Few figures embody cross-cultural empathy and purpose as naturally as Hanna Jazmin Jaff Bosdet. Born on November 4, 1986, in San Diego, California, and raised in Tijuana, Mexico, Hanna’s life has been shaped by the meeting of worlds — American and Mexican, Kurdish and Latin, academic and humanitarian.
Today, she is recognized as a television personality, author, philanthropist, human rights activist, and public speaker, whose work spans continents and causes.
Bicultural Roots and Education
Hanna spent her early years studying at Saint John’s Episcopal Elementary School and University of San Diego High School (now Cathedral Catholic High School). Her academic ambitions led her to pursue higher education on multiple continents.
She holds a Master’s Degree in Arts, a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology, and minors in Political Science and Criminal Justice. Her studies at National University (San Diego), Harvard University, Columbia University, Tecnológico de Monterrey, and La Sorbonne University in Paris reflect a lifelong commitment to learning.
Public Service and Political Work
Hanna’s passion for social advancement soon extended into politics. Since 2013, she has held several national-level positions in Mexico, including Undersecretary of Relations with Civil Society, Undersecretary of Immigrants, and National Secretary of Social Management for the Youth Network for Mexico.
She also served as National General Secretary of the Revolutionary Youth Expression in the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) and later ran as a Federal Congress candidate for the Ecologist Green Party of Mexico. Her advocacy consistently centers on youth empowerment, migration, and social inclusion.
The Jaff Foundation for Education
Perhaps her most enduring legacy lies in her work as the founder of the Jaff Foundation for Education, established on June 4, 2013. The foundation’s mission is to provide free English education to immigrants, refugees, and low-income communities around the world.
Under Hanna’s leadership, the foundation has organized over 180 events and impacted more than 120,000 lives globally, supported by 7,000 volunteers. Beyond education, the foundation’s initiatives promote tolerance, peace, and cultural understanding — values that define Hanna’s life and career.
A Voice for Refugees and Human Rights
Hanna’s humanitarian reach has extended far beyond Latin America. She has worked directly in refugee camps in Iraq and Kurdistan, teaching English and distributing thousands of her own self-taught English learning books.
Her work also led her to organize the first Kurdish Cultural Festival in Mexico in 2013, which attracted 80,000 attendees and marked a milestone for Kurdish cultural representation abroad.
Through her ongoing campaigns, Hanna has become a global voice for non-discrimination, emphasizing respect across race, gender, religion, ability, and identity. Her initiative, We Are One, launched in 2017, embodies this mission — blending fashion with activism to promote unity and respect. Each item sold funds the donation of books to refugees and immigrants.
Author and Global Speaker
As an author, Hanna created an English-learning series tailored to Spanish, Purepecha, and Kurdish speakers, distributing over 22,000 books to underserved communities.
She has also delivered three TEDx Talks and spoken at more than 80 universities and institutions worldwide. Her talks focus on human rights, refugees, peace education, and leadership through compassion.
A lifelong writer, Hanna keeps a personal diary she began at age 14 — a habit that evolved into a treasury of reflections, poetry, and quotes inspired by the people she meets and the experiences that shape her.
Media Presence and Recognition
In 2018, Hanna reached a global audience when she joined the Netflix reality series Made in Mexico, streamed in 190 countries and 22 languages. The show showcased her multicultural identity and philanthropic work, introducing millions to her story and mission.
Her dedication has earned international acclaim:
Forbes Mexico (2019 & 2021): Named one of the 100 Most Powerful Women in Mexico.
Woman of Distinction (USA, 2020): Honored for her activism and community leadership in California’s 78th Assembly District.
St. Gallen Symposium, Switzerland (2016): Recognized as one of the 200 Leaders of Tomorrow under 30.
Kurdistan Garmiyan Regional Government (2014): Appointed Honorary Representative of Garmiyan in Latin America.
Beyond her professional achievements, Hanna is married and the proud mother of two children. She gracefully balances her humanitarian work with motherhood, drawing daily inspiration from her family to continue fostering compassion, inclusion, and global unity.
The Legacy of a Global Humanitarian
Hanna Jaff stands at the intersection of cultures, generations, and causes. Her life’s work proves that leadership is not measured by power, but by purpose — and that education and empathy can build the bridges politics cannot.
From the refugee camps of the Middle East to the stages of international forums, her message remains clear:
We are one humanity — and our shared compassion is our greatest strength.
