West Bay
YAC for IHL
Meet Our Team
​
WHO WE ARE
We are the West Bay Team for the Red Cross Youth Action Campaign for International Humanitarian Law (YAC for IHL). We are 10 high school students of all four grades, each passionate about creating more awareness about the importance of International Humanitarian Law today, with a special focus on autonomous weapons.
WHITNEY CHAN
Senior, Team Leader
Whitney has been a member of Lowell High School's Red Cross club for 3 years, where she has found lifelong friends and fulfillment through community service. Last year, Whitney joined the West Bay Youth Executive Board as the International Services and Service to the Armed Forces Coordinator. With her fantastic board, she was able to facilitate events such as the Measles and Rubella pin initiative, refugee simulation, and Veterans Day card drive. As the leader of the West Bay Youth Action Campaign for IHL, she gets to work with an amazing team to brainstorm and implement creative projects to get youth engaged with learning about IHL. When she is not volunteering for the Red Cross, you can find her testing out Bon Appétit recipes, sewing crazy dresses, and meticulously creating new Spotify playlists.
ALYSON CHEN
Sophomore, Youth Advocate
Hello! My name is Alyson Chen. I'm a sophomore attending Lowell High School in San Francisco, California. For the past two years, I have been an active member of my school's Red Cross club and now a part of the West Bay International Humanitarian Law Campaign. I joined this campaign because I wanted to learn more about international politics. My hobbies include of a lot of baking--even though I'm not very good at it, craft making (like making friendship bracelets), and buying tons of weird socks.
OLINA DU
Junior, Youth Advocate
As a junior at Burlingame High School, Olina has been part of Red Cross since freshmen year and is currently the Co-President of the BHS Red Cross Club. Her interest in IHL initially sparked because of her Model UN experience and the importance of IHL in these international relations discussions.
TRAVIS GEE
Sophomore, Youth Advocate
Currently, I am a sophomore at Lowell High School. I have been in my school’s Red Cross club for almost two years now, and just joined IHL this semester. I joined IHL because I wanted to work with a team towards a common goal, and inform people about topics we care about. I enjoy playing badminton and doing math (most of the time).
SIERRA KIM
Junior, Youth Advocate
Sierra is a Junior at San Mateo High School. Sierra's hobbies include reading and playing the piano. She has only been apart of the Red Cross community for one year; however, she has learned and grown so much from being apart of a team of such amazing individuals fighting for such a noble cause. Sierra initially learned about the West Bay IHL team through the San Mateo Red Cross Club, of which she is currently a member. She joined because she finds it incredibly important to be educated on global affairs that have international impact, and was eager to learn and educate others about the rules that govern war around the world.
TINA LAM
Junior, Youth Advocate
I am a Junior at Mills High School. I love swimming and playing classical piano! I joined IHL to advocate for laws to regulate autonomous weapons. I love volunteering and changing our community in a better way!
SAM LIM
Junior, Youth Advocate
Sam is a junior at Lowell High School and has been in her school's Red Cross club since her freshman year. She joined the IHL campaign as she wanted to learn more about the impact that the Red Cross has in the world. She will be a part of the 2020-21 SF/SM Youth Executive Board as the SF Health and Safety Coordinator. If she's not busy poring over her school books, you can find her playing or listening to classical music or complaining about her lack of sleep.
CHRISTY LU
Freshman, Youth Advocate
Hello! My name is Christy Lu and I am currently in 9th grade at Lincoln High School. One of my hobbies is figure skating and reading. I joined the IHL team because I wanted to try something new and help out the community.
RACHEL SHEYNBLAT
Junior, Youth Advocate
My name is Rachel Sheynblat. I am a junior at San Mateo High School. I am apart of the Red Cross club at my school. I like to play volleyball and lacrosse. I joined the IHL team because I thought that it was really interesting. I wanted to learn more and inform others about IHL.
CAROL XU
Freshman, Youth Advocate
Carol is a freshman attending Amador Valley High School, and an enthusiastic new member of the Red Cross. An avid learner, Carol is excited to join the West Bay Youth Action Campaign team to spread more awareness about IHL across multiple different social media platforms. A voracious reader, she can often be found browsing the shelves for more books, scouring the kitchen for more food, and watching the anime Cells At Work.