Razi Aftab, a first-year student at University of California Los Angeles studying Electrical Engineering and Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, is not your average college student. Since December 2021, he has dedicated countless hours to the American Red Cross, rising as a trailblazer in youth volunteerism. His extraordinary commitment was nationally recognized when he received the Navin Narayan Award for Excellence in Youth Leadership at the Red Cross National Awards celebration in Washington, D.C. in April of this year.

The award, named after the late Navin Narayan—a visionary youth volunteer and advocate—honors one young person annually between the ages of 15 to 24 who demonstrates exceptional leadership, service and dedication to the Red Cross mission. Representing the Northern California Coastal Region, Razi exemplifies these values through his extensive and impactful involvement with the organization at both regional and national levels.

Razi’s Red Cross journey began during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Encouraged by his mother and inspired by a desire to give back, he joined the International Humanitarian Law (IHL) Youth Action Campaign. The campaign, which educates youth about the rules of armed conflict, sparked a lasting interest in humanitarian service and opened the door to many more roles within the Red Cross.

Over the years, Razi has embraced a wide range of responsibilities. Nationally, he serves on the Volunteer Intake & Processing Center team, guiding prospective volunteers and managing onboarding logistics. As director of Subject Matter Operations, he tracks volunteer onboarding processes and provides technical support using tools like Volunteer Connection and Microsoft applications.

Regionally, Razi wears many hats. As a member of the Northern California Coastal Region Operating Unit, he contributes to the tech support team, assists with administrative and communications tasks and supports the Volunteer and Youth Services department. He also chairs the Youth Executive Board, where he leads initiatives to recruit and engage young volunteers across the region.

What distinguishes Razi is not only his versatility but also his passion for youth involvement. “As a youth leader, one of my main goals is to recruit young adult volunteers,” he says. “Being a Red Cross volunteer is a wonderful opportunity for young people, especially given their ambition and drive.”

One of Razi’s most profound volunteer experiences came during the Sound the Alarm campaign—a Red Cross initiative that educates communities on fire safety and disaster preparedness. In his first outing, he installed smoke alarms in homes across his Northern California community, an area prone to earthquakes and wildfires. Later, he learned that one of the homes he visited had experienced a fire, and the alarms he helped install had potentially saved lives.

“This experience highlighted for me that the Red Cross not only makes an immediate impact on communities but also makes communities safer,” he reflects.

Razi’s leadership also extends into volunteer services, including coordinating the Red Cross summer internship program that connects youth to various lines of service, and contributing to biomedical services, where he helped optimize the volunteer experience for blood donor ambassadors.

Balancing his academic demands with Red Cross responsibilities has been challenging, yet Razi remains steadfast in his mission. “We want to be sure [young volunteers] truly understand the mission and the impact of the Red Cross,” he says.