International Youth Day 2024
International Youth Day, observed annually on August 12th, is an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the invaluable contributions of young minds to society. This year, with a focus on the digital contributions of youth, the theme resonates particularly with our mission at TeachAids, where many of our volunteers have made Inspiring contributions at the intersection of health and digital technology.
In prior years, we’ve highlighted our youngest volunteers on this day. This year, however, we’ve chosen to spotlight a few exceptional TeachAids volunteers who began their journeys with us as youth and have since evolved into impactful professionals. Their stories and insights offer the next generation a message of hope and inspiration.
Clemence Couteau, a digital public health professional and former Peace Corps volunteer, attributes her global outlook to her bicultural upbringing and extensive travels as a child. “I see the value in understanding how people live around the world—the different cultures, beliefs, and value systems. I find that complexity fascinating because we have a lot to learn from each other. Experiencing and normalizing that curiosity at an early age helped me shape a globally centered career.” Clemence is deeply passionate about leveraging the ever-evolving technological landscape to enhance healthcare access and efficiency. Reflecting on her academic journey, she recalls, “Back in college, when I took Dr. Sorcar’s class about global healthcare, economics, and global perspectives, I was interested in the design aspect of building solutions: sometimes even when you don’t know how or what to build, you must co-create them with the target community.” For Clemence, the key to impactful work lies in asking the tough questions—a principle she learned during her early days with TeachAids. “Dr. Sorcar and the TeachAids team always encouraged us to ask hard questions and challenge convention. I know that, as young people, we can be hard on ourselves and question ourselves, but I’d say, be bold and go the extra step anyway.”
Treyvion Foster, now a full-time Program Design Manager at The Primary School, recounts a pivotal moment in his career: “Working with TeachAids taught me that you don’t have to let go of the causes you care about and the work that you’re most interested in.” Treyvion’s professional journey has taken him through diverse fields—from electric vehicle strategy to cybersecurity—but his commitment to youth education and support has remained constant. His work with TeachAids’ CrashCourse Concussion education project is a testament to this dedication. “I’ve personally had concussions before, so it was a topic that was significant to me. Treating it the right way is critical to getting back to normal life as soon as possible. And that’s why I was passionate about figuring out how to access the youth and translate academic, scientific language around concussion education to something that would stick for them.” Treyvion’s advice to young people is grounded in his own experience of exploration and discovery: “Don’t feel confined to the obvious path that is set in front of you, as far as what your career could or should be. Lean into the courage and conviction to follow what you’re most interested in.”
Maya Lorey, a law graduate from the University of Chicago with a background in human biology and human rights from Stanford, brings a unique perspective to her work at the intersection of human rights and legal frameworks. Her commitment to these issues is deeply personal: “My parents both have pretty serious health problems. My mom has a disability. So, as a kid, I was always aware of and interested in healthcare, disparity, and access and what these practically look like on the ground.” At TeachAids, Maya focused on analyzing concussion laws across the United States, examining the intersection of health, human rights, and law. “It was such a formative, incredible experience to work directly with Dr. Sorcar at such a young age and identify a window into what a healthcare-focused social enterprise looked like. And the model is super unique. Very few nonprofits operate at the level of excellence that TeachAids does.” For Maya, the most effective interventions are those that prioritize the voices of the communities they serve—a philosophy that aligns closely with TeachAids’ core values. Her advice to young professionals is clear: “Don’t rely solely on your own knowledge, education, or position. Ensure that in your work, you’re always centering and listening to the people who are most impacted, or those who are the intended beneficiaries of an intervention.”
Katie Olsen, who describes herself as a digital nomad, currently serves as VP of Operations for a health tech startup in London. Originally aspiring to be a medical physician, Katie’s career path took an unexpected turn into education. “I had a narrow view of my career options and opportunities until I took Dr. Sorcar’s class. That opened my eyes to what’s possible and the different types of impact various people can have.” At TeachAids, Katie contributed in various roles, from writing news blogs to conducting interviews with concussion survivors. “Everything I’m doing now is a culmination of all the different things I’ve done in the past. The work I do now is at the intersection of education, healthcare and tech.” Katie’s journey underscores the importance of diverse experiences, a lesson she imparts to the younger generation: “Try as many things as possible and talk to as many people as you can. I made a huge effort, especially in college, to forge connections with people I admired.”
At TeachAids, our youth volunteers are the heart of our mission. Their passion and dedication are driving forces in creating a better future. On this International Youth Day, we celebrate our young leaders who are paving the way for a brighter tomorrow.