Hawaii teen top ten finalist for $100,000 Global Student Prize
HONOLULU (KHON2) — It hasn't been long since Honolulu teen Raphael Stark founded his nonprofit caring for others like himself with speech challenges. Now, his advocacy and empowerment are getting him recognized.
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At 14 years old, Stark first got the idea for CHATS, an organization caring for Hawaii teens with speech challenges, when there were none to help connect Stark with those with similar struggles.
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While overcoming personal adversities, Stark's goal for CHATS was to promote empathy and combat bullying and stigma. His vision for inclusive communication continues to inspire and empower youth worldwide.
"I've had a stutter since I was very young and unfortunately I have been bullied and teased because of it. I was looking for groups in Hawaii for youth such as myself, but there actually weren't any. So, I decided to create my my own," said Stark.
CHATS was founded in 2021 and has now grown to connect thousands of youth with speech challenges across Hawaii and around the world. Leveraging his filmmaking talent, the now 17-year-old highlights acceptance and mental wellness.
Stark's advocacy has earned academic accolades and fostered global connections through his "Bridge of Aloha" initiative, connecting Hawaii-based speech-language resources to Africa's youth in Kenya.
"We are hoping to connect Hawaii-based speech and language pathologists to kids 10,000 miles away in Kenya via our partnering nonprofit Camp Ohana because they have a number of kids who have speech challenges that go undiagnosed and mistreated," stated Stark.
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As a young change-maker, Stark has been named a top ten finalist for the $100,000 Global Student Prize. The recognition aims to spotlight inspiring students and give them an opportunity to share their stories.
"Students like Raphael deserve recognition, as their dreams, creativity, and remarkable endeavors are essential to tackling the urgent challenges facing our world," said Heather Hatlo Porter, Chegg's Chief Communications Officer.
Stark is the only student from the United States out of 11,000 applicants from 176 countries. He said he'll be giving the prize money towards his nonprofit and growing his efforts in Kenya.
"The village and the camp are so remote they actually don't have Internet so my project is utilizing telecommunication technologies such as satellite, Internet tablets, and video communication and all of those things do come at a cost," stated Stark.
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The winner is expected to be announced in late September in New York during UN General Assembly Week.
"It's obviously a huge shock. I can't wait to see how many more people I can reach and educate on this topic because of this award," said Stark.
