Greenheart believes in connecting people and planet through fair trade, personal development, environmentalism, and volunteerism. Our cultural exchange programs help create global leaders by building mutual understanding and fostering diplomacy. Greenheart further encourages our alumni to give back to their communities through our Global Impact Grant.
A Greenheart Global Impact Grant is a financial award of up to $2,000 given to exemplary members of the Greenheart community. It provides current participants and alumni with the opportunity to create, improve, or maintain a community-focused project abroad or at home. As the Greenheart alumni network continues to expand, more and more of our participants are working towards an environmentally sustainable, socially just, and peaceful world.
Please join us in congratulating our THREE Spring 2026 Awardees:
- Gobona Badirile // Botswana
- Eduard Devers // Dominican Republic
- Wahab Shah // Pakistan
Gobona Badirile is a 2025-2026 alumna of Greenheart’s Work and Travel program. She is passionate about hospitality as well as community development. During her time in the United States, Gobona’s experience working in hospitality enabled her to strengthen her teamwork, communication, and service skills, which she now applies when working with others. Gobona hopes that through her work she can empower young women by giving dignity to her flow, in turn allowing women to participate in society more fully.
Her Project: Giving Dignity to her Flow: Menstrual Hygiene Support for Unemployed Young Women in Botswana
“This project is deeply personal to me because I have seen firsthand how economic hardship affects young women’s access to basic needs. In Botswana, period poverty continues to affect vulnerable young women especially those who are unemployed and not in school. Studies show that lack of access to sanitary products can lead to missed opportunities, poor health, and loss of dignity. Youth unemployment in Botswana remains high with about one in three young people unemployed, making it difficult for many to afford basic necessities. We need each other, and it is my wish that one day I will own my own sanitary towel company so that I can continue to lay a foundation for long term community support and development. Menstruation is something that a person does not choose to have; it just comes naturally. This project is not just about providing sanitary pads—it is about restoring dignity, promoting health, and empowering young women to participate fully in society.” – Gobona Badirile
Eduard Devers, originally from the Dominican Republic, is a poultry farmer and entrepreneur dedicated to empowering rural youth through sustainable agriculture. He is a 2019 alumnus of Greenheart’s Summer Work and Travel Program and a selected participant of the Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI). Through his work, Eduard aims to create a positive impact, inspire others, and contribute to sustainable growth in his community.
His Project: RuralRise: Empowering Youth Through Sustainable Poultry Farming
“RuralRise is not just a project, but a reflection of my personal journey as a young entrepreneur who started with limited resources and has grown through persistence and community support. With the support of this grant, I plan to improve farm infrastructure, acquire essential equipment, and provide training resources that will directly benefit youth participants. The long-term vision of RuralRise is to create a scalable model that can be replicated in other rural communities, generating sustainable income opportunities and positive social impact. With the support of Greenheart, I am confident that RuralRise can expand its impact—transforming lives and inspiring others to believe that growth and opportunity are possible, regardless of where they come from.” – Eduard Devers
Wahab Shah is a youth leader, Founder and President of the Zeenat Welfare Foundation from Ghizer District, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan. He is a 2023-2024 alumnus of the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (KL-YES) Program, a delegate of the Greenheart Global Leaders Conference 2025, and graduated from high school in 2025. He has led multiple community initiatives focused on climate action, youth empowerment, education, and women’s development. Through the Hansara Eco Movement, Wahab aims to mobilize young people to address environmental challenges and promote sustainable practices in vulnerable mountain communities.
His Project: Hansara Eco Movement
“This project is deeply rooted in the lived experiences of the people of District Ghizer, where climate change is not a future threat but a present reality. Mountain communities like ours are on the frontline of climate change, yet we often lack the resources, training, and platforms to respond effectively. Ongoing challenges such as glacier melt, cloudburst, soil erosion, and devastating flash floods continue to put communities at risk. We strongly believe that the real solution lies in educating and empowering the younger generation. By training youth as climate-aware leaders, we are ensuring that knowledge does not remain limited to one-time sessions but continues to grow within families, schools, and communities. Overall, the Hansara Eco Movement seeks to transform climate awareness into collective action, empowering the next generation to protect their environment and contribute to sustainable development in District Ghizer.” – Wahab Shah
Congratulations to our Spring 2026 winners! We can’t wait to share how their projects progress.
Got a project in mind? Earn up to $2,000 for an opportunity to create, improve, or maintain a community-focused project abroad or at home. Follow Greenheart on Facebook and Instagram to see when the next application window opens.
Click here if you’d like to donate to help Greenheart fund Global Impact Grants like these.
Thank you!