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Young Humanists International

Young Humanists International is the youth section of Humanists International. We are the connecting link between young people in humanist organizations from around the world.

Here’s how we work

We help young humanists (age 18-35) get connected through our programs and annual events.

We have presence in Africa, the Americas, Asia and Europe, through our regional working groups, which bring young humanists together in each region to address issues that are specific to their part of the world.

Our committee is appointed from among young representatives nominated by Humanists International Members and Associates.

More about Young Humanists International

Our Vision

Young Humanists International aims to:

  1. Connect young humanists from different parts of the world
  2. Help them grow and develop themselves as humanists
  3. Enable them to take part in the development and spread of humanism including in humanist organisations nationally and internationally

What We Do

In order to achieve the vision, Young Humanists International:

  1. Convenes an ongoing programme of global and regional gatherings of young humanists where they can connect and engage with each other and develop their humanist approach to life
  2. Maintains ways for young humanists to connect and engage with each other online, develop their humanist approach to life, and stay informed about the youth activities of humanist organisations
  3. Publishes resources on humanism and other materials through organised young humanist networks and shares examples of good practice to inspire young humanists to take actions
  4. Provides training on humanism, humanist activism and general skills training
  5. Distributes grants to young humanists within humanist organisations for relevant activities
  6. Has a leadership that is approachable and responsive to young humanists to learn about their needs and wishes and get feedback
  7. Makes sure young humanist perspectives are represented within the planning and operations of Humanists International
  8. Campaigns in a youth voice on humanist issues and policies and by highlighting those voices that come from disadvantaged backgrounds

Projects and Campaigns

  1. Young Humanist Faces – A collection of portraits of young humanists worldwide that retells their stories on their impact on the humanist movement and in their communities whether at the local, national, or international level.
  2. Humanist Voices – The official blog of Young Humanists International in response to the need of young humanists to provide them a platform for their voices to be heard and to express themselves with a global audience. Also available on Medium.
  3. Young Humanist Climate Action – A united front of young humanists around the world that seeks to mitigate the impact of climate change through information, education, and communication campaigns.

Connect With Us

Stay up to date with all projects, campaigns, and events at Young Humanists International, by following us on our social media channels: Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

If you want to connect with our Regional Committee, you may send an email to:

  • Asia: asia.young@humanists.international
  • Africa: africa.young@humanists.international
  • Americas: americas.young@humanists.international
  • Europe: europe.young@humanists.international

For any other concerns or questions, please contact Young Humanist International Coordinator Javan Lev Poblador at javan@humanists.international

Visit our Young Humanist Faces

Read the stories of the young humanist activists who are trying to make a difference in their countries all around the world.

Read more

Structure of Young Humanists International

Anya Overmann

Young Humanists President

Anya Overmann is President of Young Humanists International and has held multiple roles in the American Ethical Union, specifically in the youth section. She was raised in the Ethical Culture movement and attended the Ethical Society of St. Louis since she was a young child.

Anya received her Bachelor’s degree in Communication from Truman State University and is a freelancing writer currently living as a digital nomad. Her passion lies in advocating vigorously for humanist and progressive values both within and beyond the United States.

president.young@humanists.international

 

Javan Lev Poblador

Young Humanists Coordinator

As the Young Humanists International Coordinator,  Javan works closely with young humanists worldwide, focusing on their development and growth as humanists.

Before joining Humanists International, Javan has been active in community work zeroing on environmental conservation, climate justice, human rights, and civic engagement advocacies since 2012. He is currently the Chief Executive of Humanists Alliance Philippines International. The co-founder and former pioneer president of the Association of Young Environmental Journalists, a youth-led environmental media organization. He is also the former Director for Design and Creatives of ATO-ClimatEducate Project, scholar alumni of Temasek Foundation International – Specialists Community Action and Leadership Exchange program in Singapore, and represented the Philippines during the ASEAN Plus Three Youth Environment Forum 2019 in Thailand.

javan@humanists.international

Ding Jie Tan

Asian Regional Coordinator

An organic chemist by training, DJ now works in a bioprocessing laboratory investigating cultured meat. He also founded Starter Culture, a Singapore-based food biotechnology start-up, which crafts novel fermented food products and upcycles food waste to create alternative sources of protein.

He currently serves as Vice President of the Humanist Society (Singapore), where he champions interfaith harmony, advocates for civil discourse, and defends secular spaces.

asia.young@humanists.international

Larry Tepa

African Regional Coordinator

Larry Tepa is the current president of Humanists & Atheists of Zambia. He has been part of the humanist movement for a large part of his adult life and has volunteered in various roles, for various duties, in order to further the cause of secular humanism.

As a young humanist, Larry believes in the power of reason, science and how beneficial it is for humanists to work together in order to normalize humanist values in Africa.

africa.young@humanists.international

Ana Raquel Aquino Smith

Americas Regional Coordinator

Ana Raquel Aquino is a Guatemalan lawyer specialized in public policies, good governance, and Human Rights by the Autonomous University of Madrid. She is the president and member of the board in Humanistas Guatemala. She has worked in the public sector and for several Non-Governmental/International Organizations advocating the topics of the right to health for indigenous communities in Guatemala, gender equality, legal empowerment, accountability, and social justice.

For her, humanism is not just a philosophy but a way of living with empathy with others. She does not believe you have to be religious in order to be a good-ethical person. Her ultimate goal and wishes for the whole American Continent: the separation between church and state in order to defend democracy.

americas.young@humanists.international

Andrea Ruggeri

European Regional Coordinator

Andrea is an activist involved in many fields, all linked by the life experiences encountered. Andrea was born in Palermo, Italy, in 1992; when they was very young, they felt the humanist push and the need for a commitment in this direction. After freeing himself from the religious sect in which the family raised them, Andrea declared himself an atheist and approached the Italian Union of Rationalist Atheists and Agnostics (UAAR).

Today Andrea is the youngest member of the Board of the association and its first non-binary member. Andrea is the UAAR contact person for LGBTI+ issues and writes for a thematic column for the youth section of the association. Andrea also sits on the Board of Gruppo Trans, a large empowerment group of trans* people, Centro Risorse LGBTI, a thematic research group, and NaKa, a youth center they helped found in a tough neighborhood in their hometown. Since May 2021, they has taken on the role of Regional Coordinator for Europe for Youth Humanist Internationals.

Andrea lives in Bologna and works as a fundraiser at the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies.

europe.young@humanists.international

Delegates at the Young Humanists International General Assembly 2019, Reykjavik, Iceland
Delegates at the Young Humanists International General Assembly 2019, Reykjavik, Iceland
President Marieke of Young Humanists International addresses the General Assembly in 2019
President Marieke of Young Humanists International addresses the General Assembly in 2019
Delegates at the Young Humanists International General Assembly 2019, Reykjavik, Iceland
Delegates at the Young Humanists International General Assembly 2019, Reykjavik, Iceland
Delegates at the Young Humanists International General Assembly 2018, Auckland, New Zealand
Delegates at the Young Humanists International General Assembly 2018, Auckland, New Zealand
A gathering of young humanists for the European Humanist Youth Days (2016)
A gathering of young humanists for the European Humanist Youth Days (2016)
A discussion workshop at the European Humanist Youth Days (2016)
A discussion workshop at the European Humanist Youth Days (2016)
Taking it to the streets! Young humanists at European Humanist Youth Days 2016
Taking it to the streets! Young humanists at European Humanist Youth Days 2016
Delegates at the Asian Humanism Conference 2016, Tapei, Taiwan
A workshop on how to contribute to the Freedom of Thought Report, organized by Young Humanists International.
Young Humanists International met with youth representatives from the African Regional Committee.
Young Humanists International met with youth representatives from the European Regional Committee.
Young Humanists International met with youth representatives from the Americas Regional Committee.
Delegates at the Young Humanists International General Assembly 2019, Reykjavik, Iceland
President Marieke of Young Humanists International addresses the General Assembly in 2019
Delegates at the Young Humanists International General Assembly 2019, Reykjavik, Iceland
Delegates at the Young Humanists International General Assembly 2018, Auckland, New Zealand
A gathering of young humanists for the European Humanist Youth Days (2016)
A discussion workshop at the European Humanist Youth Days (2016)
Taking it to the streets! Young humanists at European Humanist Youth Days 2016

Looking at creating a Youth Section for your organization? Use our guide!

Establishing a youth section inside an organization has numerous benefits for both the youth and the entire organization. Young Humanists International created a guide for our Members and Associates if they decided to carve out their own youth section. Download it now.

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