Arif Wali came to the United States in March 2020, just a week before the national lockdown. Back home, he was a senior in high school, but upon arriving in America, he was required to restart in 9th grade and repeat the same classes. The transition was not easy, but he did not give up. While sitting in those classes, he often wished he could be in his senior year, yet he remained determined to move forward.
Due to the pandemic, Arif’s entire 9th grade year was completed online, which came with many challenges. After finishing that year virtually, he entered 10th grade in person. This transition was difficult not only for him but also for many students facing language barriers and the lasting effects of isolation during the pandemic. Arif quickly began thinking about how he could make a difference and create visibility within the school community. He noticed that many students struggled with teacher–student communication and felt disconnected from the school experience.
To address this, Arif founded the Language Club, which focused on helping with assignments, supporting parent–teacher communication, and creating multilingual resources such as educational videos. This gave students a stronger voice and built bridges between families, teachers, and peers.
Arif also founded the school’s first Cricket Club, a sport that was not previously offered but had strong interest from the community. His goal was to bring students of all backgrounds together through a sport they loved.
After leading these initiatives for two years, Arif graduated high school in just three years with a 4.56 GPA and earned a full-ride scholarship to the University of Maryland (UMD). His passion for service did not stop at graduation—he wanted to continue creating opportunities beyond school.
Arif went on to establish the International Sports Organization (ISO), dedicated to supporting youth through free sports programs, mentoring, tutoring, leadership training, college application assistance, school enrollment support, job readiness workshops, and more. In the first week alone, the program welcomed 64 kids from diverse backgrounds. Since then, ISO has served over 200 students across the DMV area through sports and cultural events. Data shows that more than 80% of participants achieved Honor Roll status while being active in the program.
Because of his impact, Arif has been recognized as a Birdland Community Hero by the Baltimore Orioles and received the Unsung Hero Award from Montgomery County.
Today, Arif is committed to ensuring that every young person has access to opportunities, safe housing, and supportive communities. He has seen firsthand how many families are forced to relocate due to rising rents, often leaving behind programs and mentors that kept youth on the right path. Too often, talented students lose opportunities when they move to places without similar support systems.
Arif’s vision is to change that. Through his leadership and social work, he continues to advocate for youth involvement in local government, community development, and positive engagement opportunities. By working together, he believes we can mentor the next generation and create a brighter, stronger future.
