Youth Leading the
Way for a Healthier Planet
and Healthier People
Youth Global Climate and Health Initiative
Globally. Locally. Saving Lives Through Climate & Health Action.
Youth Global Climate & Health Initiative, Inc. has tax-exempt status under IRC 501(c)(3). DLN: 26053453001403
OUR STORY
It all began with a simple observation.
As student athletes, Ryan and Kevin Manshadi often found their soccer games cancelled due to poor air quality from wildfires. The smoke in the air wasn’t just an inconvenience — it was a health warning. They realized that climate change is a health crisis, and youth needed to take the lead in responding to it.
From that realization, they launched the Youth Global Climate Initiative (YGCI), mobilizing students worldwide to plant trees, restore green spaces, and raise awareness about environmental responsibility.
In 2025, their sister Katya Manshadi joined as a co-founder, expanding the mission to include the health effects of climate change and youth-led CPR/AED training. Together, they transformed the organization into what it is today:
the Youth Global Climate & Health Initiative (YGCHI) — where climate action meets heart action.
A message from the Co-Founders
OUR MISSION
The Youth Global Climate & Health Initiative (YGCHI) empowers youth to take action — not only for the planet but for the health of all people.
Founded on the belief that “youth helping youth” can save lives and change futures, YGCHI works to:
Educate students about how climate change directly impacts human health — from polluted air and heat waves to cardiovascular and respiratory disease.
Train youth in essential life-saving skills like CPR and AED use, creating safer, more prepared communities.
Inspire collaboration among youth worldwide to advocate for clean air, sustainable living, and community well-being.
Our mission builds on the original YGCI legacy of global tree-planting and environmental action — now expanded into a broader movement linking climate action with health education and empowerment.
OUR FOUNDERS
Kian Manshadi, Co-Founder
Ryan is a junior at the University of California, San Diego, majoring in Global Health.
He is passionate about preventive medicine and public health, and he believes that empowering young people with knowledge about air pollution, cardiovascular risk, and life-saving interventions can shape a healthier future for all.
Ryan has also gained valuable experience in health policy and advocacy through participation in the American College of Cardiology’s Annual National Legislative Conference, where he engaged with lawmakers on healthcare access and preventive cardiology initiatives.
At YGCHI, Ryan leads health education and advocacy initiatives, connecting youth action to real-world impact.
Kevin Manshadi, Co-Founder
Kevin is a sophomore at the University of California, San Diego, also majoring in Global Health.
He shares a strong passion for cardiology and global health equity. His leadership in YGCHI focuses on developing youth-training programs and helping students understand how environmental factors like PM2.5 affect heart and lung health — and how to take action through research, advocacy, and CPR training.
Kevin, too, has participated in the American College of Cardiology’s Annual National Legislative Conference, where he developed first-hand experience in healthcare advocacy and learned how policy can protect both patients and the environment.
Katya Manshadi – Co-Founder
Katya is a freshman at Cathedral Catholic High School in San Diego and a dedicated student-athlete in tennis, soccer, and volleyball. She embodies youth leadership rooted in compassion, unity, and service.
Recipient of the Reverence Virtue of the Month and the Monsignor James DeGroot Christian Leadership Award — for being “a leader who is faith-filled, in service to others, and a life-long leader” — Katya leads YGCHI’s high-school engagement and peer-training programs, inspiring youth to help one another and protect both people and planet.
OUR GLOBAL IMPACT
What began as a tree-planting movement now serves as a platform for youth-driven health advocacy and training.
YGCHI continues to honor its environmental roots — with reforestation and clean-air initiatives in over 15 countries — while expanding into climate-health education and CPR/AED readiness programs across schools and universities worldwide.
10+ Countries Engaged: Schools and youth groups across the U.S., Mexico, Uganda, the Philippines, Italy, India, England, and beyond.
Air Quality Awareness: Youth-led campaigns on PM2.5 and cardiovascular health in wildfire-affected regions.
CPR/AED Training: Launching “Youth Helping Youth Save Lives” — certifying students to respond to emergencies at school and in their communities.
Global Collaboration: Building partnerships between students, educators, and health professionals for a sustainable, healthy future.
We Have the Power to Impact Our Future, and We’re Doing Something About It
OUR GLOBAL IMPACT
What began as a tree-planting movement now serves as a platform for youth-driven health advocacy and training.
YGCHI continues to honor its environmental roots — with reforestation and clean-air initiatives in over 15 countries — while expanding into climate-health education and CPR/AED readiness programs across schools and universities worldwide.
10+ Countries Engaged: Schools and youth groups across the U.S., Mexico, Uganda, the Philippines, Italy, India, England, and beyond.
Air Quality Awareness: Youth-led campaigns on PM2.5 and cardiovascular health in wildfire-affected regions.
CPR/AED Training: Launching “Youth Helping Youth Save Lives” — certifying students to respond to emergencies at school and in their communities.
Global Collaboration: Building partnerships between students, educators, and health professionals for a sustainable, healthy future.
Our Core Programs
1
Climate & Health Education
Educating youth on how climate change affects health — from air pollution and extreme weather to cardiovascular disease and mental stress.
Students learn to monitor air quality, understand PM2.5 exposure, and advocate for cleaner, healthier environments.
2
Life-Saving Skills:
CPR & AED Training
Through our “Youth Helping Youth” program, students are trained and certified in CPR and AED use, empowering them to act confidently during emergencies and build a network of youth first responders — on campus and beyond.
3
Community Action Projects
YGCHI provides toolkits for students to lead projects linking environment and health:
Hosting school “Clean Air Weeks”
Organizing local CPR drives
Partnering with clinics or heart-health foundations
Expanding environmental projects to promote cardiovascular and respiratory health
Our Approach
Educate. Raise awareness of the interconnectedness between climate and health.
Empower. Train youth in preventive and emergency health skills.
Engage. Build global networks of students collaborating for healthier communities.
Our philosophy is simple: Healthy youth. Healthy planet. Healthy future.
Get Involved
For Students
Get trained in CPR and AED use. Serve as an ambassador for YGCHI by recruiting and engaging more students. Disseminate YGCHI-developed educational curricula to school leadership, helping educate students and administrators about the health hazards of climate change.
For Schools
Partner with YGCHI to bring health and environmental leadership into your classrooms. We provide turnkey educational materials, instructor partnerships, and certification opportunities.
For Supporters & Sponsors
Your donations and partnerships help fund the certification of students in CPR and AED use, support the purchase of AEDs for communities in need, and expand national and international youth programs that save lives and improve health literacy worldwide.
We appreciate your support!
