Rising Stars: Meet Despina Kayichian of Marina Del Rey

Today we’d like to introduce you to Despina Kayichian.

Hi Despina, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My name is Despina Kayichian, and I am a nephrologist living in Los Angeles. As a first-generation immigrant, I feel deep gratitude for the many blessings and opportunities this country has given me. When I decided to reduce my work schedule, I wanted to find a meaningful way to give back to the community that has given me so much. That desire led me to found The Hummingbird Project, a volunteer-based nonprofit that connects teens from underserved communities to the healing power of nature. Through this work, I’ve found great joy in seeing young people discover the beauty, peace, and confidence that time outdoors can bring.

I appreciate the opportunity to share today about The Hummingbird Project and the positive impact it’s having on our community’s youth.

Since our formation in 2022, we have taken more than 950 participants on 61 nature outings, including 43 hikes exploring 11 scenic Southern California trails, 12 kayaking trips, and 6 day trips to Catalina.

After each outing, we take the teens to a local restaurant to share a meal and build a sense of community. Sitting around a table gives everyone a chance to relax, reflect on the day, and connect beyond the trail. For many, it’s also an opportunity to practice social skills, try new foods, and experience the joy of being welcomed in a shared space. Supporting local restaurants is another way we give back to the communities that host us—creating a small but meaningful ripple effect of connection and gratitude.

The Hummingbird Project grew out of my own story and love for nature. I came to the United States from Lebanon more than thirty years ago, and over the years, nature became my place of peace and healing. Whenever life felt hard or overwhelming, spending time outdoors made everything better. As a doctor, I’ve also seen how stress and lack of access to safe, green spaces affect people’s well-being—especially youth in underserved communities. I founded The Hummingbird Project to share with teens the same joy, calm, and strength I found in nature.

The Hummingbird Project partners with leading community organizations that serve the population we aim to reach: Virginia Avenue Park, the Santa Monica Boys & Girls Club, the Compton Sheriff’s Youth Activities League, the Santa Monica Police Activities League, and Boys & Girls Club Metro LA.

We also provide our teens with reusable water bottles and teach them how to reduce the impact of plastic waste in their daily lives, helping to keep nature clean and beautiful.

What is most beautiful about our story is witnessing the impact we have on the lives of the teens we serve. Many of them join us on multiple outings, sharing how these experiences bring them joy. They also tell us how, inspired by their time with us, they’ve started hiking with their families—carrying forward the love for nature we hoped to spark.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Personal challenges over the last few decades have been many. The life of an immigrant professional woman starting a new life away from the comfort of family and friends, and with little financial support, meant that hard work became my constant motivation — the force that kept me grounded and moving forward. The same resilience and perseverance that carried me through those years also helped me navigate the process of forming a new nonprofit organization, The Hummingbird Project.

The challenges with a new nonprofit were mostly at the beginning of our journey and centered around two main areas: first, navigating the many steps required to achieve tax-exempt status, and second, finding the right community partners who serve our target population. Beyond those initial hurdles, it has been pure joy to see our teens embrace and enjoy the experiences we provide through The Hummingbird Project.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
The name and inspiration for The Hummingbird Project come from a fable shared by Professor Wangari Maathai about a tiny hummingbird caught in the middle of a great forest fire. While all the other animals stood by helplessly, the hummingbird flew back and forth carrying drops of water in its beak to do what it could. This story reminds us that even the smallest actions can make a difference when we simply do what we can with what we have.

The Hummingbird Project has a simple vision:

To provide teens from underserved communities with free access to the outdoors and to foster in them a lifelong appreciation for nature and the environment.

To offer them a diverse culinary experience by sharing a meal at a local restaurant—an enriching experience they might not otherwise have access to.

This experience is unique for several reasons:

We explore a wide variety of hiking trails.

Our nature outings are diverse, offering kayaking adventures in addition to hiking, and a day trip every summer to Avalon on Catalina Island.

The sit-down meals at local restaurants are not something most nonprofits offer when taking kids outdoors. We see this as a special and joyful part of our day together. What warms my heart most is hearing the kids discuss the menu and their meal choices while hiking—anticipating and looking forward to our shared meal after the trail.

I am proud of the wonderful feedback our program has received from both the teens and their coordinators. We have also increased the number of trips each year while maintaining the same budget, learning to use our resources more efficiently.

Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
When I look back at my life, at the nadir of my career and with the time to reflect, I am filled with gratitude for all the opportunities I’ve had. But I also remember that nothing came easily—it took hard work, grit, patience, and endurance. My advice to others is not to fear hard work, but to also take the time to pause and reflect—preferably in the outdoors, where nature helps you regain perspective. And when you do, ask yourself: How can I make the world around me a little better? Be a hummingbird.

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