Some people wait until they’re adults to speak up. Others, like Zuriel Oduwole, start early and never stop. While most kids were thinking about homework, cartoons, or what to have for lunch, Zuriel was holding a video camera, asking world leaders tough questions, and trying to solve one of the biggest problems in the world: why so many girls can’t go to school.

Born in 2002 to a Nigerian father and a Mauritian mother, Zuriel grew up in the United States, but her heart has always been global. From a young age, she noticed something unfair: millions of girls around the world were being denied an education just because of their gender. Rather than accept that, Zuriel did what Zorzle kids do best, she took action.

The Power of Storytelling

Zuriel didn’t start with protests or politics. She started with something simpler, but just as powerful: stories.

At just nine years old, Zuriel created her very first documentary film. It was called The Ghana Revolution, and it explored how Ghana gained independence from colonial rule. It wasn’t just a school project, it was a way to understand how change happens, and how young people could help make it happen again.

That film was just the beginning. She kept making documentaries, each one more powerful than the last, covering everything from African history to girls’ education. Her storytelling wasn’t about facts alone, it was about feelings, voices, and what people could do if they really listened.

Zuriel believed that when people saw the real stories behind the statistics, they would care more, and maybe even do something about it.

Facing Presidents with Confidence

Zuriel didn’t just tell stories, she took them to the top. Literally.

By the time she was 12, Zuriel had interviewed more than 14 heads of state, and that number grew to over 30. She became the youngest person ever to be interviewed by Forbes Magazine, and the youngest girl to have her film screened in a commercial cinema.

But it wasn’t about being famous. It was about asking hard, important questions. Like:

“What are you doing to keep girls in school?”

“How will you make sure girls have the same opportunities as boys?”

“Why is education not a priority when it should be the future?”

Most kids would feel nervous walking into a president’s office. But not Zuriel. She knew that her questions mattered, and that children deserve answers too.

Her Kindness Is Her Courage

At Zorzle, we believe kindness is not just about being polite or gentle. Kindness is courageous, asking bold questions, and kindness is speaking out when things are unfair, and refusing to stay quiet when others are being left behind.

Zuriel is a perfect example of this.

She didn’t just raise awareness, she created change. Through her organisation, Dream Up, Speak Up, Stand Up, she’s helped girls in countries like Tanzania, Ethiopia, Nigeria, and Namibia access school supplies, mentorship, and support. She’s run workshops teaching girls how to tell their own stories through filmmaking and public speaking.

She shows girls not only that their education matters, but that their voices matter, too.

Zuriel once said,

“The world needs more problem-solvers. I just want to be one of them.”

And she is.

Speaking to the World

Zuriel’s work has reached more than just classrooms and government offices. She’s been featured on CNN, CNBC, BBC, and more. She’s given TEDx talks, spoken at the United Nations, and been named one of the World’s 100 Most Influential Women by New African Magazine.

Yet through all the achievements, Zuriel remains focused on something simple and powerful: helping more girls get the education they deserve.

She reminds us that you don’t need to wait to grow up before making an impact. You don’t need millions of followers, or a big stage. You just need an idea, a purpose, and a heart that won’t give up.

What Zorzle Kids Can Learn from Zuriel

• Use your voice, even when you’re young. Your words have power.
• Ask brave questions. Even grown-ups need to be challenged sometimes.
• Tell stories that matter. Stories help others understand what they haven’t lived.
• Kindness is bold. Standing up for others is one of the kindest things you can do.

Zuriel didn’t just notice a problem, she took it personally. She saw unfairness and answered it with creativity, leadership, and compassion.

Kindness Challenge: Tell a Story That Matters

Your mission this week:

1. Make a mini-documentary or story about something you care about.
2. Interview someone in your life about education or fairness.
3. Write or record a 2-minute story about a kindness you’ve seen.
4. Ask: What do I want others to understand better?
5. Share it with your class, club, family, or even send it to us at Zorzle!

Your story might be the one that inspires someone else to speak up, too.

Zuriel Oduwole reminds us that real change starts with one person and one brave decision to care. She shows us that young people are not just the leaders of tomorrow, they’re the leaders of today.

If Zuriel can do all of this before turning 25, just imagine what you can do, starting now.

Join the Zorzle Conversation

We’d love you to be part of the Zorzle conversation. Together, we’re exploring how kindness, curiosity, courage and laughter can shape the world around us and the one our children will inherit.

Come and join us on Substack for more stories, ideas and conversations. Or settle in with the Love, Laughter & Kindness podcast as we meet people, share experiences and explore what a kinder future could look like.