Heela Yoon is a 26-year-old advocate for peacebuilding, climate justice, and mental health, with a dedicated focus on how these three intersect. A first-generation refugee from Afghanistan now based in the UK, Heela blends activism, communications strategy, and storytelling to drive systems-level change in communities affected by conflict and displacement.

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She is the Founder and Executive Director of AYAPO (Afghan Youth Ambassadors for Peace Organisation), a grassroots initiative that has reached over 43,000 families since 2019 through mental health workshops, humanitarian aid, and youth leadership programmes. She is also the Founder of MUSKA, a digital platform and mobile app designed to support mental health and sexual & reproductive health in conflict-affected regions, with a trauma-informed, culturally grounded approach.

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A Chevening and Fulbright Scholar, Heela holds a degree in International Trade and Finance, and has received multiple international honours for her work — including the Cora Weiss Peacebuilding Fellowship, the Ethnicity Award for Outstanding Contribution to Communities, and selection as a UN Young Leader for the Sustainable Development Goals. She is also a Young Leader for the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) and serves as an External Board Member for the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), where she advises on gender, youth, and community empowerment.

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Heela’s consultancy work supports NGOs, charities, and grassroots initiatives to grow their visibility, sharpen their message, and build trauma-informed brands. With experience collaborating on global campaigns with ethical powerhouses like Ben & Jerry’s and The Body Shop, she brings a bold, values-driven approach to communications. Her services include strategy, ethical storytelling, website development, and research-led campaigns rooted in care, inclusion, and emotional intelligence.

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An OSCE Women’s Peace Leadership alumna and One Young World Ambassador, Heela has spoken in more than 20 countries alongside global leaders, and her work has been featured on BBC, Al Jazeera, and other major platforms.

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She believes in building a world where mental health is prioritised, peace is locally led, and girls and young people are not just survivors — but system shapers.