We’re now living in a world in which young people are not afraid to take on the big giants of our time. Whether it’s creating critical educational tools, highlighting social issues, creating new technology, generating movements, you name it, young people are taking on these huge giants. And one woman is championing them along the way as they do so.
 

She is Raluca Besliu. At 26-years-old, Raluca is the leader and managing director of an online platform called Taking on the Giant. Its mission focuses on conquering the negative perceptions often connected with young people.
 

“In response to the negative media portrayal of the Millennial generation, often presented as narcissistic, lazy and entitled, Taking on the Giant changes these perceptions by highlighting the Millennials under the age of 25 and Gen-Z members,” Raluca told RIZZARR. “They not only have remarkably innovative ideas, but are also working hard to transform their passions into successful charities, foundations, businesses, and movements from a young age.”
 

She told RIZZARR the website coincides with her belief in the power that young people have to conquer and provide solutions to the challenges facing society. It’s something that she herself has lived by.
 

(Raluca is the leader and managing director of an online platform called Taking on the Giant. (Photo courtesy of Raluca)

Originally from Romania, Raluca graduated from the University of Oxford with an MSc in Refugees and Forced Migration, after receiving her bachelor degree at Vassar College, majoring in International Studies. Not only is she active generating change Taking on the Giant, but she is also doing so with her non-profit organization, Save South Kordofan. Additionally, she has published multiple articles on in women’s and children’s rights, youth visionaries and entrepreneurs, refugee and human rights issues, peace and post-conflict reconstruction.
 
 

Raluca is making such a big dent in the universe and we here at RIZZARR wanted to feature her in our One Person, Many Ripples section to share your journey and beliefs with you. Enjoy!

(Photo: iStockphoto/ Thinkstock)

“Taking on the giant” means striving to solve and repair with confidence and hope an issue that apparently seems unbeatable by a single individual. The “giant” that needs to be overcome could be individual, as a personal disease, or collective, like political, scientific or economic issues. Those who take on the giant are boundless optimists, passionate, hard-working believers, who refuse to take hearing, “no,” for an answer and failing for an option.
 
 
 

2. What is the message that your team is hoping your audience can take away from it?

We hope that people reading our website start believing that it is never too early to start changing the world. We aim to encourage young people to start exploring, discovering and following their passions as early on as possible rather than wait until they finish their formal education. Through our stories, we want to emphasize that no matter where you are in the world and/or how little you may have, if you work hard and keep believing, you can fulfill your goal. We have examples of youth, who were homeless or living in villages with no electricity in multiple parts of the world, but who are now running their own business, while also studying at top world universities. We also want to inspire parents and teachers to support the youth in pursuing their dreams. Many of the young people whom we cover have succeeded with the support of one or several adults who provided moral, financial, or technical support to them.
 

3. What types of young people are looking to feature and where do you find them?

We have an age limit of 25, but we sometimes make exceptions, if the initiative was started before the person turned 25. It can be any field of activity, from the environment to women’s rights and science & technology. One of our goals is to demonstrate that creativity and entrepreneurship that are manifesting all around the world, not just in Western countries. We try to highlight young changemakers and entrepreneurs from places as diverse as Africa, Asia, Australia, and Africa and the Middle East. Sometimes, we collaborate with other institutions, which also value and promote the work of young people changing the world. For instance, we worked with Ashoka Changemakers, in highlighting three of their youth venturers in East Africa. We are always looking to partner with more institutions like Ashoka. Other times, we cover the finalists of global prizes dedicated to rewarding young entrepreneurs, such as the Anzisha Prize for Innovative Young Africans. We are also sometimes contacted by young changemakers, whose stories we are impressed by and decide to present.
 
 

4. Why do you think this site is so important for our society?

I am hoping that, through the website the Millennial generation will be perceived in the more positive light that it deserves to. I am also hoping that the site inspires people of all ages to pursue their dreams. It’s also meant to be a platform of positivity and an inspiration and idea hub. Mainstream media these days tends to focus on negative news, which can paint a dire, overwhelming picture of the world as a place of little hope. These young people’s work is reason for optimism and belief that the world is become better, not worse. At the same time, Taking on the Giant is a platform that aims to spark readers’ own creativity. We hope that reading about one invention can lead people to develop their own. Finally, Taking on the Giant aims to show that, if you start early, you might create your dream job, without ever having to look for one.
 
 

5. Personally, what have been some of the greatest lessons that you have learned about young people from the stories shared?

I often feel inspired by how ardently all of them believe in their dream and how relentlessly they are willing to work to make it a reality. A common thread in many of their stories has been failing or facing immense challenges. Yet, where most people would give up, they pick themselves up and carry on. One of my personal favorite stories is that of Lisa Peng. She is currently a freshman at Princeton and is taking on the Chinese government to obtain the release of her father, a prominent human rights and democracy activist, held in a China prison. Even though she hasn’t seen her father since 2004, Lisa has launched and sustained a campaign for his release, which has led her to directly discuss his release with the chair of the Congressional Executive Commission on China, who supported her by writing letters about her father to the U.S. Ambassador to China and to President Obama. The road to freeing her father is long, yet Lisa has been a young woman on a mission. I think she and those featured on Taking on the Giant are great examples not only for other youth, but also for all of us.
 

7. How do you see the site developing in the future and the direction of it?

We would like it to become the primary resource for amazing stories on young changemakers and entrepreneurs for youth, teachers, parents and the general audience alike. We also hope the Common Core Quiz section will continue to develop and be used by an increasing number of people. We are hoping to start receiving and publishing stories submitted by young people.
 
 

8. What advice would you give to any young person who is facing their “giants” on the pursuit of fulfilling their dreams?

The most important thing is to find something that you are truly passionate about. It sounds easy and straightforward, but it actually isn’t as self-evident as one would like it to be. However, once you have found your true calling, you will be able to achieve great heights. Working ridiculously hard won’t feel like you are working at all.
 
 

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