Meet Rida Yumn Ahmed, a young and ambitious advocate of liberty who has already made a significant impact in the cause of promoting freedom. As a Prometheus Fellow, Liberty International Program and Outreach Associate, and Local Coordinator for Students For Liberty (SFL), Rida has dedicated herself to empowering underprivileged youth to become entrepreneurs, organizing unique events exploring mental health from a libertarian perspective, and spreading awareness of SFL’s exceptional leadership programs in diverse regions.
At just 18 years old, Rida joined SFL after attending a movie screening of Anthem by Ayn Rand, where she discovered her true calling as a classical liberal. With SFL, Rida found the perfect platform to fulfill her dreams and help others become global citizens.
As a minority girl from a developing country in South Asia, Rida had to overcome many challenges to promote individualism and advocate for freedom. But her determination and passion for the cause have amplified voices all across the globe, inspiring others to break glass ceilings and achieve their dreams.
In her two years with SFL, Rida has organized numerous events exploring classical liberal values from a Gen Z perspective. She organized events on mental health and libertarianism, women leaders in the liberty movement, taxes, blockchain, cryptography, cryptocurrency, entrepreneurship, and the market economy. Her events attracted participants from around the world and helped make libertarianism more relatable to young people.
Rida’s dedication and hard work have not gone unnoticed. In 2022, she stood out as one of the top coordinators on the SFL leadership board for referrals in South Asia. She also organized an orientation session that brought together top leaders from around the world to inspire young people to apply for the SFL Local Coordinators program. Rida’s efforts helped aspiring leaders understand SFL’s mission and vision, and provided them with the tools they need to succeed in life.
Rida’s passion for global collaboration and her ability to make libertarianism a way of life for young people led to her selection as a Prometheus Fellow in 2022. This multi-year fellowship opportunity is reserved for the top 50 students in the SFL, and Rida one of the youngest recipients ever.
Since 2019, she has been dedicated to mentoring and supporting underprivileged youth in rural areas, helping them become entrepreneurs and gain an appreciation for the value of a free market and individual liberty. Her efforts have earned her recognition from Mr. Manish Sisodia, Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi, who awarded her for empowering Delhi Government School Children through Desh Ke Mentors, India’s largest mentoring program.
Rida’s work has also brought her to the attention of Liberty International, a partner pro-liberty organization. In June 2022, she invited Mr. Jacek Spendel, President of Liberty International, for a webinar on free enterprise and entrepreneurship. Her passion for global collaborations and her ability to make libertarianism a way of life by connecting with the youth caught Mr. Spendel’s attention, and he recognized her potential as a future leader in the movement.
Today, Rida is the youngest staffer at Liberty International, working on projects that encourage youth to become more involved in the liberty movement and assisting in training and outreach while completing her full-time degree program. She is also working on this year’s G20 presidency in India, where she is focused on achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), particularly SDG 16, which is about justice and strong institutions.
“Thanks to Students For Liberty,” said Rida, “I had the opportunity to meet and network with students and professionals who share my passion for liberty. The organization helped develop my personality and empowered me to speak out against tyranny and control,” she continued. “I attended LibertyCon in Miami in 2022 on a full scholarship and had the opportunity to meet some of the most prominent figures in the libertarian movement who had been my source of inspiration. It was truly a dream come true. I could not have imagined meeting them, and it was then that I recognized how Students For Liberty had transformed my life,” Rida concluded.
Rida Yumn Ahmed is a rising star in the liberty movement. Her efforts have earned her recognition from top leaders and organizations, and she continues to work on new projects advocating for free markets, empowering the next generation of leaders, and addressing global challenges. With her passion, dedication, and leadership skills, Rida is sure to make a lasting impact in the fight for individual freedom and liberty.
Written by Anastasiia Rusanova
