Our mission.

The International Youth Politics Forum is a student-run and founded NGO.  We are from different parts of the world, but have come together with one goal: to educate the globe on international issues and expand students’ worldviews. Our platform endeavors to bring readers a reliable source that provides articles and papers on current international events and issues. IYPF brings together multiple perspectives to help the world’s youth see global issues from multiple sides, using strategies ranging from comparing relevant data to creating parallel columns that portray each side of an issue in a meaningful way. The IYPF targets students in order to educate the new generation to prevent misrepresentations of cultures and backgrounds from occuring in the future, and to teach future diplomats and government actors how to see different sides of issues and to compromise in an increasingly polarized world.

50+
Members

12
Countries represented

300+
Articles published

2
Years

Avinash Sholevar
Founding President &
​Editor-in-Chief

Avinash recently graduated high school and will be attending the University of Chicago in the fall. There, he intends to explore and cultivate his interests in philosophy, ethics, and the biological sciences. During high school, Avinash participated and won awards for his work in Model Congress, volunteered and started a students organization for his congressman, and volunteered for the New Jersey court system.  Many of his interests stem from a trip to South America the summer after freshman year, where he volunteered with a medical clinic in rural Ecuador. He explored the issues he encountered in Ecuador at Yale's Young Global Scholars program, and also at a Penn Law course, which focused on rights advocacy. In his free time, Avinash enjoys playing the cello, reading philosophy, and writing.

Isabella Bernstein
Vice President

Isabella is a senior who lives in Moorestown, New Jersey.  Throughout the year, she spends her time working for a local nonprofit, CommUnity South Jersey and Philadelphia. An active journalist and editor for her high school’s newspaper, she highly enjoys informing others about local, national, and global issues. Currently, she is the lead defense attorney for her high school’s Mock Trial Team. Participating in Mock Trial, the school newspaper, Model United Nations, and other cultural clubs has broadened her views on what it means to collaborate with people of all backgrounds. Her Filipino and Jewish roots have helped guide her opinions on issues such as government-citizen communication, human rights, medical equity, and sex/gender discrimination. Isa will be attending Barnard College at Columbia University in the fall.

Shriya Shah
Head of Trade and Economics & Cofounder

Shriya is from Toronto, Canada whose interest in human rights advocacy and international relations stems from her involvement in debate, mock trial, and Model United Nations. She has competed internationally for all three, competing for debate at Harvard University and the World Schools Debate Academy in Slovenia and for mock trial at the Empire World Championships as an attorney. Over the past two years, she has furthered her interest in global socioeconomic issues through delivering a TEDx talk and working as the Vice President of the Oakville Leo’s, where she has helped underprivileged youth gain access to sports gear. She is interested in the intersection of global politics and its impacts on marginalized groups, specifically women and youth, while specializing in human rights violations around the world. Furthermore, as someone who is proficient in 5 languages, she is interested in the intersection of language and the role that it plays in international affairs. Shriya will be attending the University of Pennsylvania this fall.

Mete Bakircioglu
Podcast Director

Mete Bakircioglu is a high school senior in Oregon, USA. To empower his generation in his American and international communities outside of IYPF, Mete has created an educational music theory series entitled Shape of Music with the International Children’s Arts Network. His passion for improving his community has led him to work at his city’s chamber of commerce, volunteer for a youth-led winning mayoral campaign, and serve on his school district’s school board. As a member of his school’s speech and debate team, Mete enjoys studying the art of argumentation. Outside of school, he likes to go on afternoon walks with his dog Lucy and listen to podcasts. Mete also enjoys playing piano and violin; he is currently preparing for classical piano Extended Study of Musicianship and Repertoire evaluation through the Oregon Music Teachers Association. Mete will be attending the University of Chicago in the fall.

Carolina Beirne
Head of Cultural Relations

Carolina is a recent high school graduate, born in the United States but currently residing in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Her experience as a third-culture individual has been paramount in guiding her opinions on key global issues and fueling her passion for diversity and cultural representation. Her term as Secretary-General in her school’s Model United Nations and her involvement with human rights activism groups has strengthened her passion for enhanced coexistence of nation-states and global collaboration. She also maintains a paralegal position at an Abu Dhabi-based law firm, which compares international, corporate and federal legislation. As a result, she takes a great interest in the legal protection of citizens and the interaction of national laws on an international scale. Carolina will be relocating to
the United Kingdom this autumn to study jurisprudence at Durham University.

Raiaab Ajmal
Head of Human Rights

Raiaab is a senior currently studying the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program from Islamabad, Pakistan. As someone who is greatly interested in public health and equity in global healthcare, Raiaab enjoys volunteering and interning at medical clinics and welfare organisations in Pakistan such as the Edhi Foundation. Her interest in human rights advocacy and international relations also stems from her future plans of pursuing medicine and public health. Raiaab also works with youth-led non-profit organizations to raise awareness about issues pertaining to equality and stigma, donations and support for individuals of all backgrounds. Her role as a director and editor for school magazines has helped her to gain experience in conveying global issues to her peers. A course at Oxford University’s summer school in Medicine, Politics and International Relations, and English Language allowed her to gain exposure in regards to issues such as human rights advocacy and medical equity.