Cypress Bay Senior Honored for Work on The One World Project

CAN DO KID

Cypress Bay Senior Honored for Work on The One World Project

By Terry Jaillet

Cypress Bay Senior Raisa Ali, along with fellow classmates, Valeria Parra Nogueiras and Ashley Valent received Honorable Mention recognition at the Miami Herald’s Silver Knights awards at the end of May. The honorees were selected from more than 619 students representing 65 Miami-Dade schools and 34 Broward schools, both public and private, were nominated by their schools.

Raisa was honored for work founding The One World Project. She created the charity at the height of the pandemic. She quickly realized that personal protective equipment (PPE) was in short supply at local hospitals, for first responders, and for frontline workers. Raisa partnered with local Drapery design studio Beautiful Windows to design and manufacture masks to provide to frontline workers.

Within weeks of its founding, hospitals across the United States were asking for masks from One World. This was the start of her project and the start of an entire community, youths, and elders coming together on one important message, giving back to the superheroes of our community that saved lives. As the organization Raisa built grew, she never lost sight of her original purpose, to be the inspiring change for her fellow peers. She wanted to show others her age that they didn't need any big organization to work with nor have a major following to be a part of the change.

The One World Project has broadened its focus, beyond just masks, and provided food baskets to poor families adversely affected by COVID-19, and held food distributions/ hygiene kit distributions for the homeless. We can’t wait to hear about Raisa’s incredible contributions to the world when she moves on to college next year.