Announcing The 2025 Natasha Stevens Legacy Fund Award Winners

Congratulations to the five recipients of the Dr. Natasha Stevens Microgrant for Girl Rising Student Ambassadors! These grants provide direct support to young leaders driving change in their communities through advocacy for girls’ education and gender equity.

Established in memory of Dr. Natasha Stevens — a dedicated educator and passionate champion for girls’ empowerment — this award honors her legacy by uplifting the next generation of changemakers.

"I am Amal Usman, the only child of my parents, the only grandchild of my grandparents. And I am a girl. That shouldn’t mean anything—but in Pakistan, it does. Because here, too often, being a girl means your future is written for you before you even understand what choice is. But I want to build a world where their talent is enough. Where they don’t have to fight for a seat at the table. Where the next generation of girls in STEM doesn’t have to be a rare sight, but the norm.

That’s why gender equity and girls’ education aren’t just abstract ideas to me. They are the difference between a country that holds its daughters back and a country that lets them soar. And I refuse to accept a world where a girl’s potential is something she has to fight to prove."

"My activism is not just about fighting against inequality but about building systems that uplift, empower, and sustain change for future generations."

"Growing up in rural India, I was constantly reminded of the societal expectations placed on girls. As the third daughter in my family, I was often seen as a burden, with my future already predetermined: marriage, motherhood, and household chores. But from a young age, I knew there had to be more to life than what was expected of me. I questioned the norms that sought to limit my opportunities, and I fought to carve out a different path for myself. I want to create a future where every girl in my community has the opportunity to live her dreams."

"I am a 19-year-old activist from Chile. I'm the Founder and CEO of the International Non-Profit, NGO Intransigentes. A Non-Profit dedicated to empowering youth to work with peers to promote a life free from gender violence. I'm also a Girl Activist Fellow from She's the First and a Girls Rising Student Ambassador. My academic goals are to work towards comprehensive health policies for pregnant addicted women and their children, who often start to consume drugs because of vulnerabilities and gender violence."

"I am a 10th-grade student. I want girls to get equal rights in society. And support them to fulfill their dreams. Girls should change society through education."