When I first joined FFEC, it wasn’t part of a long-planned journey—it began with the inspiration I felt from my dear friend Yasmeen, the Founder and CEO of FFEC. Watching her passion, sincerity, and unwavering commitment to marginalized communities in India moved me deeply. She wasn’t just providing resources—she was showing up for people, listening to them, standing with them, and helping create leaders within their own communities. When she shared that she needed more hands and hearts in the work, it felt only natural to stand beside her in this mission.
Starting the youth program from scratch came with challenges. There was no structure, no template, and no roadmap. But slowly, with consistency and intention, everything began to fall into place. Our youth team grew one committed member at a time. Today, we have 12 dedicated volunteers and are continuing to expand.
A major turning point for the group came when Sumbul Mashhadi joined us as our volunteer Communications Manager. Her joining changed everything. Sumbul brought direction, strategy, and clarity to the team. She is an expert in her field—knowledgeable, deeply insightful, and incredibly humble in how she shares her expertise. Under her guidance, our youth gained a sense of purpose and structure. All outreach activities and the creative ideas behind them came from her leadership. She mapped the path, and I divided tasks among the youth volunteers, who then executed them with dedication and pride. With Sumbul’s support and the youths’ hard work, the team truly became productive, confident, and aligned.
Together, they pushed forward in the weeks leading up to this year’s second annual fundraising event. The youth helped grow FFEC’s online presence, invited influencers, conducted research on organizations that might invest in our projects, and brainstormed ways to amplify our mission. Their efforts gave FFEC new visibility and momentum at a time when we needed it most.
Their impact wasn’t limited to preparation—their presence on event night was equally inspiring. The boys handled setup, lifting, arranging, organizing, and stayed late to clean up, making sure the hall was left spotless. The girls brought thoughtfulness and attention to detail to every task—registration, labels, printed materials, signage, and guest flow. They took ownership of their responsibilities and supported one another. When we lacked experience or direction, they found solutions on their own—like figuring out how to livestream the event from scratch.
Even the volunteers who joined at the very last minute blended in seamlessly, showing how strong, welcoming, and cohesive the team had become.
This event was more than a program—it represented a crucial step forward for FFEC as we continue to grow, expand our reach, and strengthen long-term projects. And our youth were at the heart of that success.
Watching them work has reinforced something I’ve always believed: when we trust our youth, empower them, and give them meaningful responsibility, they outperform every expectation. They bring creativity, passion, courage, and a sense of community that strengthens everything we do.
I am deeply proud of them—and deeply grateful to be part of a mission that Yasmeen began, that Sumbul helped guide, and that our youth are carrying forward with sincerity and promise.
— Sadiya Hasnain, FFEC USA Youth Volunteer Coordinator