In a Perfect World

In a Perfect World In our Perfect World, all people realize they have the power to make meaningful change.

At IAPW, we inspire and empower the next generation with the opportunity, tools and voice to make an impact on the world around them. YOUTH AMBASSADORS:
Youth Ambassadors, our signature youth empowerment program, provides teens with social emotional and leadership skills, empowering them to find purpose and develop the life-readiness and critical thinking needed to make an impact on the world. By

building compassionate relationships with themselves, their communities and the wider world, Youth Ambassadors become future-ready, empathetic leaders compelled to take action on the issues they care about most. YAMs also take their service beyond borders by traveling internationally to aid in the construction of schools for rural, indigenous communities in Central America through our REACH program. An immersive and life-changing experience, this capstone project deepens their cultural competency and understanding of global education issues.
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REACH Program:
Education empowers children to reach their full potential and secure a brighter future. Yet, millions of children living in extreme poverty do not have access to education. With 34 schools in 8 different countries, we’ve provided thousands of children with access to education, helping to break the cycle of poverty and illiteracy. Whether it’s been built so that children wouldn’t have to walk 10km to the nearest school or remodeling an existing school with updated facilities to provide a clean, safe, and nurturing learning environment, every school has made a difference in a community.
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DREAMCATCHERS:
Based in social emotional learning, our Dreamcatchers program teaches kids how to manage their emotions, set goals, show empathy for others, establish positive relationships, and make responsible decisions. We use art and stories to broaden children’s awareness of the world around them and appreciate the perspectives of others. We turn their natural empathy into action, helping them to build a plan to make a difference in the world.
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EVERYDAY KINDNESS:
Coming together as a community, as a country and as a global collective during the pandemic required empathy, understanding and a sense that we are all in this together. Everyday KindnessⓇ cultivates just that, developing social-emotional learning skills, and helping kids feel positive about themselves and others, decreasing emotional distress, and helping them to build supportive relationships and make good choices.
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LOVE 4 ONE ANOTHER:
Through Love 4 One AnotherⓇ, we harness the power of music, art, and technology to empower students in high-need classrooms. By providing musical instruments, music therapy interventions, and multimedia tools, we promote well-being and give kids the chance to strengthen their academics and have their voices heard.

Alfredo is leaving his village in Mexico with his dad.⁠⁠He's saying goodbye to his mom and sister.⁠He doesn't know when ...
08/21/2026

Alfredo is leaving his village in Mexico with his dad.⁠

He's saying goodbye to his mom and sister.⁠
He doesn't know when he'll see them again.⁠
He can only bring what fits in one backpack.⁠

In Dreamcatchers, we ask kids one simple question:⁠
What would you bring?⁠

A PlayStation. A phone. Snacks.⁠

Those were some of the first answers.⁠

But as the kids started imagining what Alfredo's journey might actually feel like, their answers changed. So did their questions.⁠

No one told them what they were supposed to take away from Alfredo's story. They got there together.⁠

That's what Dreamcatchers makes room for: wonder, imagination, and the chance to see the world through someone else's eyes 💜⁠


Summer is in full swing, and there are already so many moments we want to bring you into.Over the next few weeks, we’ll ...
07/31/2026

Summer is in full swing, and there are already so many moments we want to bring you into.

Over the next few weeks, we’ll be sharing stories from across IAPW—INSPIRE, Dreamcatchers, GoodTech, and the schools and organizations we’re working alongside.

You’ll meet young people trying something new, asking questions, creating, connecting, and sharing what matters to them. You’ll also meet some of the guides, partners, and communities who are part of these experiences.

Some moments are big. Others are a conversation, a new friendship, or an idea starting to take shape. We’re excited to share more of them with you. 💜

For 10 years, the S.H.A.U.N. Foundation for Girls has created opportunities for girls to grow, build confidence, and dis...
07/17/2026

For 10 years, the S.H.A.U.N. Foundation for Girls has created opportunities for girls to grow, build confidence, and discover what's possible.

We're grateful to celebrate this milestone alongside them, and especially thankful for their partnership in making an INSPIRE cohort possible this year.

Because of their support, a group of girls had the space to reflect, build meaningful relationships, and grow into a deeper understanding of themselves and the strengths they already carry.

Congratulations on 10 incredible years, S.H.A.U.N. Foundation for Girls.

Thank you for investing in girls and in organizations working alongside them. We're proud to celebrate this milestone with you. 💜

Every young person deserves the chance to discover what they're capable of.We've watched young people find their voice, ...
07/15/2026

Every young person deserves the chance to discover what they're capable of.

We've watched young people find their voice, build confidence, strengthen relationships, launch initiatives, tell stories, mentor others, and contribute to their communities in ways that are uniquely their own.

Because there isn't one right way to lead.

For more than 20 years, we've created the space, relationships, and experiences that help young people discover who they are, build the skills to thrive, and contribute in ways that matter to them.

Swipe to learn more about the philosophy behind In a Perfect World 💜

If this resonates with you, we'd love to have you in our community. Join our Good News Digest or explore ways to get involved at https://iapw.org/contact-us

07/10/2026

Last month, a group of girls spent five days slowing down, asking big questions, and discovering more about who they are 💜⁠

Together, they explored the experiences that shaped them, the values that guide them, and the strengths they can return to when life gets hard.⁠

Because before young people can lead anything, they have to know who they are.⁠

We've seen that when girls have the space to reflect, connect, and show up as their full selves, something shifts. Confidence becomes less about having the right answers and more about knowing their own voice and trusting it.⁠

We're deeply grateful to for funding this INSPIRE cohort and making this experience possible.⁠

We're also grateful to Erica Varize from , poet and facilitator Dr. Gina Loring (), , and Dr. Jennifer Oglesby () for sharing your time, talents, space, and care throughout the week.⁠

The week came to an end, but the conversations are still going... so is the growth 💜⁠

A snapshot of our founder 💜For nearly 20 years, Manuela Testolini has asked young people one question:"What do you want,...
06/30/2026

A snapshot of our founder 💜

For nearly 20 years, Manuela Testolini has asked young people one question:

"What do you want, in a perfect world?"

The answers have inspired school builds, youth-led initiatives, acts of kindness, creative expression, and countless moments of growth.

More importantly, they've reminded us that every young person already has something to offer the world. They just need the space to discover it.

What would your answer be?

Juneteenth marks the day in 1865 when enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, finally learned they were free—more than two ...
06/19/2026

Juneteenth marks the day in 1865 when enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, finally learned they were free—more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation had been signed 💜

Today, Juneteenth is a celebration of freedom, resilience, and Black history.

One meaningful way to honor the day is to learn together.

Swipe for a few simple ways families can celebrate, learn, and reflect together

Every young person deserves to know they belong 🌈⁠⁠At In a Perfect World, we've seen what happens when young people are ...
06/12/2026

Every young person deserves to know they belong 🌈⁠

At In a Perfect World, we've seen what happens when young people are given space to share their stories, find their voice, and show up as their full selves.⁠

This Pride Month, we celebrate LGBTQ+ youth and the communities, families, educators, and friends who help create spaces where every young person feels seen, valued, and supported.⁠

Because when young people know they belong, they’re free to grow into who they already are.⁠

Happy Pride Month 💜

"What would you bring if everything you owned had to fit in a backpack?"The answers came quickly.A PlayStation. A phone....
06/09/2026

"What would you bring if everything you owned had to fit in a backpack?"

The answers came quickly.

A PlayStation. A phone. Favorite snacks.

Then the conversation changed.

In a Dreamcatchers lesson, young people step into the story of Alfredo, a boy leaving his home in Mexico with his dad. He's saying goodbye to his mom and sister. He doesn't know when he'll see them again.

As they imagine what they'd carry, the room gets quieter. The PlayStation gets crossed out. A family photo gets added. A letter from Mom. Something that feels like home.

No one tells them what matters. They discover it by sitting with someone else's story.

Soon the questions shift too.

"What did it feel like when he got here and didn't speak English?"

"How could I have helped?"

Before young people can lead anything, they have to learn how to listen, ask questions, and see the world through someone else's eyes. That's where leadership begins.

A gift of $17/month helps create more moments like this—where young people learn to lead from the inside out.

Support Dreamcatchers → https://iapw.org/ways-to-give

Whose story has changed the way you see the world?

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21255 Burbank Boulevard #120
Woodland Hills, CA
91367

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