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WEST ORANGE, NJ - West Orange High School juniors Mia Sinha and Ayo Osayande have been named TEEEM (The Empathy Equality Entrepreneurship Mission) Student Ambassadors. TEEEM partners schools with underserved communities worldwide, to equip the next generation with the skills and mindset to drive meaningful change — one project at a time. The girls were selected for the 13-member team from schools across New Jersey.
Last year, the Latin Culture Club was presented with the opportunity to become part of TEEEM, and they chose to work with TECHO, an organization in Ecuador that provides emergency housing. In June, West Orange TEEEM members organized a soccer tournament and raised $850 for TECHO. They raised a total of $1,500 during the last school year.
"Mia and Ayo applied for the TEEEM Ambassador Program and were both accepted to work with TEEEM Global," said Latin Culture Club advisor Rochell Alves.
"Mia and Ayo are two of thirteen student leaders who were selected," she continued.
"TEEEM is a nonprofit providing K-12 schools and universities with free resources to equip students with real-world skills to make an impact through its Social Entrepreneurship and Empathy Programs. By partnering schools with underserved communities worldwide, students develop competencies in leadership and global citizenship while addressing modern challenges. TEEEM is currently working with 100+ schools throughout the U.S. and Canada, reaching 3,000+ students, and helping communities in 10 countries: Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Ecuador, Haiti, Kenya, Peru, Uganda, Ukraine, and the United States," Alves explained.
TEEEM Director of Engagement Ted Opderbeck stated, "Ambassadors will represent thousands of students who work with their TEEEM clubs and classes to provide valuable insights and feedback to help us with our programs throughout the year. Their responsibilities will include:
- -meeting monthly for virtual roundtable and planning sessions
- -taking leadership roles at our annual symposium in the fall, our mid-year conference in February, and at our Taste of TEEEM showcase in May.
- -planning and executing a social entrepreneurship ambassador run initiative to benefit TEEEM as a whole
- -assisting TEEEM develop dynamic social media content
- -planning social events and local, hands-on projects
- -providing TEEEM staff with feedback and insights as we plan events"
The TEEEM ambassadors held their first virtual orientation meeting, and TEEEM Global is hosting all the ambassadors at a social dinner to be held in Montclair. The dinner will bring together humanitarian leaders from many schools and begin forging strong relationships.
"Carlos Perez (Latin Culture Club co-advisor) and I are very proud of Ayo and Mia, and we are confident they will make a positive impact as ambassadors and represent West Orange well," Alves concluded.
Sinha helped launch TEEEM at WOHS and plan the soccer fundraiser along with the other WOHS TEEEM members. She enjoys baking, crafting, photography, and music. She would like to have a career in computer software and media applications. Ayo also help launch WOHS TEEEM. She enjoys building Lego creations and reading realistic fiction novels. She would like to become a pharmaceutical scientist.
Follow WOHS TEEEM on Instagram at @teeem_westorange.
Mia Sinha and Ayo Osayande
NJ Team Ambassadors
