LOCAL IMPACT SERIES
- Development Professional
- Youth Advocate
- Environmental Leader
Morocco l age 30
“Sustainable development begins when people own their future.”
Essaid Meria
Essaid Meria is a dedicated Moroccan development professional and youth advocate with a strong track record in community-driven initiatives across Africa. With over four years of experience, he has led impactful programs with organizations such as CorpsAfrica and the High Atlas Foundation, focusing on post-disaster recovery, sustainable agriculture, and education in both Morocco and Rwanda
Currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Humanities and Social Sciences, Essaid’s academic research explores the intersection of local development and international cooperation. Fluent in four languages, he brings expertise in participatory development, digital advocacy, and cross-cultural collaboration.
Essaid’s community work reflects a powerful integration of environmental sustainability and economic empowerment. In Rwanda, he helped women farmers plant over 15,000 avocado trees and establish 45 kitchen gardens, increasing food security and household income. In Morocco, he facilitated the distribution of more than 600 educational materials to underserved schools and led reforestation efforts with over 35,000 fruit and drought-resistant trees—enhancing both ecological and educational outcomes.
Youth engagement is at the heart of Essaid’s approach. He has trained young leaders to champion environmental education, supported youth-led income-generating farming projects, and empowered emerging changemakers through international platforms like Erasmus+. His initiatives demonstrate that when youth are empowered, they become catalysts for long-term, locally rooted change.
As an active member of World Merit and the Marrakech Council, Essaid leverages the global network to scale his impact, expand outreach, and align grassroots action with the Sustainable Development Goals. Through collaboration and storytelling, he continues to inspire others to build resilient, self-determined communities.
- Peacebuilder
- Civic Educator
- Youth Advocate
Nigeria l Age 28
“We’re not just solving today’s problems—we’re building a more just, peaceful, and sustainable future led by youth who understand and live the values of unity, accountability, and service.”
Nworisa Michael
Nworisa Michael is a dedicated peace, youth, and good governance advocate based in Kano State, Nigeria. He is the Executive Coordinator of the Stand for Peace Initiative, President of Merit Kano—the local hub of World Merit—and a Cohort System Development Intern at World Merit Action University. His mission is clear: to inspire a generation of youth to embrace civic responsibility and lead their communities toward unity, accountability, and peace.
Motivated by the challenges he witnessed—growing ethnic tensions, civic disengagement, and a lack of youth awareness—Nworisa founded The Impact Project (TIP). This initiative introduces peace education and civic engagement to secondary schools across Kano State, with the goal of nurturing socially responsible youth leaders from an early age.
Through TIP, Nworisa and his team have reached over 970 students across six secondary schools and distributed 2,200 custom civic engagement booklets. They have also established Peace & Civic Engagement Clubs that provide students with long-term platforms for leadership, dialogue, and community action. These clubs empower youth to organize projects promoting inclusion, volunteerism, and social responsibility within their schools and neighborhoods.
What makes TIP stand out is its hands-on, youth-centered structure. Beyond classroom learning, students engage in real-world exercises through custom-designed notebooks embedded with peace messages, critical thinking tasks, and civic action prompts. The initiative also culminates in an annual youth summit, where students showcase their impact and exchange ideas with peers.
Nworisa believes deeply in the power of early intervention: “When we empower youth at the formative stage of their identity, we build a generation that lives the values of unity, service, and justice.”
His leadership within World Merit has been transformative. Through the organization’s global community, learning platforms, and mentorship programs, Nworisa has expanded his reach and sharpened his skills in leadership and systems development. World Merit grants have played a pivotal role in scaling TIP—enabling broader outreach and deeper impact across schools in Kano State.
- Education Advocate
- Social Entrepreneur
- Community Leader
Morocco l Age 26
“By equipping young people with the skills and confidence to drive positive change, we ensure they become active participants in transforming their communities and society at large.”
Sara Boulhaoua
Sara Boulhaoua is a Ph.D. candidate in Translation Studies at Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdellah University in Fez and an assistant teacher at the Faculty of Letters and Human Sciences – Sais. Originally from Igbar, a small village in Morocco’s Souss-Massa region, Sara is a passionate community leader dedicated to advancing girls’ education and sustainability.
Her commitment to education stems from lived experience: in a village where over 300 girls attend school, she remains the only one to have pursued studies beyond high school. Aware of the barriers—financial hardship and limited awareness—that lead many girls to leave school, Sara co-founded Tifaout, a grassroots initiative focused on keeping underprivileged girls in school and building their personal and academic capacities.
Through Tifaout, Sara provides educational tutoring, school supplies, and empowerment workshops that help girls overcome academic struggles and strengthen their soft skills. To sustain the project financially, she and her co-founder launched a small social enterprise selling natural Moroccan products such as Argan oil, honey, Amlou, and saffron, with profits supporting the girls’ educational needs.
Sara’s work directly benefits youth aged 7 to 25, and her long-term vision is to nurture a generation of changemakers by training these young girls to become future workshop leaders. Her approach is holistic—addressing both the financial and educational barriers that hinder girls from reaching their full potential.
As an active volunteer with organizations such as Tifaout, ACT, and the Riwaya Institute, Sara continues to serve as a role model for youth-led change. She believes that empowering young people is essential to building inclusive, sustainable communities.
Through World Merit, Sara is gaining a platform to amplify her impact and strengthen her journey as a changemaker—connecting her mission with a global community of youth leaders committed to building a better future.