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2023 Activist of the Year
Winners
Joseph Tsongo
Joseph Tsongo is a young social change activist and community organizer passionate about social and environmental justice based in the Democratic Republic of Congo where he is the founder of the Jambo-Lab project, a digital platform preserving lives and livelihoods of communities affected by climate change effects. Mr. Joseph Tsongo, 29 years old, is also the CEO of the local organization called Amani-Institute ASBL, a socio-cultural movement bringing together more than 2,000 young volunteers working to promote the culture of peace and the development of grassroots communities in the DRC. But also, for more than 5 years, he has run a community radio with an environmental vocation called RCEKA-Fm, broadcasting in the Virunga landscape to promote freedom of expression and information in this context of generalized crisis. For almost 3 years, he has been active in the campaign against fossil fuels (FossilFreeVirunga & StopEACOP) as well as social and climate injustice in Africa. Thanks to his “adopt a tree, not a weapon” project integrating the art of participatory theater in particular with child soldiers to reconcile climate action with peacebuilding, he recently won the PACEY Award 2023. Always as proactive, in 2022 he took part in the Mandela Washington Fellowship program of the American Department of State with other young African leaders who went to various American universities. -https://twitter.com/josephtsongo14 -https://web.facebook.com/joseph.tsongo
Marwa Werghemmi
Marwa Werghemmi is a Tunisian teacher working on the 15 Five educational project for rural schools which aims to integrate critical thinking skills , conflict resolution and negotiation skills in terms of literacy through manuals , board and card games and a teacher guide. This project facilitates already 50 teachers mission already and still going on to achieve the 100 teachers and pupils aged between 8 and 12 years old. The project was developed and tested during her fellowship with the International Sustainability Academy in Hamburg, Germany and implemented later on in Tunisia. Besides her working on the 15 Five , she did Cogito project which was successfully funded by MEPI Alumna Venture Fund (IREX) focusing on productive thinking through cartoon series and board games. Miss Marwa is a past MEPI Student leader Alumna (Portland State University) and GCED ( Global Citizenship education )Alumna with UNESCO APCEIU and past ambassador with the World Literacy Foundation .Recently, her project 15 Five won the honor award from UNESCO APCEIU and she joined the Youth Center for research through their annual research program and she is now also a part of the Global School program at the UN Sustainable development solution network SDSN.
Eudora Ogechukwu
As a young Intersex person and Intersex right activist Eudora’s advocacy strategy is offering their expertise in development spaces through policy advocacy, information dissemination and community building and supports implementation of strategies for mainstream gender and social inclusion and human right approach in policies and intervention, Eudora’s scope of interest entail: • Funding policies for Advocacy • Human rights with bias towards Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, Gender Expression and Sex Characteristics (SOGIESC) and sex worker rights • Gender empowerment and advocacy against sexual gender-based violence • Health with keen interest on local and international policies on LGBTI community and other Key Populations • Global and local funding and new research and developments on SOGIESC rights and other Key Populations • Bridging the gap between mainstream media and the LGBT community and other Key Population and Inclusive feminism. Eudora holds a bachelor’s degree in Pharmaceutical Technology, currently pursuing a degree on Development Studies. Eudora is currently a member of The Global Fund Youth Council, Focal point for Women4Global Fund, Global advisor for Mama Cash and Frida Young Feminist Fund.
2023 Artist Activist of the Year
Winners
Monica Bene Mutumi
Bene3 the poet is a spoken word artist, fierce human right defender and an activist from Mukuru. Through the power of poetry, Bene3 teaches, entertain and educate the community on important issues such as police brutality, GBV, politics and mental health. Her extra ordinary talent haven’t gone unnoticed in 2022, Bene3 the poet was recognized for her exceptional artistry and he was nominated in two esteemed awards E360 and Jamhuri Kenya award, where she secured a distinguished position as the best spoken word artist of the year and 1st runners up respectively.
Warren Nsoseka Lee
As poet, writer and peace activist, I channel the essence of humanity and the sanctity of human life through verse, spoken word poetry and prose, infusing words and actions to inspire others to join in pursuit of a world woven with compassion and harmony. As a charismatic young leader I have championed several youth-led peacebuilding initiatives, including the “Youth and Culture Hub for Peace,” a platform for dialogue, healing and youth growth which, since 2017, has impacted over two thousand (2,000) displaced women and youth affected by the conflict in Anglophone Cameroon. I equally co-founded “Come Along Young People,” a biweekly hybrid newsletter with about 150 editions on various topics around peace, education of the girl child, youth growth and development aimed at keeping young people glued to context-based and educative articles during the Covid-19 lockdowns and thereafter. I have used sports, cinema and writing to promote social cohesion and mitigate escalation in conflict zones. In 2017, for example, I organized the SDGs Football Competition in Bui Division, creating space for over 5000 youths to interact, play in, and find sanctuary for healing. Today, I am the Founder of a non-profit, Community Peace Solutions (CPS), demonstrating my unwavering commitment to promoting a culture of peace, social cohesion and non-violence through its major program axis Community Peace Schools. I continue to actively engage diverse audiences on my social media platforms and provide livelihood support and employment to unskilled displaced youths through my social enterprise, Suiyen Services Limited, which deals with sanitation services. In education, I am is currently concluding his doctoral thesis aiming at an early warning and early response linguistic system for conflict. For my most recent publication, I am co-author of Songs of War, Songs of Peace, a poetry collection with over 80 poems on peace, justice and human dignity. My work is a testament to the power of art as a tool for positive change. I believe that words, in all renditions, have the capacity to bridge divides, foster understanding, and inspire action. By sharing stories, advocating for justice and peace, and challenging the status quo, I make an earnest effort to contribute to a more equitable and peaceful Africa. My work in exploring this potential for peacebuilding has brought me to work with young people in Uganda, South Sudan, Rwanda and my home country, Cameroon. I aim to contribute in creating a world where everyone matters and where women and children and thrive and feel safe and where everyone would have become active agents of peace.
Felicity Asibi
Akwa Felicity Asibi is a professional, impact-driven, self-motivated, enthusiastic, and disciplined creative writer and spoken-word artist from Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria. She has raised funding for a Social Justice Advocacy Spoken Word Album titled “We are all Poets”, released in July 2023; the album seeks to empower especially girls and women to take up responsibilities across several sectors. Asibi currently volunteers with Jos Green Centre and Punchline Poetry Society: She is passionate about combating negative social norms, increasing women’s political participation, and achieving climate justice.
2023 Movement of the Year
Winners
Centre Badilika
The “Centre Badilika” is a women’s and community-based organization established since 2019 in the Democratic Republic of Congo to mobilize and advocate for human and environmental rights, particularly in rural areas and areas plagued by armed conflict. Led by Mrs. Patricia Kasoki, a young woman leader and grassroots organizer, this non-profit association: -Supervises nearly 1,830 young girls from North Kivu, particularly in sexual and reproductive health education with its “Hello Dada” program -Supervises nearly 782 rural women and 210 rural men in a community chat program for the promotion of good family practices but also the fight against discriminatory social practices, etc. -Organizes radio programs bringing ordinary citizens to participate in public debate and especially rural women pleading in favor of land reform for their access to land in the DRC. -Organizes mobilization and advocacy campaigns through direct and online actions, particularly for social and environmental justice, with particular emphasis on women’s public and political participation, gender equality as well as equity in this context of violence.
Wahenga Youth Group
Wahenga Youth Group Is a dynamic and creative consortium of visual and performing artists/activists based in the Kayole area of Nairobi, Kenya, with a focus on using art as a means to address social injustices and promote positive change within their community and beyond. Their diverse range of artistic activities, including graffiti, music, poetry, comedy, and acting, allows them to engage with a wide audience and use their art for advocacy and edutainment. The group’s collaboration with numerous local and international organizations and participation in various events and festivals demonstrates their commitment to making a positive impact on their community and society as a whole. Their efforts in civic, Human rights and political education, community cleanups, public spaces transformation, Environment conservation and mental health talks also reflect a holistic approach to community development. It’s impressive to hear about their awards and recognition, such as “Best Unknown Public Space” and “Best Courtyard in Changing Faces Competition” by Public Space Global and Public Space Network, as well as overall winner in the BAYER YOUTH SUMMIT in 2022. These accolades underscore their dedication to addressing social injustices and improving their community. Wahenga Youth Group is an inspiring example of how art and creativity can be harnessed for positive change and social impact in local communities. They’re supporters of the #BorderlessAfrica campaign by Africans Rising and have been actively engaged in collecting signatures for the petition both online and offline.
Zambia Malaria Youth Corps
Our area of focus as the Zambia Malaria Youth Corps is to advocate for and drive action towards malaria elimination and expansion of universal health coverage (UHC) in Zambia. currently we have recruited about 9000 thousand plus youth across the country. As the Youth, we are raising awareness and community sensitization activities, as well as dissemination of malaria messages that drive end-malaria action. We are engaging in community level malaria prevention, control efforts as well as improve policy implementation. we re also bring about innovative Which scale up delivery of proven interventions, that promote prevention, diagnosis and treat malaria thereby saving lives. your vote will mean a lot to us in supporting our work. We are the youths to bring the Change we see thus, a proactive and productive mind starts with Us.