental and community initiatives, including volunteering in projects focused on cleaning the Nile and promoting environmental awareness. I have also gained professional experience through internships at the Egyptian Ministry of Public Business Sector and at Commercial International Bank (CIB), where I was able to better understand public policy, economics, and institutional work.I am especially interested in democracy, civic participation, and how young people can contribute to meaningful political and social change in their communities. These interests are what drew me to the Youth Democracy Forum in Athens. I look forward to engaging with students from different backgrounds, exchanging perspectives, and learning more about the challenges and opportunities facing democracies around the world today.

Hi, I’m Yogesh Gupta from Nepal, home to the majestic Himalayas. I am currently an undergraduate student at Allegheny College in Pennsylvania, pursuing a double major in International Studies and Economics with a minor in Arabic. I aim to work at the intersection of public policy and civic innovation to create foresight policies to strengthen democratic participation and sustainable development in Nepal.

Growing up in Nepal, I witnessed how shortsighted policies can limit opportunities and weaken trust. This inspired me to serve as program coordinator for Warming Hearts Nepal, where we provided 146,000 meals to marginalized communities and supported over 100 child cancer patients through treatment assistance and awareness campaigns. We also helped establish a free pediatric cancer center that supports children undergoing long-term treatment.

At Allegheny, I serve as Vice President of Rotaract, helping to organize health, education, and vocational training campaigns in the Maasai community in Kenya. I also serve as the Secretary of the Allegheny Model United Nations and have participated in conferences such as Harvard MUN and NCSCLIII. Additionally, I've represented my college at international forums, including the World Bank Youth Summit, the Harvard Project for Asia and International Relations, the Vanguard Think Tank, and, most recently, the Athens Democracy Forum 2026.

I am thrilled to be a part of the forum, and am excited to learn from my peers, leaders,

practitioners and scholars from around the world who are committed to strengthening communities and institutions worldwide.

Hi! My name is Rebeca Silva; originally from Mexico City, I am driven within the field of International Relations and Security. I grew up with academic love for distinct fields, for instance, competing in the International Economics and Finance Olympiad for my country. That said, the realization of social projects and the study of phenomena prevalent in my surroundings has shaped my strongest career passion. In my home country, the projects that I realized entailed advancing social reintegration and the development of our youth far from waves of violence, ingraining the aim to contribute to addressing transnational challenges and safeguard the integrity of critical sectors and individuals. 

With that in mind, the theoretical substance and practical complexity of democracy has always captured my interest, witnessing factors that severely weakened and continue to do so back home. Currently about to enter my last year of university studies, I have explored democracy through a much more rigorous and technical lens, especially carrying out two research projects on the relationship between democracy and organised crime, and the second one on the roots of the different levels of democracy across Latin America. 

My professional experience, beyond research, has also encompassed work with NGOs on public policy, as well as sustainability consulting. Having accumulated experience in three countries, I have also developed a keenness for international spaces where dialogue, collaboration, and symbiosis can take place.