Our Story
JUMP Stress was founded out of a shared passion for mental health and community well-being. Our team comprises of Linus, Ethan, and Josh, who attend St. Paul's School (SPS) in Concord, New Hampshire, USA, and Jamila, who attends the Aga Khan School in Mombasa, Kenya. Despite our diverse backgrounds and geographical locations, we recognize that stress is a universal issue affecting teenagers globally. At SPS, we benefit from programs like LINC, which teach us positive strategies for managing stress. Unfortunately, many teenagers in other countries lack access to such resources. We established JUMP Stress to share these valuable strategies with those less fortunate.
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The idea for JUMP Stress originated at SPS when Linus highlighted the severe mental health challenges faced by teenagers in Uganda, his father's homeland. Ethan, deeply moved by the high suicide rates and health disparities he observed, especially after losing his aunt to suicide, felt a personal connection to the cause. Josh, with a strong interest in the medical field, saw this initiative as a way to make a meaningful impact. We combined our insights and efforts to develop a program aimed at improving the lives of Ugandan adolescents.
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Recognizing the importance of local collaboration, we connected with Jamila, who is from Uganda and studies in Kenya. She had observed the prevalence of stress among her peers and was eager to contribute. Through discussions and shared insights, we worked together to refine our program, ensuring it would be effective and relevant for Ugandan teenagers, leading to the creation of JUMP Stress.
Together, we understand that stress is a significant factor influencing various issues faced by adolescents, including mental health challenges, academic performance, and high-risk behaviors. By providing structured support and teaching effective coping mechanisms, JUMP Stress aims to equip teenagers around the world with the tools to manage stress, reduce high-risk behaviors, and improve their overall well-being. We have also engaged professionals and experts in mental health to advise us and share their expertise, ensuring that our program is impactful and grounded in best practices. Together, we are committed to making a lasting positive impact on the lives of teenagers globally.
Founders
Who We Are
Linus Seruma
Founder
School: St. Paul’s School, Concord, New Hampshire
Extracurricular Activities and Interests: Onyx Head, Peer Tutor, Squash, Peer Mentoring, Community Service, Machine Learning and AI Languages
Education/Career Interests: Applied Mathematics, Entrepreneurship, Health and Social Problem-Solving
My Favorite Stress Relief Activities: Playing Squash, Listening to Music and Practicing Math
Linus Seruma is a student at St. Paul’s School, Concord, New Hampshire. His future academic interests are at the intersection of applied mathematics and entrepreneurship. He enjoys exploring entrepreneurship ideas through participation in business programs and was runner-up in a 2022 Mergers and Acquisition competition. At St. Paul’s School, he is an accomplished student leader. He is an Onyx Head, Peer Tutor, peer mentor and enjoys social activism at a community level. Linus is an avid squash player, having competed at the national level. Linus is a co-founder of JUMP Stress, a global youth-led peer to peer mental health advocacy venture initiative, that helps youth better understand themselves. In addition, Linus is developing an online app that connects Ugandan teenagers to mental health clinicians/professionals in the USA.
Ethan Maggio
Founder
School: St. Paul's School, Concord New Hampshire
Extracurricular Activities and Interests: Head of the Cultural Transitions Society at St. Paul’s, providing a supportive community for students of color to connect, celebrate their heritage, and foster a sense of belonging on campus, Latinx Society, Classics Society,John G. Winant Society, Mindfulness Club, Snowboarding, Basketball, Track & Field (long jumper and sprinter).
Education/Career Interests: Biomedical research, public health, mental health advocacy, political science, Track & Field
My Favorite Stress Relief Activities: Spending time with family, hiking, walking my dog, practicing mindfulness, and volunteering in community initiatives
Ethan Maggio, a student at St. Paul's School, is actively engaged in various extracurricular activities, including the Transitions Society and the Mindfulness Club. As the Head of the Transitions Society, Ethan promotes inclusivity and unity, fostering an environment where students from all backgrounds feel valued and supported. In the summer of 2024, Ethan is working as a research intern in the laboratory of Dr. Nicholas Bellono under the mentorship of Dr. Pablo Villar, analyzing octopus behavior to gain insights into the human brain. Previously, he conducted epidemiological statistical analysis to evaluate cognitive performance in adults living in Puerto Rico. Driven by his passion for mental health awareness, Ethan co-founded JUMP Stress, a program aiding Ugandan teens in managing stress. Ethan has also published work with WBUR’s Boston NPR, showcasing his insights and perspectives on caregiving. In his free time, he enjoys making art and engaging in mindfulness practices to relieve stress.
Joshua Samuels
Founder
School: St. Paul's School, Concord, New Hampshire
Extracurricular Activities and Interests: Library Proctor, Track and field, basketball, football, Physics Club, SPS Jazz Band, and Onyx Head.
Education/Career Interests: Neuroscience, pre-med track, aspiring neurologist
My Favorite Stress Relief Activities: Playing the saxophone, listening to jazz, and meditation.
Joshua Samuels, a student at St. Paul's School in Concord, NH, excels in academics and extracurriculars. He is accomplished in Chemistry, Biology, and Organic Chemistry, and has studied at Harvard Summer School. Active in many areas, Joshua is an Onyx Head, Library Proctor, and the No. 2 in-season triple jumper in NH, receiving All NEPSAC Honorable Mention. He also participates in basketball, football, the Physics Club, and the SPS Jazz Band as an alto saxophonist. Currently interning at Columbia University in the Abdus-Saboor Neuroscience Lab, Joshua's work has solidified his goal of becoming a neurologist. As a co-founder of JUMP Stress , he is dedicated to educating teens around the world about stress. An ABC and Oliver Scholar, Joshua plans to major in Biology on a pre-med track in college, aiming for medical school to pursue neurology. His dedication to academics and extracurricular activities highlights his commitment to excellence.
Jamila Kariisa
Founder
School: Aga Khan School, Mombasa Kenya
Extracurricular Activities and Interests: Golf, Dance, Media, Communications
Education/Career Interests: Theater, History and English, Social and Media Entrepreneurship
My Favorite Stress Relief Activities: Golf and Dance
Jamila Kariisa, a student at The Aga Khan School in Mombasa, Kenya. Since joining in 2021, she has excelled in Theatre, History, and English. Her passion for media and communications drives her future endeavors. Outside academics, Jamila enjoys golf and dance and co-founded Jump Stress, focusing on promotion, media relations, and stakeholder engagement. For the past three summers, she has interned at Next Media, Uganda's largest media company, where she excels in communicating complex ideas. Dedicated to mental health advocacy and gender equity, Jamila leverages her significant Twitter (X) following to influence teens and beyond. This summer, her role at JUMP Stress includes promotion via TV, Radio, and TikTok, and coordinating with local stakeholders. At 18, Jamila is a brilliant, friendly, and determined young woman, committed to advancing Jump Stress and improving mental health in Uganda.
