About

Built by youth, for youth.

The International Young Leaders Council is a force of young activists united by a diversity of ideas and an unwavering commitment to amplifying the voice of global issues.

Mission

Ideas that travel, action that lands.

IYLC started with a pretty simple idea: what if students in completely different parts of the world could actually work on each other’s causes?

Our members create health education videos, organize fundraisers, bring projects into their own schools, and work directly with organizations around the world. We’re student-led on purpose — students find something worth doing, bring other students into it, and figure out how to make it happen.

Our Story

How IYLC got here.

Samaya Shah began leading IYLC and built it into a student-led organization around a simple idea: young people creating meaningful projects for other young people.

2022
Taking the Lead
Samaya Shah began leading IYLC and built it into a student-led organization around a simple idea: young people creating meaningful projects for other young people.
2023
Teen2Teen Launches
Samaya launched Teen2Teen, a student-created educational initiative designed to make health and wellness information accessible to young people around the world through short, peer-led videos shared through partner organizations.
2024
Partnering with OSCAR
IYLC began its partnership with the OSCAR Foundation in India, launching a student-led fundraising journey to expand educational opportunities for girls from underserved communities in Mumbai.
2025
A Growing Global Network
IYLC expanded its international partnerships and youth-led programming, working with organizations across multiple countries. A collaboration with CRY Foundation — an organization with a major global digital audience — helped bring IYLC’s youth-led work to an even wider community.
Mar 2026
Embassy Talks: Panama
Embassy Talks launched, beginning at the residence of Panama’s Ambassador and bringing young leaders into direct conversation with diplomats as a new platform for youth voices in international affairs.
Jun 2026
8,000 Young Leaders
IYLC Executive Director Samaya spoke at the Congress of Future Medical Leaders before an audience of approximately 8,000 students, sharing IYLC’s model of youth-led global service and leadership.
Aug 2026
From Embassies to the OAS
Embassy Talks reached the Organization of American States in Washington, D.C., where IYLC brought together youth speakers and international leaders for an International Youth Day dialogue in the Hall of the Americas.

From one student-led idea to a network spanning countries, classrooms, nonprofits, and diplomatic spaces.

Our Global Partners

Our network around the world.

We proudly work alongside non-profit organizations around the world who share our belief that youth leadership and education can transform communities. Each partnership lets us expand our reach, empower more students, and exchange ideas across borders.

The OSCAR Foundation

Football for Development | India

OSCAR empowers children and youth from low-income communities in India through football, education, and life-skills training.

Our work together

IYLC members are currently fundraising alongside OSCAR toward a $25,000 goal to support an educational exchange bringing six girls from India to the U.S. The campaign has mobilized members across our Council around one shared partner initiative.

IYLC does not hold or handle donations. Gifts to this campaign go directly to The OSCAR Foundation through GlobalGiving.

“A world where all children and youth have an equal opportunity to succeed.”

KNOSK School

Education Access & Dignity | Kuje, Nigeria

KNOSK N100-A-Day Charity School provides uninterrupted secondary education to underserved children in Kuje, Nigeria for just ₦100 per day.

Our work together

KNOSK became one of the first schools to bring Teen2Teen directly into the classroom. IYLC's student-created healthcare lessons have been shared with KNOSK students in Abuja, followed by discussions that turn each video into a peer-to-peer learning experience.

“By participating in the Teen2Teen program, KNOSK students are now part of an international youth learning community.”

CRY India (Child Rights and You)

Child Rights & Education | United States / India

CRY is a child rights NGO working on education, healthcare, and advocacy so every child has a happy, healthy childhood.

Our work together

IYLC members have supported CRY through student-led fundraising and outreach, giving Council members a way to turn global service into direct support for CRY's work with children and communities in India.

Emmanuel World Children Foundation (EWCF)

Child Welfare & Empowerment | Nigeria

Founded in 1997, EWCF provides care, education, and holistic support for vulnerable and abandoned children in Nigeria.

Our work together

Through our partnership with EWCF, IYLC connects student-led education and service with children in Nigeria. EWCF provides an on-the-ground community connection for initiatives developed by IYLC members across countries.

Headquarters: Ikota, Ifedore LGA, Ondo State, Nigeria.

Talent Mine Academy

Education & Leadership Development | Nigeria

Talent Mine offers free, problem-based education for children in Ota who cannot afford even minimal school fees.

Our work together

Talent Mine gives IYLC a direct connection to students in an education setting in Lagos, creating opportunities for our members' educational resources and youth-led initiatives to reach children beyond their own communities.

Youth for Development Network (YFDN)

Sport-for-Development & Multi-Arts | Jamaica

YFDN uses sports and creative arts to empower marginalized youth across Jamaica.

Our work together

YFDN is IYLC's community partner in Jamaica, helping connect our international network with young people reached through YFDN's sports, arts, and youth-development programs.

“Every Jamaican youth has an equal chance at a good quality of life.”

Caribbean Minds Exposed Through Travel (CMETT)

Mentorship & Global Exposure | Caribbean

CMETT opens doors for vulnerable teens across the Caribbean through travel, mentorship, and life-skills coaching.

Our work together

Through CMETT, IYLC is building a connection between our student leaders and young people across the Caribbean, extending our educational and mentorship-focused network into another regional youth community.

CMETT is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

Want to build something with us?

Partner with IYLC →

Reciprocal empowerment

We learn from one another while taking action for global good — no single country's students lead the agenda.

Impact has no borders

From Nigeria to Bangladesh, Indiana to Florida, members bring together voices from over seven countries.

Process over outcome

We can't control every outcome; we can control a process that stays collaborative and free-spirited.

IYLC students standing together in front of the flags of the member states

“Ultimately we can't control the outcomes. All we can control is the process. The process of our org is collaborative and free-spirited.”

Samaya Shah — Executive Director

Under Samaya's leadership, IYLC grew into an international, student-led organization connecting young leaders across countries through healthcare education, global service, fundraising, and youth diplomacy. Samaya built and expanded IYLC's international team and partnerships, helped launch Teen2Teen's partner-based education model, and created Embassy Talks to bring young leaders into direct dialogue with diplomats and international institutions.

“Samaya has shown strong, visionary and excellent leadership. Her communication of the vision is clear. Her skills in engaging, persuading, follow up and follow through are top notch for a teenage leader.”

Kingsley Bangwell, Cofounder — KNOSK Charity Education / 100 Naira-A-Day Charity School, Abuja, Nigeria