RUF Youth Board

The RUF Global Youth Board aims to empower the Romanian global diaspora youth by fostering a unified, supportive, and thriving community through innovative educational initiatives. Our mission is to connect, engage, and inspire future generations of Romanian youth living abroad, offering them a cohesive platform to access educational resources, develop essential skills, and build a strong sense of cultural identity and belonging.

2024 RUF Global Youth Board

The RUF Global Youth Board is composed of dynamic young leaders from the Romanian global diaspora. Members are nominated by RUF's diaspora partners worldwide and undergo an annual approval process by RUF's Education Board.

Each partner organization can propose at most one member of the board, and at most one young leader can be selected from each local community. This process ensures that the board represents a diverse and dedicated group of individuals committed to fostering community, education, and cultural engagement among Romanian youth worldwide.

Are you a partner organization? Learn more about our selection criteria and submit your proposal.

2024 Executive Team

Matei Busu

2025 Global Romanian Youth Board President

Volunteer

Hi, I'm Matei Busu and I'm the President of RUF Youth 2025 and co-leader of RUF's Youth Data Team. Currently, I'm a senior at Maine South, and in the past I've helped co-lead classes in programming and finance at RUF. I'm a huge Chicago sports fan.

Ana Guset

2025 Global Romanian Youth Board President

Volunteer

Hi, I’m Ana Guset, President of the Romanian Youth Board and Romanian Dance Club at Northside College Prep. I participated in a business internship with ROCO Biz. I am passionate about empowering young Romanian-Americans to embrace their heritage.

Sofia Malichek

Marina Diaconu

2025 Global Romanian Youth Board President

High school senior, CFC ECNL soccer player, tutor, referee, and nonprofit founder passionate about applied math, data science, policy, and biology, leading youth and women’s empowerment initiatives.

Justin Luput

2025 Global Romanian Youth Board Vice President

Volunteer

Hello! I attend Lane Tech College Prep as a Senior. I am driven to preserving my Romanian Heritage through involvement in my local community.

Julia Varlam

2025 Vice President of the RUF Global Youth Board

Hi, I’m Julia Varlam. I currently serve as Vice President of the RUF Youth Board and Vice President of Students for Science club at Lakes High School. I have a strong passion for music and percussion and I enjoy leading my section in The Sound of Lakes.