International Branches 

Mysha Shangari 

Co-Leader

Hello! My name is Mysha, and I'm so excited to have everyone here as part of the GMC! I am extremely passionate about literature, politics, history and philosophy. I believe through the global mind collective, we can expand our global network of communication and achieve great things together.  

Mateo Iglesias Vargas

Co-leader

I am a Mexican Grade 12 student in UWC ISAK Japan. I really like punk rock music (my favorite singer is Iggy Pop), eating pork liver and playing chess. I intend to study something related to Global Politics, Economics or Philosophy, and believe that I will enrich my understanding of these three disciplines through the GMC initiative.  

Gracia Gutierrez Leon

Co-leader

Hello! My name is Gracia, I'm 17 years old, and I was born and raised in Spain. I'm currently studying in UWC ISAK Japan, and one of the biggest things for me is curiosity. I want to know as much as I can about all types of topics, including philosophy! That's why I jumped into this initiative, and I'm incredibly excited to see all that we're going to do.

Nguyen Quynh Nga 

Co-Leader

I’m someone who finds meaning in small moments and deep conversations. Philosophy reminds me that “you’re just too good to be true” - beauty and truth are never far apart and curiosity is where all reflection starts. Through the Global Mind Collective, I hope to explore ideas that help us understand both ourselves and the world better. 

Anton Harrits-Nielsen

Co-leader

I process the world through writing. I use it as a way to meditate on the things that happen around me, and even though dialogue with oneself is a beautiful way of blooming, dialogue with others is just as brilliant and important. But in my eyes, this is decreasing in our contemporary society, and it is a tremendous loss. For me, the Global Mind Collective means the return to the deep conversation and the slow and well-tempered thought, and I thoroughly hope we can together promote the beauty that is good conversation.

Nina Giordano

Co-leader

I am someone who cannot help but stay aware of the reality I move through every day, from the smallest nuances of a passing interaction to the strange mix of irony and beauty that shapes our lives. To me, the ability to sit with ourselves and truly reflect is slowly disappearing from our society. Life is increasingly consumed rather than savoured; we are always searching for something, rushing somewhere, chasing new illusions.

This is why I believe projects like the Global Mind Collective are so meaningful. They create space to cultivate thought, the most precious thing we all carry with us.

Luca Meloni

Co-leader

Something that really strikes me is how, while running through everyday life, we really seldom make space for real thought and conversation, despite surrounding ourselves with endless amounts of information, many of us having grown accustomed to just living on the surface level of things, skimming through our social media feeds and never really looking deeper. It almost feels like constantly walking with a pair of sunglasses on, never really allowing you to see the world around you. I think that’s why I find it really important to make space and find spaces to encourage real thought, and actually ponder the world around us. I believe that the GMC can be one of these spaces, promoting a positive, philosophical connection.

María José Gil Méndez

Co-leader

My name is María José Gil Méndez, and I’m from Colombia. I’m deeply passionate about addressing social issues, especially those that affect women and their opportunities. That passion led me to become one of the Girl Up Heads at UWC Waterford Kamhlaba, where our team works to create positive, meaningful change for women on a small scale, contributing in our own way to larger solutions. 

Gaia-Lilia

Co-leader

My name is Gaia-Lilia, I’m from Italy and India. I joined the Girl Up team at UWC Waterford Kamhlaba to help support the women in this community and to do my part as a globally conscious individual. Together with the other heads we make strides toward creating a more inclusive, equitable environment both within our school and as a part of a wider global movement. I hope to continue learning from and amplifying the voices of women across different cultures and backgrounds.

Catalina

Co-leader

Hi! I’m Catalina, and I’m from Costa rica. I joined Girl Up to be part of a movement that turns 'you can't' into 'we will.' It’s a community dedicated to equipping girls with the tools to lead, and I’m proud to stand with them.

Stacey Mabuyaye

Co-leader

My name is Stacey Mabuyaye. I decided to join the GirlUp club because l believe that a small action can have a long  lasting impact on someone. I also want to be a part of the fight for women empowerment and SDG 5: gender equality.

Emily

Co-leader

Hello my name is Emily, and I joined Girl Up in UWCSA. I am from the U.S and Germany but I grew up in Southern Africa. This has become a haven where we question power, re-imagine community, and centre voices that are too often overshadowed. I am so grateful to take part in a movement that is grounded in the belief that empowerment is collective, not individual, and that real change starts when we challenge the narratives that limit women and girls' potential. I am ecstatic to continue learning and building a culture of conscious leadership, intersectional thinking and purposeful action.