By Ethan Long, an 8th-grade student at State College Friends School. November 8th, 2025
Sameer Jha founded the Empathy Alliance at the age of 14 after experiencing bullying in school for being called "too feminine." Motivated by this bullying, Sameer created the Empathy Alliance to support other students facing similar difficulties. One major policy of the Empathy Alliance is its “Educate the Educators” policy, which focuses on helping teachers to create safer, more inclusive environments.
Sameer Jha has also written a book that guides teachers on how to recognize, prevent, and respond to bullying or discrimination that LGBTQ+ students may experience. The book emphasizes the importance of respect and awareness in classrooms.
They have gone and done many interviews and talks at various locations, like doing TED Talks, or speaking in different countries to help. Their voice has been helping strengthen the LGBTQ+ student community greatly, and they hope to help make an even bigger impact on others in the future.
Take a stand for safer, more inclusive schools by advocating for programs like the "Educate the Educators" policy. Speak up at school meetings, encourage your administration to prioritize teacher and staff training, and share resources with your community. Every action you take helps create an environment where every student can thrive, no matter their identity.