Popular YouTuber MrBeast announced that 10 creators were chosen from 170,000 participants in the UAE-led 1 Billion Acts of Kindness campaign, recognising impactful content that promotes generosity and positive change.
UAE: MrBeast reveals 10 selected winners from 170,000 creators for the 1 Billion Acts of Kindness initiative
YouTube star, businessman and media figure Jimmy Donaldson, widely known as MrBeast, revealed the winners of the 1 Billion Acts of Kindness initiative on Friday. Ten selected creators will travel with him to Ghana to take part in humanitarian work, including supporting housing projects, improving access to education and highlighting issues such as child labour awareness.
The chosen participants include Walid Elmusrati, Ella Loren Y, Majd Alzakout, The World Sucks, and Priya and Said. Each winner earned selection by submitting a video that showcased a meaningful act of kindness carried out within their local community.
The announcement was made on the opening day of the three-day 1 Billion Followers Summit, a global event for content creators, influencers and creatives, running from January 9 to 11.
Launched on November 7, 2025, the campaign invited creators worldwide to perform and document acts of kindness in their own neighbourhoods. The initiative is backed by Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Initiatives and the Varkey Foundation, the philanthropic arm of GEMS Education.
Explaining the selection process, MrBeast said his team prioritised diversity, ensuring winners represented different continents and backgrounds. He also stressed that genuine commitment to helping others was essential. “Do they truly care about making a difference? Are they sincere?” he said, noting these as the core factors.
Speaking at the summit’s opening, UAE Minister of Cabinet Affairs Mohammad Al Gergawi said the campaign attracted more than 170,000 entries from creators worldwide. He described the initiative as a simple yet powerful way to spread kindness through digital platforms.
“Our aim is to encourage positive content that serves communities and improves lives,” Al Gergawi said.
He added that content creation now goes beyond entertainment, playing a vital role in shaping public awareness, influencing futures, and contributing significantly to both social development and economic growth.
The initiative has drawn widespread attention for demonstrating how digital influence can be channelled into real-world impact. By encouraging creators to move beyond screens and into communities, the campaign highlights the growing responsibility that comes with large online followings. Participants documented efforts ranging from feeding vulnerable families to supporting education and mental health causes, showing that meaningful change does not always require massive resources, but intention and consistency. Observers say the initiative reinforces the idea that creators can act as catalysts for social good, particularly among younger audiences who increasingly look to digital personalities for inspiration and leadership.
For many of the selected creators, the opportunity represents more than international recognition. Several winners shared that their participation validated years of community-driven work often carried out quietly and without expectation of reward. Travelling to Ghana alongside one of the world’s most influential creators offers them a platform to amplify local challenges on a global stage. It also provides firsthand exposure to humanitarian operations, allowing creators to better understand development issues and the complexities of delivering sustainable aid. Organisers believe these experiences will shape the participants’ future content, encouraging deeper storytelling around social responsibility.
The choice of Ghana as the destination reflects the campaign’s emphasis on long-term impact rather than one-off gestures. Planned activities include collaboration with local organisations to ensure projects align with community needs. By focusing on education infrastructure, housing improvements and child welfare awareness, the initiative aims to address systemic challenges while respecting local leadership. Experts note that such partnerships are essential to avoiding short-term fixes and fostering trust. The campaign’s organisers say the goal is not only to provide immediate support but also to inspire creators to pursue thoughtful, ethical engagement in humanitarian work.
Industry analysts say the overwhelming number of submissions underscores a shift in creator culture, where purpose-driven content is gaining traction alongside entertainment. As platforms mature, audiences are increasingly drawn to creators who demonstrate empathy and social awareness. The 1 Billion Acts of Kindness campaign taps into this evolution, offering a framework that rewards authenticity over virality. By recognising creators from different regions and backgrounds, the initiative also challenges the notion that influence is confined to a few global hubs, reinforcing the idea that impactful voices exist everywhere.
Officials and organisers have hinted that the campaign could expand in future editions, potentially introducing regional projects or longer-term partnerships with nonprofits. With creators playing an increasingly influential role in shaping public discourse, initiatives like this may become more common. Supporters argue that when digital platforms are used responsibly, they can foster collaboration across borders and cultures. As the selected winners prepare for their journey, the broader creator community continues to watch closely, viewing the initiative as a blueprint for how online influence can translate into tangible, positive change worldwide.
