Ayano Shimizu, who placed third in the AMA Competition, is now taking her vision global through her project Megutan Dream NFT.
Raised by a single mother, Ayano learned early what it meant to create her own opportunities. As a child, she spent weekends planning and selling at flea markets—an experience that taught her both the joy and responsibility of earning through her own effort. Later, while studying in college in US, she supported her tuition by running an online business, gaining a deep understanding of marketing and the true mechanics of economics through real-world experience.
Her perspective shifted profoundly when she traveled to Rwanda as a member of the nonprofit organization Safari Strive, where she witnessed the nation’s remarkable recovery from civil war.
Moved by the strength and resilience of its people, she joined an economic empowerment project that provided shoes for children and taught job skills to adults.
“You can’t simply rescue people from poverty,” she reflects.
“But by giving them work, you can help them gain the power to transform their own world.”
Born from these experiences, Megutan Dream NFT is more than just an art initiative—it’s a project of hope and empowerment. Through it, Ayano strives to build a global platform where people everywhere can dream boldly and shape their own futures.
