Vital Voices is proud to announce the seven awardees of the Grassroots Voices program grants, funded by the Sarva Rajendra Foundation. These funds will drive and sustain projects implementing grassroots initiatives in participants’ communities, where they will apply what they learned from the program.
Grassroots Voices participants are young women, ages 18-25 and based in the U.S., who are already engaged in community focused work including increasing education and mentorship opportunities, supporting women & girls in STEM, providing access to reproductive and hygiene care products, and more. Click the link to learn more about the Grassroots Voices program.
Congratulations to the grant winners:
- Khadija Nazari, founder of SAGE, will support in continuing higher education of four Afghan girls through a US Community College online Small Business Management certificate program by May 2026. Through this certificate program, each student will graduate armed with a viable business plan which SAGE can support financially and logistically.
- Yochi Hobson, co-founder of Project Pink Tax, will leverage her commitment to women’s rights and equity by delivering menstrual products to underserved communities. This initiative will foster relationships with rehabilitation programs and community centers, minimizing the use of unsafe alternatives and relieving physical, emotional and financial burdens caused by limited access to menstrual care and hygiene resources.
- Jocelyn Tan, founder of Philadelphia Youth Skates, partners with local organizations, like the Boys and Girls Clubs of Philadelphia, Netter Center University-Assisted Community Schools and Philly Girls Got Game, to offer weekly ice-skating lessons to youth. With a mission to promote accessibility, leadership and community, coaches and volunteers incorporate mentorship into their programming for continued growth and representation both on and off the ice.
- Cherie Animashaun, founder of Her Rising Initiative, is actively launching Girls Who Lead chapters for high school and college campuses across the country. The program offers educational services, hands-on workshops and networking opportunities to support participants in their professional endeavors. As an extension of Her Rising Initiative, Girls Who Lead equips young women with the leadership, policymaking and career development skills necessary to become changemakers in their communities.
- Dania Verbena, founder of Girls Also Matter, is dedicated to empowering young women in Esquipulas, Guatemala to challenge gender roles, pursue education and advocate for their rights. The project offers interactive workshops, mentorship programs and community engagement opportunities focused on gender-based violence and bodily autonomy. Since its launch, Girls Also Matter has reached more than 100 participants by fostering conversations around gender-based violence, cultural values and equality.
- Maya Manchester, founder of Period101, is tackling period poverty and the lack of access to menstrual hygiene products through her non-profit organization. Period101 creates and distributes personalized kits containing menstrual products, resource slips and motivational notes written by students. With support from local chapters and partner organizations, Period101 has donated more than 17,0000 menstrual products and over 3,000 kits to communities in need.
- Faria Tavacoli, the founder of Delivering and Serving Hope (DASH), takes a community-centered and equity-focused approach to combating food and housing insecurity in Clark County, Nevada. DASH partners with organizations like the Las Vegas Rescue Mission to distribute meals, hygiene kits and educational materials. Through tailored programs and intentional outreach strategies, DASH equips communities with the resources and resilience needed to turn awareness into meaningful action.
- Kadijah Mansaray, founder of MIRR Mentors: Reflect & Rise, is committed to supporting Black students in Washington, D.C. by addressing mental health challenges as they pursue higher education. The initiative connects students with mentors from Howard University who share similar experiences, fostering a supportive and understanding environment. Through bi-monthly mentorship activities, strategy workshops, and group therapy sessions tailored to each student’s needs and interests, MIRR Mentors highlights personal growth and empowers students to thrive socially and academically.
Congratulations again to all the grant recipients. Vital Voices would like to thank Sarva Rajendra and Sarah Johnson for their commitment and funding to make this program possible. We look forward to the success of these inspiring grassroots projects.