Maia Freudenberger
2017 Winner
Position: Founder and Executive Director
Organization: Projet Jeune Leader
Current Location: Africa, Madagascar
Bachelors from Haverford College
Additional Degrees and Certifications:
• Semester Abroad at the University College of London in the International Health and Development and Geography Department. Coursework includes: Water and Development in Africa; International Health Policy
Awards Received:
Award:
Young Alumni Award for Accomplishments in Leadership
Awarding Organization:
Haverford College
Date Awarded:
March 12, 2017
Award:
2016 Laureate Global Fellow
Awarding Organization:
Youth Action Net (International Youth Foundation)
Date Awarded:
July 28, 2016
Award:
Youth Leadership Program Top Model 2016
Awarding Organization:
USAID Leadership, Management, & Governance Project
Date Awarded:
August 30, 2016
“By age 21, Maia co-founded Projet Jeune Leader in Madagascar. Today, she works with youth, schools, international and government bodies to champion adolescent sexual, reproductive and menstrual health; her work has reached 29k+ youth since 2013.
“– Erin Portillo, Program Officer II at Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs
Describe your contributions to and achievements in family planning.
Projet Jeune Leader is a comprehensive sexual health and leadership development program, currently running in 12 public middle schools (rural and urban). Our 38 young team members teach sexual health and leadership classes to students (integrated into the school curriculum), create a Youth Space in each school, offer counseling and medical referrals to students, and run creative after-school programming. Projet Jeune Leader currently reaches 12,000 middle school students a year. Under my leadership, my organization has also trained over 300 primary school teachers on menstrual health and hygiene; implemented a pilot re-usable sanitary pad project in 2 schools; and organized participatory sessions with over 200 parents on strategies to support their children through adolescence.
What sparked your passion for family planning?
Give one or two examples of how you display leadership in your family planning work.:
If you are named a winner of 120 under 40, how will you use this new platform and the $1000 grant to advance your work?
Video Introduction
Photos of the nominee in the field/at work



Publications/Articles
https://pai.org/blog/youth-champion-profile/
https://healthcommcapacity.org/projet-jeune-leader-presents-on-urban-adolescent-…
https://healthcommcapacity.org/youth-led-organization-madagascar-used-urban-adol…