Daniela Victoria Barrios

Daniela, a high school student from Argentina, is redefining what it means to lead from the grassroots. Growing up in a community focused on surviving rather than dreaming, Daniela refused to be limited by her circumstances. Instead, she became a catalyst for change – founding initiatives, uplifting peers, and pioneering inclusive tech solutions.

Despite financial constraints and social norms discouraging ambition, Daniela has relentlessly pursued academic and civic excellence. She represented her school in the national Math Olympiad, earned a bronze medal in mathematics, and was recognised for her outstanding science fair presentation. Selected for the Competitive College Club, she’s now aiming to study at top institutions in Argentina, such as the University of San Andrés, or abroad, such as ESADE or the University of Miami.

Daniela's school leadership is especially notable. In her first year at a new school, she founded a chess club and revived participation in the national Math Olympiad. She also managed to secure university research internships for her classmates who wanted to gain that experience. She is currently working on launching the school’s first Model United Nations.

Her drive extends far beyond the classroom. As a member of Interact, she leads community service initiatives with other young people to support the local community — from donating school supplies to helping food banks. She also volunteers at an animal rescue foundation, encouraging more youth to get involved by participating in adoption events and other activities. In addition, she actively promotes youth civic engagement through her work with Civics Unplugged, an international leadership platform.

Daniela’s most innovative contribution is “Ciby,” a concept for AI- and AR-powered smart glasses that transcribe spoken conversations in real time to assist deaf users. The glasses would also offer sign language visualisations and subtitles projected directly in the user’s field of view. Her idea has already won recognition at ESADE University in Barcelona and is now gaining attention in international innovation competitions. She’s seeking further funding and mentorship to bring Ciby from concept to reality.

But Daniela’s dreams are not just digital. If she wins the Global Student Prize, she plans to invest the funds into improving basic infrastructure in under-resourced rural Argentine communities – starting by building 60 solar-heated bathrooms and safe water access points for families currently living without. Her vision is to ensure dignity and well-being for all, believing that opportunity starts with the basics.

From grassroots activism to global cooperation, Daniela exemplifies the power of young people to challenge inequity with action, creativity, and care. Whether rallying her classmates, prototyping life-changing tech, or dreaming of policy impact, Daniela is a force for inclusive progress.