Vivian Ho: Breaking Barriers & Empowering Young Changemakers

Vivian Ho - Texas

Nomination by Anika Luangaphay

Photography by Pranet Ramanan

Issue 105 of Inspiring Teens Magazine

Nomination: Vivian Ho is a 17-year-old youth changemaker and co-founder of All The Same Organization, a youth-led nonprofit that brings resources and opportunities directly to underserved schools to help remove transportation, language, and information barriers. Growing up in a small apartment with five family members, Vivian was often the only English speaker in her household and helped her family navigate resources from age 8. At 16, she turned those experiences into action. In one year, All The Same has grown to over 200 chapters across 150 countries, inspired over 200 young leaders, mobilized over 8,000 volunteers, distributed over 150,000 supplies valued at $75,000, and partnered with 20 schools across the U.S.

What could talk about for hours, and why does it matter so much to you?

Existing resources do not always equal accessible resources. I call the barriers between resources and the people they were created for “invisible barriers.” These include language, transportation, and information gaps. Food banks and free tutoring may exist, but how is an 8 year old with limited English and no transportation supposed to find them?

I experienced this firsthand growing up, and it’s something I could talk about for hours. It matters because I know how frustrating it is to need help but not know where to find it or how to access it. That experience shaped my work and led me to share my perspective through KQED Perspectives and Channel Kindness.

Beyond connecting families and students with resources, what other programs or services does your nonprofit provide to the communities you serve?

One program I'm proud of is Cultural Surprises. A lot of the students we serve come from cultures that don't always get seen or celebrated at school. Through Cultural Surprises, our volunteers make crafts and art inspired by each student's culture: cards edged in gold with a panda in red ribbons for a Chinese family; a mosaic painted with encouraging words in Swahili for a Kenyan one. It's a small gesture with a big message: your background matters. It also teaches our volunteers about cultures outside their own, which is what the name All The Same Organization is about.

What goals, dreams, or projects are you currently working toward right now?

I hope to create a lasting impact on students’ lives through my nonprofit and community work. A parent support specialist at a Title I school once told me, “The supplies that you bring for these kids, It lasts them for months, but you forever stay in their hearts. I hope you know that.”

I think about that often. I hope to expand my work and connect students with resources and opportunities in every U.S. state. Beyond my own impact, I want to inspire others to take action. Knowing I helped someone else make a difference would remind me my efforts matter.

What other inspiring qualities, achievements, or experiences about you, not mentioned in your nomination, would you like readers to know about?

Beyond All The Same, I’m passionate about helping other young people make an impact, too. I mentor youth nonprofit founders, helping 30+ young leaders grow their organizations and 15 students start nonprofits from scratch.

I also use marketing and social media for impact, creating content that encourages philanthropy while sharing educational opportunities.

I’m Vice President of the TEO Program, which connects students with free SAT, AP, and college resources, and Vice President of my school’s Cultural Committee Student Council, representing 400+ students while currently running for President.

To me, leadership isn’t just about creating change myself. It’s about helping other young people realize they can create change, too.

What is something you have learned about yourself as a leader or influencer in the past year?

I’ve learned two things about myself as a leader. First, social media and impact can go hand in hand. I’ve learned to use what the younger generation is good at: our ambition, creativity, and voices. I wouldn’t have expanded internationally without our amazing chapter founders, each taking All The Same Organization’s mission and making it their own.

Second, I’ve learned to change the system when something doesn’t work. Failure is inevitable, but it doesn’t have to be the end. Every setback has taught me to rethink, improve, and come back stronger.

How have you learned to use social media and marketing as tools for creating meaningful change rather than simply building an audience?

When I started posting about All The Same, I decided to share my real journey, including what a day in my life as a teen nonprofit founder actually looks like. People don't just see a cause; they see someone their age doing something about it. Hundreds of people have reached out to tell me I've inspired them, and that's how I measure success. A follower count doesn't change anything by itself. But if one person sees my story and decides to start something in their own community, that is change that keeps spreading.

As All The Same continues to grow, how do you make sure its work stays personal and responsive to what individual communities actually need?

For me, staying personal means never assuming every family needs the same thing. Our supply packages are built around each student's or family's specific needs, so we respond to real people instead of guessing. Cultural Surprises work the same way. Each one is built around an individual's culture, so no two are alike. We also work directly with Title I schools, which keeps us close to what students are actually going through. As we grow, I want that to stay our rule. Growing doesn't have to mean becoming generic. It should just mean more people get something made for them.

If you could change one thing about the way resources are delivered to underserved students and families, what would it be and why?

I'd bring resources straight to schools. A lot of help already exists, but families have to go find it. That's where many of them get stuck, whether it's because of transportation, work schedules, or not knowing where to look. Schools are where students spend most of their day, and they're one of the biggest sources of opportunity a student has. If resources were right there, students wouldn't have to choose between getting help and everything else going on in their lives. That's a big reason ATS works directly with schools.

How did helping your family navigate resources from such a young age shape the way you see problems and solutions today?

It made me a creative problem-solver. When you're young and helping your family figure out systems that weren't built with you in mind, you learn quickly that the "normal" way doesn't always work, so you find another way. I still approach problems like that. Cultural Surprises came from that mindset. I noticed cultural gaps and misunderstandings between people, and instead of just talking about them, I found a hands-on way to bridge them through art and crafts.

Can you share a setback that forced you to rethink your approach and ultimately made you or your organization stronger?

In middle school, I told my school counselor about my idea to bridge gaps for underserved students by bringing support directly into schools. She asked me, "Why would they need that if they have food banks?"

It stuck with me, and it showed me the problem runs deeper than I thought. The issue isn't only missing resources. Many people, even those who work with students every day, don't see the barriers underserved families face. That changed how I built ATS. We focus on removing barriers like access and stigma, not just handing out supplies.

What advice would you give another teen who sees a problem in their community but feels too young or inexperienced to do something about it?

You are never too young to do something. It's easy to think you need to be older, more experienced, or have everything figured out first, but you don't. Start your idea, no matter how small it feels. Every big thing starts small, and you'll learn far more by doing than by waiting until you feel ready. The people you want to help don't need you to be perfect. They need you to show up.

What is your ideal dream job if it were offered to you today?

My dream job would be at the intersection of business and public policy. Policy shapes who gets access to resources, and business teaches the leadership and organizational skills to turn ideas into something real. I want to combine both. I'd use my knowledge of law and policy to expand access for the people who need it most, and my business skills to build programs that actually reach them. Running ATS has shown me how much good one idea can do with a strong organization behind it, and I want to do that on a bigger scale.

Beyond votes or placements, what are you hoping to gain from this experience—and what would make you feel truly successful at the end?

More than votes or placements, I hope this experience helps All The Same's story reach people who haven't heard it. I'll feel truly successful if I inspire even one young person to become a changemaker. If someone reads this and decides to help their community, even in a small way, that means more to me than any title. My message is simple: strive to help others, and strive to help your community.

What is one of your favorite memories with the person who nominated you, or something about them that means a lot to you?

Anika is my best friend and co-founder, so some of my favorite memories with her are honestly the simplest ones. I love how our hangouts can start with us debating the best pasta and somehow turn into a full planning session about, “How can we help these communities better?”

Tell us about the person who took your photo — how did you connect, and what was that experience like?

Pranet is a devoted volunteer with All The Same Organization, and I’m incredibly grateful for the time and effort he has contributed to serving underserved communities. Working with him has been especially meaningful because he’s someone who genuinely cares about the mission and consistently shows up to help. I’m glad we were able to capture a little piece of that work through these photos.

How did you first hear about Inspiring Teens Magazine? Why does being part of Inspiring Teens Magazine matter to you?

I first heard about Inspiring Teens Magazine through my best friend and co-founder, Anika, who insisted it would be a great fit for me. Being part of the magazine matters to me because it gives me another platform to raise awareness about the “invisible barriers” between resources and the people who need them, while hopefully inspiring other young people to take action in their own communities.

How will earning a scholarship through Inspiring Teens Magazine help you?

Earning a scholarship through Inspiring Teens Magazine would allow me to put the funds directly toward connecting more resources to students who need them. I would use it to provide educational opportunities and customized supply packages based on the needs of individual students and their families. My goal is to make every resource we provide intentional, accessible, and genuinely useful to the students receiving it.

Look for Vivian in issue 105 of Inspiring Teens Magazine!

* Each interview is shared in the teen’s own words, so their authentic voice shines through.