At just 25 years old, Cameron Mofid has accomplished what many can only dream of—visiting every country in the world. Recognized by NomadMania as the youngest person to achieve this incredible feat, Mofid’s journey is marked by adventure, resilience, and a commitment to making a positive impact through his nonprofit work.
Born and raised in San Diego, California, Mofid’s passion for geography and different cultures was evident from a young age. He spent his formative years as an avid tennis player, even achieving a junior world ranking on the ITF tour. This passion for tennis led him to the Sanchez-Casal Academy in Naples, Florida, for his senior year of high school, but soon Mofid made a pivotal decision that would set the course for his life.
Instead of pursuing tennis in college, he opted for a gap year, which allowed him to travel globally while working for a professional tennis player. As he moved from one tournament to another, cities like Hong Kong, Singapore, Milan, and Marrakech became more than just names on a map; they transformed into a tapestry of experiences that shaped his worldview.
In the fall of 2019, Mofid began his academic journey at the University of Miami, drawn in by both the institution’s strong academics and the vibrant, diverse culture of the city. However, the structure of college life felt constraining compared to the freedom he had experienced during his travels.
Despite feeling confined, Mofid still made it a priority to travel when possible, often using his event marketing job to fund his trips to places like Guatemala, Cayman Islands, Panama, and El Salvador during school breaks. The COVID-19 pandemic shifted his focus when he discovered the staggering fact that more people had been to space than had visited every country in the world.
This discovery ignited a fire within Mofid; he was inspired to set an ambitious goal for himself and join the ranks of those few who had visited every nation. Around the same time, a friend suggested starting an event marketing business, which proved instrumental in financing his extensive travels.
Completing his Bachelor of Business Administration in just three years and graduating magna cum laude, Mofid seamlessly transitioned into the MBA program at UM, where he once again excelled, ultimately graduating as the valedictorian of his class. By the time he completed his MBA, he had visited about 100 countries through well-planned breaks and long weekends.
With a duffle bag in hand and a list of the last 90 countries he needed to visit, Mofid set off for a two-and-a-half-year journey around the globe. During this time, he adopted a flexible travel strategy, focusing on regions like West Africa and Central Asia to optimize costs and logistics.
Mofid’s travels were marked by fascinating experiences and breathtaking locations. He quickly learned that smaller countries often required only short visits, while he would spend more time in larger nations like Australia—where he felt the unique warmth and kindness of the people— and Venezuela, where he discovered unexpected beauty amid economic struggles.
It was the countries that often go unnoticed that Mofid found to be the most rewarding, stating that the kindness of the people and the richness of experiences could often be found in places marked by economic or political instability.
His journey took a remarkable turn when he decided to establish a nonprofit organization, Humanity Effect, following a life-changing visit to Makoko, Nigeria. The poverty he witnessed was devastating, and from there, Mofid initiated a GoFundMe campaign to support a local school. With the help of his friends and the wider community, he raised $5,000, which caught the attention of NBA player Kyrie Irving, who generously donated an additional $45,000.
Determined to make a sustainable difference, Mofid founded Humanity Effect, which has successfully built a second school and is halfway through constructing a medical center, benefiting over 750 children in Makoko.
While Mofid’s travels brought immense joy and learning, they were not without their challenges. Relying on budget travel, he experienced the difficulties of hitchhiking through Africa and navigating mountainous terrain in Afghanistan. One particularly harrowing experience occurred when he ventured into Afghanistan through the Torkham border crossing, facing interrogation from Pakistani intelligence when they discovered a solo American in Taliban-controlled territory.
Another difficult episode took place in Mogadishu, Somalia, where a terrorist attack prompted airport shutdowns, forcing him to take a domestic flight to exit the country safely. However, perhaps the most daunting experience came when he attempted to visit North Korea. After tourism resumed briefly, he found an opportunity to participate in the Pyongyang marathon as part of an athlete delegation, despite having never run a marathon before.
Upon returning to California, Mofid emerged proudly as the youngest person to visit every recognized country, though he does not yet hold an official Guinness World Record due to the differing criteria used by the organization. Mofid expressed his respect for the current record holder but also conveyed his feelings about the strict definitions of what constitutes a ‘visit’ to certain locations, such as merely passing through an airport or visiting a DMZ office without experiencing the country.
Despite the title eluding him, Mofid’s adventures have gifted him a wealth of experiences that he cherishes deeply. He reflected, “Visiting every country has been my dream for the past five years. I’m incredibly grateful for all the people I met and the experiences I shared with them.” As he looks to the future, Mofid feels a sense of bittersweet closure to this chapter of his life, yet he remains excited about what lies ahead, ready to pursue it with the same curiosity and determination that fueled his global adventure.
In continuing his work with Humanity Effect, Mofid aims to tackle the educational crisis in Makoko, supported by volunteers and contributors dedicated to the cause. He encourages aspiring travelers to break free from the notion that travel must be expensive or exotic, emphasizing that the spirit of exploration lies within the mindset rather than the miles traveled.
image source from：https://themiamihurricane.com/2025/04/26/um-alumnus-among-youngest-to-travel-to-every-country-in-the-world/
