Internationally Recognized Activists and Neuroscientists

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Identical twin sisters Maya and Lara Hammoud are not only Harvard students but internationally recognized activists and social entrepreneurs at just 18.

What began as a single sensory room for a friend with autism has grown into The Perception Foundation, the world’s largest youth-led nonprofit for mental health and neurodiversity, spanning 26+ countries, 100+ branches, and reaching 500,000+ people.

The twins have conducted pioneering research on neurodevelopmental biomarkers, therapies with 97% efficacy to restore lost neurons, and brain-based curricula to transform learning. They hold 8+ scientific publications bridging neuroscience, education, and therapy development.

Maya and Lara are acclaimed storytellers and speakers, having presented at the United Nations General Assembly, the Wall Street Green Summit, and the International Conference on Autism and NDDs. Their work has earned them recognition as Young Women of the Year by the Duchess of York, first place globally at the Regeneron Science and Engineering Fair, and among the Top 10 Global Leaders in Research.

Our Story.

UN Address @ 18 years old

We are incredibly honoured to have addressed the United Nations earlier this month during a High-Level Stocktaking Meeting on youth, peace, and security. Invited to share our perspectives alongside global leaders, we spoke about the importance of youth involvement in mental health and disability support, and why inclusion must be treated as a core pillar of peacebuilding rather than an afterthought. Our message was simple: sustainable peace cannot exist without systems that

"17-year-old" and "Young Woman of the Year"

"17-year-old" and "Young Woman of the Year" are two phrases we never expected to put together! Lara Hammoud and I are incredibly honored to be named the Young Women of the Year by the Women Changing the World of the Americas, an initiative created by the Duchess of York. This April, we are humbled to announce we will be attending the Women Changing the World Summit in Paris to meet and learn from other incredible leaders globally. Watch the full ceremony here . For those wh

UN Delegates at age 17

This year, becoming a United Nations delegate at 17 was unexpected—but it has become an experience we will never forget. We were honored to participate in the United Nations High-Level Meeting commemorating 30 years of the World Programme of Action for Youth , carrying with us the voices and visions of young leaders from around the globe. Read the our full statements and country remarks from the UN General Assembly here . Our Statement: We measure youth by the years we’ve li