Internationally Recognized Activists and Neuroscientists

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Identical twin sisters Maya and Lara Hammoud are not only incoming Harvard students but internationally recognized activists and social entrepreneurs at just 18.

What began as a single sensory room for a friend with autism has grown into The Perception Foundation, the world’s largest youth-led nonprofit for mental health and neurodiversity, spanning 26+ countries, 100+ branches, and reaching 500,000+ people.

The twins have conducted pioneering research on neurodevelopmental biomarkers, therapies with 97% efficacy to restore lost neurons, and brain-based curricula to transform learning. They hold 8+ scientific publications.

Maya and Lara are acclaimed and sought after storytellers and speakers, having presented at the United Nations General Assembly, the Wall Street Green Summit, the International Conference on Autism and NDDs, and many more events.

Identical Twins Maya and Lara Hammoud in pink suits at the Regeneron Internatioanl Science and Engineering Fair

Our Story.

Recognized by White House

It’s not everyday you receive a letter from the White House and the President himself. Twin sisters Maya and Lara Hammoud were incredibly moved to receive this personal note from the President Trump acknowledging their advocacy and dedication to serving others. To hear that their efforts with the The Perception Foundation is making a meaningful difference and helping to build a stronger nation is a level of recognition we never expected, but deeply appreciate. This is

UN Address @ 18 years old

We are incredibly honoured to have addressed the United Nations earlier this month during a High-Level Stocktaking Meeting on youth, peace, and security. Invited to share our perspectives alongside global leaders, we spoke about the importance of youth involvement in mental health and disability support, and why inclusion must be treated as a core pillar of peacebuilding rather than an afterthought. Our message was simple: sustainable peace cannot exist without systems that

"17-year-old" and "Young Woman of the Year"

"17-year-old" and "Young Woman of the Year" are two phrases we never expected to put together! Lara Hammoud and I are incredibly honored to be named the Young Women of the Year by the Women Changing the World of the Americas, an initiative created by the Duchess of York. This April, we are humbled to announce we will be attending the Women Changing the World Summit in Paris to meet and learn from other incredible leaders globally. Watch the full ceremony here . For those wh