Urbandale Community School District: UHS Students Present Food Insecurity Solutions To Worldwide Audience During Global Youth Institute

Press release from the Urbandale Community School District:

October 27th, 2021

In October, two Urbandale High School students were selected from attendees of the World Food Prize’s spring 2021 Iowa Youth Institute to participate in the Global Youth Institute (GYI). Jennifer Ieong’s and Lejla Jukic’s research papers and presentations on solutions to global food insecurity earned them a spot at the GYI, where they presented their ideas and engaged in additional learning with World Food Prize laureates and other professionals from around the world.

“Participating in GYI helped me realize I can play a role in making a difference in the world,” said Jennifer Ieong. “I am thankful for the opportunity to engage with other student delegates from across the globe and to be able to listen to experts speak about ways to combat food insecurity. I learned that solving food insecurity cannot be done through one person, but through the unity and teamwork of many, the world can become a better place.”

This honor earned each student a $2,000 scholarship to Iowa State University, in addition to the $1,000 each earned for their springtime work at the Iowa Youth Institute. Jennifer’s research was on solving persistent sanitation problems in Kenya, and Lejla researched hunger in the divided nation of Yemen.

“I really enjoyed the experience,” said Lejla Jukic. “Not only did the WFP allow me to find passion in a project but it also revealed to me the interconnectedness of food insecurity and its harm.”

Since 1994, over 2,000 Iowa high school students and 400 teachers from across the state have participated in the Global Youth Institute. In addition, more than 200 Iowa high school students have traveled to Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East through the Borlaug-Ruan International Internship program to work alongside renowned scientists at leading research centers.

This exciting opportunity to impact the world for positive change is open to any UHS student; contact Mrs. Forristall to participate in this spring’s Iowa Youth Institute.

UCSD congratulates Jennifer and Lejla for their time and dedication in researching, developing, and presenting critical solutions on a worldwide scale. Their contributions are of extraordinary value throughout our school district, state, nation, and world. Well-done! #UHSpride

Content/photos courtesy of Mrs. Forristall.

This press release was produced by the Urbandale Community School District. The views expressed here are the author’s own.