The International Organization for Migration (IOM), the IBER-RUTAS program, "Strengthening routes of rights and interculturality in Ibero-American migration", invite to participate in the 2025 Second iDiaspora Photo Contest, under the theme Click for Change: Diaspora Innovations in Health, Climate, Gender & Youth. 

Building on the success of the first Young Diaspora Leaders Initiative in 2022, iDiaspora and IOM are proud to launch its second edition. This initiative aligns with the Global Diaspora Policy Alliance (GDPA)’s youth-focused priorities, aiming to amplify the voices and impact of young diaspora leaders worldwide. By sharing their stories, we hope to inspire other young members of transnational communities to step into leadership roles and contribute to sustainable development across the globe.

Noel C. G. Newman is a seasoned professional with over seven years of experience in Youth Development, Girls Empowerment, Entrepreneurship, and the Commercialization of Education in Financial Services. He is the Founder and Executive Director of Under 30 CEOs Africa, a youth-led business consultancy operating in Sierra Leone, Rwanda, and The Gambia, providing opportunities in education, entrepreneurship, skills development, and innovation.

John Paul Ricafort Alcalá, a second-generation immigrant born in Spain to Filipino parents, currently resides in Barcelona. He was instrumental in assisting Fr. Lino de Castro in establishing the Parish Youth Council (PYC) at the Parroquia De la Inmaculada Concepción y San Lorenzo Ruiz. Through his leadership and commitment, the PYC has become a vital platform for engaging Filipino youth in the Catholic faith and preserving cultural traditions, such as the Flores de Mayo.

Tamar Kvlividze is a dynamic young leader and education specialist from Georgia. A graduate of Tsinghua University, she was honored as a Young Ambassador by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia for two consecutive years. Tamar has spearheaded over 20 initiatives aimed at uniting the Georgian diaspora, promoting her country, and fostering peaceful international relations—engaging over 500 participants in person and reaching hundreds of thousands through online platforms.

Andrea is a dedicated leader committed to promoting Salvadoran culture in Argentina and strengthening migrant communities. She arrived in Argentina at 18 and, upon recognizing the absence of an established Salvadoran community, took the initiative to create networks among her compatriots. In 2014, she organized the first cultural event in Buenos Aires, marking the beginning of her journey to unite Salvadorans in the country.

Ricardo is from the beautiful Cabo Verde Islands, located in the Atlantic Ocean, and chose to pursue his life, studies, and career abroad in Germany. His journey began in Kiel, where he learned the German language, and later continued in Berlin for his university studies. Near the end of his degree, he worked as a student in an architecture and construction management company, followed by an internship in Portugal, where he refined his technical construction skills and language proficiency in Portuguese.

The objective of the case study was to assess the opportunities for and challenges in engaging United Kingdom-based Bangladeshi, Ghanaian and Jamaican diaspora communities in climate action in their respective countries of heritage.  

Migrant and diaspora contributions, whether human, social, cultural, or economic, play an important part in the development of both countries of origin and destination. Migrant and diaspora economic contributions specifically are key to achieving many development goals. The importance of remittances is well understood in meeting the needs of households and receiving communities. Diaspora investment, particularly when combined with migrants’ human and social capital, contributes to sustainable economic development at both national and local levels.

Under the overcall framework of the Global Diaspora Policy Alliance (GDPA), IOM's Diaspora Unit and Migration Health Division at Headquarters co-developed a paper on "Health Innovation through Diaspora Engagement: Talent, Partners and Allies". By investing in infrastructure, advocating for health rights, and leveraging their networks, diaspora health workers exemplify the power of collective action in advancing global health goals.