Dabone Abdoul Latif’s work this year spanned policy, innovation, and hands-on sustainability. Originally from Burkina Faso, Latif was selected as an IFWY Catalyst, collaborating with African youth in Botswana to develop youth-led policy recommendations. He later joined young leaders from across the world in South Korea as an IFWY Explorer, refining these policies for global engagement. He now serves as an IFWY Navigator, supporting their implementation. The International Forum We, the Youth (IFWY) is co-organized by UNRISD and Debate Korea.

On the innovation front, Latif is a co-founder of Smart Neldi, a smart home automation system selected among the Top 100 startups to pitch at the Hult Prize 2025. Through the ETHOS Program, he also worked with students from the University of Dayton on sustainability projects aligned with SDGs 4, 12, and 13, turning plastic waste into 3D-printable material for affordable robotics learning kits in under-resourced communities.

Within the Academic City community, Latif served as Project Manager for Tech Expo 2025 under the Robotics Club and as Mobile Application Lead for the first hackathon organized by the Google Developer Group on campus. His work reflects a balance of technical skill, leadership, and a strong commitment to impact.