"Somebody who is an active learner is curious and not afraid to imagine and be creative." Andrea Ruiz, founder of the Global Youth Initiative
Meet Andrea Cristina Ruiz, a young woman committed to spreading literacy and a love of reading to students around the world. After moving to Miami as a teenager, Andrea maintained a connection to her native Ecuador, becoming increasingly aware of the lack of libraries and reading material in disadvantaged schools. At age 15, she and a few friends came together to start a library in Ecuador, eventually creating the Global Youth Initiative. Since then, GYI has started 12 libraries in Latin America and contributed books to three schools in inner-city Miami.
Today Andrea studies Economics and International Affairs at George Washington University in Washington, DC. She is blown away at how much GYI has accomplished in only a few years: “I was 15, and it was something that I cared about, but I didn’t really have any idea it would get so large.” Andrea’s story demonstrates the fact that you are never too young to be a changemaker.
Andrea was recently featured in Briefing, the newsletter of GW’s Elliot School of International Affairs. Check out the article to learn more about GYI and to watch a video interview with Andrea.
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