Yousuf Munir (they/them) has been awarded a Voyager Scholarship!
Yousuf is the child of Pakistani immigrants and, as the child of immigrants and as a Muslim, was raised to understand that we are only ever as powerful as our communities are, and that we must care and fight for all those around us. It is this lesson that first brought Yousuf into community organizing work, and it is this community-centered approach to organizing that drives the climate finance work they do today.
As a member of organizations like the Youth Climate Finance Alliance and Ohio Youth for Climate Justice, Yousuf hopes to be one part of a mass movement capable of creating a better, liberated world. They are particularly interested in building power amongst oppressed and exploited young people, teachers, and community members to create schools that challenge oppressive systems.
As a recipient of the Obama-Chesky Voyager Scholarship, Yousuf hopes to advance their organizing work by connecting with and learning alongside organizers, activists, educators, students, and others struggling against oppression across the so-called US and the world.
Yousuf is an honors student at Ohio State, majoring in sociology and minoring in Islamic studies.
About the Voyager Scholarship:
The Voyager Scholarship was created by the Obamas and Brian Chesky, Co-Founder and CEO of Airbnb to help shape such leaders. Even though they come from different backgrounds, both the President and Brian believe that exposure to new places and experiences generates understanding, empathy, and cooperation which equips the next generation to create meaningful change.
The two-year scholarship program is open to students entering their junior year of college at an accredited four-year college or university in the US, who have demonstrated a financial need, and who are US citizens, permanent residents, or DACA recipients.
The 2023-2025 cohort of 100 Voyagers represent 33 states and territories, 74 colleges and universities. They are an inspiring group of young people who are eager to bridge divides and take on the world’s biggest challenges.
The scholarship gives college students financial aid to alleviate the burden of college debt, meaningful travel experiences to expand their horizons, and a network of mentors and leaders to support them. For more information, check out the Voyager Scholarship website.