Jhoanny Perez
Jhoanny Perez, 27, landed in a career that helped reverse the tides of natural disaster. The St. John’s University graduate currently works at the American Red Cross as a service member in a National AmeriCorps program. Her job involves educating youth and adults about fire safety and hurricane preparedness by presenting in schools and installing smoke alarms with other volunteers in resident’s homes.
Her job and volunteer work has taken her all over the world, including to Haiti and South Africa. These were particularly rough visits for her as she spent the majority of these trips suffering the effects of severe endometriosis. Nevertheless, Jhoanny persevered and continues to do the work she loves the most; public service.
Ashley McNeill
Ashley McNeill, 22, is the recipient of the Global Citizen award from Gettysburg College where she recently graduated with a BA in Political Science. Ashley’s vision behind establishing YEAP International derives from her belief that children are essentially the key to social, political and economic change within a society. Ashley says, “Children are the future of our world, and because of this they must realize their potential – unlock their inborn creativity, and invest in their dreams, goals, and aspirations”.
Throughout her lifetime of travelling, volunteering experiences serving underprivileged communities from New Orleans disaster relief to various human rights and LGBTQA activism, Ashley she has become conscious of the disparity between resources around the world specifically between developed and undeveloped countries. Ashley passion originated from witnessing a complete disregard for basic human rights such as access to clean water, women’s rights, and sustainable education. As a result, Ashley has dedicated her life to serving others by assisting physically through the distribution of resources overseas. Also, by equipping and empowering neglected communities with knowledge to reach the full potentiality of their lives, predominately through self-sufficiency. In order to best access the fundamental rights and liberties of underrepresented populations, Ashley believes change must come from within the communities themselves. Her approach: grassroots activism, empowering communities, and equalizing resources is not only the best way to implement change, but one of the most effective she says.
Two Passion Driven Women: Born to Serve
Meet the Masterminds
When asked, "Why did you decide to start YEAP International?" Our answer was essentially this: "If not US, then WHO? If not NOW, then WHEN?!