Group 5

My name is Vishwa Parmar, and I’m an undergraduate student at John Cabot University in Rome, majoring in English Literature and with minors in Communications, Creative Writing, Art and design.

I’m originally from India, and my work is deeply rooted in exploring the intersections of democracy, media, and cultural identity. As someone who grew up surrounded by stories, I’ve always believed in the power of storytelling to challenge injustice and spark change.

At JCU, I serve as Vice President of the Creative Writing Club and sit on the board of The Matthew, our student-run newspaper, where I write and design content that speaks to the student experience and beyond. My academic interests span journalism, media studies, and activist filmmaking, and I’ve participated in international journalism festivals that have shaped how I think about truth, representation, and global storytelling.

I believe that media literacy and inclusive narratives are essential tools in defending and renewing democracy.

Attending the Youth Democracy Forum is a chance for me to represent the perspective of the world’s largest democracy and to engage with like-minded youth and global leaders. I’m excited to bring what I learn back to my campus and community—through workshops, media projects, and conversations that matter.

Hello! My name is Kash Radocha, and I’m originally from eastern Pennsylvania in the U.S. Currently, I’m a rising senior at Oberlin College majoring in history and law & society with minors in Russian, East European, and Eurasian studies and politics. In the summer of 2024, I studied abroad at the Jagiellonian University in Kraków, Poland and deepened my passion for researching comparative history and politics.

Within my academics, I specialize in historical and contemporary legislative and judicial studies across both democratic and authoritarian regimes, primarily the U.S. and Poland. In an increasingly globalized and politically polarized world, I believe comparative historical analyses of legal institutions are paramount to understanding and bolstering democracy across the world.

On campus, I am a founder, competitor, and current President of the Oberlin Moot Court Team, where each semester I lead legal research and writing workshops on constitutional issues in hypothetical appellate case scenarios. I have also interned in the U.S. Senate, conducted extensive research on the U.S. Supreme Court, and worked on a policy consultancy project for the U.S. Department of State.

I am incredibly delighted to attend the 2025 Athens Democracy Forum, and I look forward to working with and greatly learning from my peers!