Global Citizen, the world’s largest movement to end extreme poverty, today announced the four recipients of this year’s Global Citizen Prize and winner of the Global Citizen Prize: Cisco Youth Leadership Award. The grants will be presented on stage at Global Citizen NOW in New York City on Thursday, May 14.
The Global Citizen Prize will be awarded to four young advocates from around the world who are making outstanding contributions to end extreme poverty during the summit. This year’s recipients are taking action to expand access to children’s education, improve food security, generate reliable access to clean energy, and improve global health and nutrition. The winners of the Global Citizen Prize will receive $10,000 awards, as well as continued support from Global Citizen for the duration of the year.
The Global Citizen Prize recipients are:
- Anoushka Sinha, a social entrepreneur and human rights activist with the Anupam Foundation, who has spent a decade advancing gender equality in education in India;
- Dysmus Kisilu, Founder of Solar Freeze, who provides solar-powered cold storage units to local farmers in Kenya to boost agricultural productivity;
- Krystal Mwesiga Birungi, a Research and Outreach Associate at Target Malaria, who has dedicated over a decade to malaria research in Uganda and works to advance equitable healthcare;
- Tawonga Nyirenda, Founder of Seedbiz, who advances resilient food systems while addressing the growing challenges of organic waste management and rising costs of food production in Malawi.
“Young people are taking bold action to end extreme poverty in every corner of the world, and Global Citizen is proud to recognize the remarkable achievements of this year’s prize winners,” said Liza Henshaw, President, Global Citizen. “These extraordinary leaders are unflinchingly committed to advancing research and advocacy in education, food security, energy, and global health. We look forward to celebrating their work on stage at Global Citizen NOW.”
The Global Citizen Prize: Cisco Youth Leadership Award, established by Global Citizen and Cisco in 2018, honors a young leader using technology to help end extreme poverty. This year’s recipient, Diana Virgovicova was born and raised in a small village in Slovakia and made her first scientific discovery at 17, a new molecule capable of cleaning contaminated water. Diana’s research led her to found Xatoms, a water technology company that uses artificial intelligence and quantum chemistry to develop sunlight-activated materials that can clean highly contaminated water. She aspires to address a global crisis affecting more than 2 billion people, including women and girls who spend over 200 million hours each day collecting water, and has launched pilot projects in Canada, the United States, Kenya, and South Africa to expand access to safe drinking water. The Cisco Youth Leadership Award will grant Xatoms with a $250,000 prize.
“At Cisco, we believe technology is a force for meaningful change. Diana Virgovicova’s work with Xatoms harnesses AI and quantum chemistry to tackle one of the world’s greatest challenges – access to clean water. Her leadership brings innovation that not only purifies water but also eases the daily burden on millions, especially women and girls,” said Fran Katsoudas, Executive Vice President and Chief People, Policy & Purpose Officer, Cisco. “We are proud to support Diana’s vision and the next generation of entrepreneurs driving progress toward a healthier, more sustainable future.”
For more information about the Global Citizen Prize and Cisco Youth Leadership Award, please visit www.globalcitizen.org/prize.
Additionally, Amy Bonitatibus, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, PayPal; Josh Martinez, Z100 New York Radio Host; Kevin “Spanky” Long, Professional Skateboarder and RVCA Skate Advocate; Mika Brzezinski, Co-Host, MS NOW’s Morning Joe and Founder, Know Your Value; Nate Burleson, Co-host, CBS Mornings; CBS Sports NFL Today analyst; host, NFL Slimetime; Oliver Milman, Environment Reporter, The Guardian; Peter Carter, President, Delta Air Lines; Sophia Bush, Actor, Producer, Activist; Symone Sanders Townsend, Co-Anchor, MS NOW’s “The Weeknight” and “Clock It with Symone & Eugene”; Velia De Iuliis, Visual Art & Environmental Advocate and RVCA ANP Artist; and Zain Asher, CNN Anchor will join the growing list of speakers at the fifth edition of Global Citizen NOW in New York. Previously announced participant Kat Graham is set to perform.
Global Citizen NOW is supported by major partners Authentic Brands Group, Bridgewater Associates, Cisco, Delta Air Lines, IHC, MetLife, PayPal, and P&G.
About Global Citizen
Global Citizen is the world’s largest movement to end extreme poverty. Powered by a worldwide community of everyday advocates raising their voices and taking action, the movement is amplified by campaigns and events that convene leaders in music, entertainment, public policy, media, philanthropy and the private sector. Since the movement began, more than $50 billion in commitments announced on Global Citizen platforms has been deployed, impacting 1.3 billion lives. Established in Australia in 2008, Global Citizen operates in the US, the UK, France, Germany, Spain, Switzerland, Brazil, Canada, Australia, South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, Rwanda, the UAE, and across Asia. Join the movement at globalcitizen.org, download the Global Citizen app, and follow Global Citizen on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, X and LinkedIn.