Humzah Farrukh from Pakistan is OD Young Person of The Month. Humzah is the President and Co-Founder of the Farrukh Foundation, a global nonprofit dedicated to dismantling systemic barriers to education and creating equitable access for marginalized communities. Through the foundation, he has built schools, launched mentorship programs, and provided scholarships to children and young adults in underserved regions across the globe, including Pakistan, Morocco, South America, and rural areas of the United States. The foundation’s mission is grounded in the belief that education is not a privilege but a right, and that every child deserves the tools and opportunities to dream boldly and achieve their full potential.
Read his amazing story below and be inspired.
Humzah’s journey to this work is deeply personal. In 2016, while backpacking through southern Pakistan, he met Ayesha, a young orphan girl in a bustling Lahore bazaar. Struck by her resilience and reminded of his own family’s journey, he connected her with local support and contributed a few hundred dollars from his savings. This small act became a turning point in her life and planted the seed for Equip Her Ambition, an initiative that empowers young girls to turn their hopes into reality. Through this program, the foundation has established learning centers equipped with state-of-the-art technology, providing over 200 girls in Pakistan and Africa with coding, data analytics, and career development training.
On his successes
The Farrukh Foundation’s work has touched thousands of lives. In Sindh, Pakistan, it has built schools in villages where no formal education existed, giving children their first chance to sit in a classroom. The foundation has partnered with global leaders like Google, UNICEF, and Western Union to expand its reach and establish advanced learning centers. This work has earned recognition and awards from organizations like UCLA’s DEI department, the Watson Institute, and the NextDoor Kind Foundation.
Programs like the foundation’s mentorship initiative guide first-generation students through applying to top universities, breaking cycles of generational poverty. This past year, Humzah also spearheaded the Reading Program, a collaboration with Columbia and Harvard University that connects children with diverse, representative books. Conceptualized in response to increasing book bans, the program equips minority children with the tools to excel academically while fostering a love for reading and critical thinking.
On his challenges and future plans
Humzah’s personal educational journey was full of challenges. He dropped out of high school to support his family, earning his GED while navigating homelessness and couch surfing. Despite these obstacles, he thrived in community college, earned a scholarship to UCLA, and began turning his lived experiences into action. Co-founding the Farrukh Foundation was his way of addressing the barriers he faced and creating opportunities for others.
In addition to his work with the foundation, Humzah is a writer and storyteller. In 2024, he self-published an anthology exploring identity and belonging, inspired by his experiences as a first-generation immigrant. Writing has allowed him to amplify the voices of those often unheard and connect across communities.
The challenges the foundation faces are significant, from securing funding to navigating cultural complexities in diverse global communities. Yet every barrier overcome brings it closer to a more inclusive world. The impact isn’t just measured in numbers—it’s in the ripple effects of change: villages where girls now dream of STEM careers, students who become community leaders, and families who view education as a pathway to a brighter future.
For Humzah, this work is about more than education—it’s about creating a movement. It’s about showing that hope, ambition, and collective action can transform lives and communities. Every challenge has reinforced his belief that real change happens when compassion, innovation, and determination come together.
See Humzah in Action
You can connect with Humzah here: Linkedin, @humzahf – Instagram
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