Greenheart Global Leaders Conference Celebrates Global Connections this July!
Written by Greenheart Program Support Senior Manager, Les Antonio Sena Lopez
Has anyone ever made you grow in your admiration for humanity, feel immense faith in the future, and cherish every moment of global connectedness? This year, Greenheart celebrates 40 individuals who have done just that for communities worldwide.
These are the 40 attendees of the Greenheart Global Leaders Conference of 2025. They come from 21 different countries, four different Greenheart programs, and 20 different placement states. This past July, they came together to live, learn, and volunteer in Washington, D.C. for a week-long intensive conference where they shared their unique ideas, experiences, and perspectives. As conference leaders, Greenheart staffers had the pleasure of witnessing the ways that these incredible attendees created collective voices for global change — voices that truly represent Greenheart’s mission towards connecting people and planet through cultural exchange.
The Greenheart Global Leaders Conference (GGLC) is a pivotal stop on Greenheart’s Odyssey Programs, which include the Jr. Global Leaders Conference, the Alumni Council, and the Global Impact Grants. These programs provide leadership opportunities based on need and merit to exemplary young people around the globe. July 2024 was the first time since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic that the Greenheart Global Leaders Conference convened, and 2025 marks the return to its full capacity of 40 program attendees. This year also happens to mark the 40th anniversary of Greenheart programs, making this year’s GGLC especially monumental.
Ambassador Scholar, Ahlem Attar from Algeria, shared, “One life-changing moment for me was when we were all at the White House holding up our peace signs. It was such a powerful moment because we weren’t just tourists taking pictures — we were a group with a shared message for the world and for humanity.”
Attendees at the 2025 GGLC learned about the history and significance of Gallaudet University, a deaf university located in Washington, D.C. whose dorms and resource center served as the home base for this week-long conference. During their time on campus, attendees learned about American disability advocacy, the developmental model of intercultural sensitivity, and much more. Through additional workshops, site visits, and volunteer initiatives, attendees had opportunities to learn and engage in topics specific to their passions and interests, such as Social Justice, Environmental Sustainability, and International Mission-Driven Business.
“Social justice is not an abstract idea — it’s built every day through the choices we make and the actions we take. Volunteering is one of the most powerful ways to create that change and during the GGLC we made that change. When we give our time, skills, and energy to support others, we challenge inequality, strengthen communities, and open doors for those whose voices are often unheard,” shared FLEX alumna, Olena Vuzka-Malets, from Ukraine.
Watching how quickly these 40 attendees embraced new ideas, Greenheart felt a great deal of admiration for their individual and collective talents. We heard from all of them about their lives and ambitions in their home countries – the struggles and successes that they have learned from. Many of them shared about their studies and scholarly pursuits, volunteer networks they created, small businesses they built, and advocacy efforts that they made. They spoke about the many ways their cultural exchange programs and the GGLC have given them the tools to continue these critical efforts back home.
FLEX alumna, Arina Ribinskaya from Uzbekistan, shares that, “this experience changed me. Deeply. Forever. It wasn’t about the sightseeing or feeling like a college student living on a pretty American campus. It was about connections…The sense of belonging. The silent understanding that we were fully and honestly there for each other.”
On July 24th, the last full day of the GGLC, Greenheart witnessed these amazing attendees share their stories in front of the U.S. Department of State and in congressional meetings. In those moments, there was an unparalleled sense of pride for Greenheart’s mission – carried out by 40 of the most impressive people of a generation. They stand out as skillful storytellers, innovative teachers, promising leaders, and kindhearted friends.
Greenheart’s president, Daniel Ebert, shared, “at a time when too many borders are closing, too many conversations are shutting down, and too many communities feel divided, the Greenheart Global Leadership Conference is a powerful counterpoint. Our grantees reminded me of what global cooperation actually looks like — not as an abstract idea, but as living proof that when people meet face to face, work side by side, and share stories heart to heart, something extraordinary happens. What an honor it was to be in their presence this year!”
Leadership opportunities like the GGLC are fully funded by Greenheart’s network of generous donors and we couldn’t be more grateful for their support.
Learn more about Greenheart’s Odyssey programming and find out how you can support these programs at Greenheart.org.