Sharing experiences with COVID-19 from teens worldwide
Behind the Mask Team
The Behind the Mask team is composed of students from a variety of backgrounds who came together to launch a platform for teens around the world to share their experiences with the COVID-19 pandemic.
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​ We have done our best to help the NYC community during this time and we will continue our efforts. Through our projects, we raised funds to donate masks to vulnerable groups and helped set up COVID-19 vaccines. Dozens of teens from every corner of the globe shared with us stories of self-discovery, fortitude, and hope. These narratives shed a glimpse on how our generation is processing these unprecedented times.
Co-Head of Outreach
Hi! My name is Ada, I am 17 years old and currently a senior at Nanjing International school in China. Some of my hobbies include playing the cello, working as a part time barista and helping out local communities around me. I initially became a part of the Behind the Mask team because I found the many experiences and stories of how COVID-19 affected everyone incredibly interesting, and as an international student myself, I hope to contribute more experiences from the diverse group of people around me!
Ada Sun
Matt Melucci
Founder
Hi! I’m Matt. I’m a senior at Stuyvesant High School, in New York. In March 2020, when quarantine started in New York City, isolation became the norm around the world, and we all shared feelings of apprehension and distress. I created Behind the Mask as a platform for teens to share their experiences and perspectives while we grappled with the COVID-19 pandemic.
By gathering these stories, I hope to inspire solidarity and empathy as we move forward from this global crisis. As our team grew, we were able to use the platform to gather funds to donate 3,000 masks to organizations in need in New York City through donations and successful cookie fundraisers. We also have assisted individuals who had issues making a COVID-19 vaccine appointment. I’m excited to share the incredible work of our team and contributors!
Co-Head of Outreach
Hi! I’m Gerda and I’m from France. In my free time I love to play the piano, to write and to make short movies. In three years I might go to England to improve my English. Thus, I’ll be able to speak three languages fluently. I’m glad to be part of the Behind the Mask project and I hope I’ll be helpful!
Gerda Bornhauser
Head of Fundraising
Hi! I’m India, a senior at Hunter College High School in New York City. I love singing, acting, hanging out with friends, and meeting people from all over the world. I am also very passionate about social justice and helping out the community, and I volunteer with kids with disabilities and senior citizens weekly. I am super excited to be a part of the team at Behind The Mask, and I hope that you‘ll love every single story we share!
India Yeoh
Ambassadors
Douglas Tulman
Natick, Massachusetts
Hi my name is Douglas Tulman and I have a keen heart for assisting people with their troubles or obstacles that stand in their way. Personally, I very much love to spend my time outdoors. Hanging out in a hammock or hiking in the cold are just some of many things I like to do. During COVID-19 my biggest thing is reflecting and doing meditation. I practice by walking into the woods and using all my senses to take a pause from my regular life.
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Shefali Vansadia
Juno Beach, Florida
Hi!! I’m Shefali Vansadia and I’m currently a sophomore at Suncoast High School in Riveria Beach, FL. Some of the things I enjoy doing is volunteering at weekly beach cleanups, reading, and hanging out with my friends. Some of my hobbies are acting and singing. I’m extremely excited to be a part of a platform such as Behind the Mask and be able to share incredible stories of people and also donate masks to those in need!!
Nishat Ahmed
Tempe, Arizona
Hi! I am Nishat Ahmed. Some of my extracurriculars include speech and debate, leading Bangladesh Hunger Front, and Teen court. I love to watch movies and shows, eat different types of food, and travel.
Christian Davis
Madison, Mississippi
I’m from Madison, Mississippi and I’m just a guy who likes to hang out and watch TV. I, of course, love hanging out with my friends as well. I love helping them and other people when they are feeling down.
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Nadia Nurhusna
Jakarta, Indonesia
Hi! My name is Nadia. I'm a 17-year-old high school junior from Indonesia. I love reading, watching movies, and hanging out with my friends!
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Tayoung Chen
Tokyo, Japan
Hi! Originally from Tokyo, I am now a high school senior that has academic interests in computational biology, computer science, and business. I enjoy making new friends and meeting with people all around the world. Some of my hobbies include programming, exploring different types of food, and hanging out with my friends!
Roseline Olumuyide
Bronx, New York
My name is Roseline, I am 14 years old and a freshman in high school. In my spare time, I like to watch dramas and listen to music such as Kpop. I also dance when I am bored!
Contributors
Sydney Adreon, Vergennes, VT
Nishat Ahmed, Tempe, AZ
Leona Alonso, Houston, TX
Katie Altman, Jacksonville, FL
Lívia Apolônio, Astorga, Brazil
Tati Bannett, Philadelphia, PA
Isaac Bell, Jackson, MS
Brenda Belmiro, Newark, NJ
Keya Bhuta, Pune, India
Lara Bonnier, Stockholm, Sweden
Ananya Borde, Pune, India
Gerda Bornhauser, Tours, France
Ky Cagan, Stanford, CA
Darrius Calloway, Chattanooga, TN
Isabella Carrara, Wayland, MA
Tahlia Carroll, Anchorage, AK
Sarah Carter, Madison, AL
Nayara Celere, Parana, Brazil
Mia Chen, Edison, NJ
Tayoung Chung, Tokyo, Japan
Ariana Contreras, San Cristobal, Venezuela
Gabriela Costansa, Valdivia, Chile
Katrina Dawap, Jos, Nigeria
Kritika Dhakal, Kathmandu, Nepal
Paula Donahue, South Burlington, VT
Macy Ellis, Petal, MS
Lena Fedda, Algiers, Algeria
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Joshua Feldman, Queens, NY
Mia Feldman, Weston, CT
Brandon Fowlin, Cary, NC
Elena Guidali, Milan, Italy
Merle Hoefer, Hamburg, Germany
Jordan Hoppenheim, Montreal, Canada
Rose-Edgaina Jean-Pierre, Everett, MA
Mira Jiang, Coppell, TX
Emma Johnson, UT
Luca Jones, Brooklyn, NY
Mia Kaur, Queens, NY
Samuel Kay, Nairobi, Kenya
Christie Kwon, Duluth, Georgia
Chanel Lau, Honolulu, HI
Faith LeBrun, Baltimore, MD
Esther Li, Vancouver, Canada
Edward Lynch, London, England
Sherleen Meilikha, Singapore
Rick Melucci, Palo Alto, CA
Laura Moncada, Caracas, Venezuela
Shalini Murugavel, Markham, Canada
Mary N., Famagusta, Cyprus
Miu Nakajima, Tokyo, Japan
Andrea Olsen, Sevenoaks, England
Anaiya Patel, Phoenix, AZ
Arya Patel, Ontario, Canada
Emma Peckson, Manila, Philippines
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Roseann Phan, Scottsdale, AZ
Poulomi Pitale, Pune, India
Mary Polak, West Palm Beach, FL
Celine Qin, Sacramento, CA
Nathan Rampersaud, Queens, NY
Julissa Rauda, Baltimore, MD
Isabella Rodriguez, Mexico City, Mexico
Aryan Ruparel, Brooklyn, NY
Kristina Scofield, Salem, OR
Minnie Shih, Taipei, Taiwan
Grace Small, Wilmington, DE
Mary Spell, Madison, MS
Brianna Swafford, Seattle, WA
Clarke Taylor, St. Louis, MO
Roshani Tripathi, Kathmandu, Nepal
Chloe Vale, Manila, Philippines
Shefali Vansadia, Juno Beach, FL
Eli Vasily, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
Aleksey Voronchihin, Kharkov, Ukraine
Kenadi Waymire, Fort Wayne, Indiana
Ante Willemsen, Valburg, The Netherlands
Soraiah Williams, Cary, NC
Ashley Woo, Fullerton, CA
Madeline Yang, San Francisco, CA
Annetta Yuwono, Philadelphia, PA
Brianne Zafra, Fullerton, CA
Lluvia Zariñan, Mexico City, Mexico
Edwin Zha,Nanjing, China
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