Lizza Marie Kawooya is passionate about amplifying the voices of girls and women and achieving gender equality. She serves as the team lead and founder of Dwona Initiative, a nonprofit based in Uganda, and holds the role of country lead at GivingTuesday, Uganda. Lizza is a nominee for the Young Philanthropist of the Year at the Humanitarian Awards Global 2023 and was recognized as a recipient of the East Africa Philanthropy Network Jury Award in 2021. She is also an honoured recipient of the New VisionTop 40 under 40 award for 2021/2022.Through Dwona Initiative, they advocate for the eradication of gender-based violence at school and community levels through an art advocacy campaign called “Let Art Be My Voice. This campaign has directly involved over 1,956 school children and administrators, community leaders and members, and 5 local Council Courts. In directly, it has reached over 6,000 students in primary and secondary schools.
I am Saidu Idrissa Kanu, a youth activist, climate advocate, feminist and ambassador for the Sustainable Development Goals. The founder of Gender Equality For Good Governance Sierra Leone an organization that is advocating for Gender equality, climate and health issues.
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.
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
Yoal Gatkuoth (Chànge De Gatkuoth), is a peace and human rights activist. He holds leadership positions with youth-led groups, CSOs networks, extracurricular activities, and community associations. Yoal is a founding director of the Pan-African Peacemakers Alliance (PAPA), a youth-led action–oriented peacebuilding and advocacy organization in South Sudan. Yoal has been instrumental in calling for the respect, protection, promotion, and fulfillment of human rights in South Sudan, where he has exposed numerous human rights violations. He has been advocating for these causes at the national, regional, and international levels. With a drive for volunteerism, activism, inclusion leadership, and sustainable development. Yoal is motivated by his personal experience of growing up amidst war and violence, as well as by the loss of his family members, friends, and neighbors during the December 15 & 16, 2013 civil crisis in South Sudan. In his 4 years of work, Yoal has executed numerous activities on youth & women development, human rights, youth peace and security, democracy, governance, civic Space, conflict resolution, and peacebuilding projects in South Sudan and across the region impacting over 10,000 thousand youth direct and estimate of 100,000 indirect local population on Information online and offline on peace, human rights, democracy, good governance, youth peace and security, SRH education, civic space, mentorship and youth capacity development advocacy and engagement that were meant to engage and strengthen participation of youth, women and general public for reinforcing their roles in promotion and enhancing accountable and responsive governance, and democracy in South Sudan through his work he led several public awareness, advocacy, lobbying, training youth and showing solidarity to human rights victims across the global and served in several coalitions. His work around advocacy, facilitating community dialogues for peace, human rights documentation, youth capacity building, and youth-led peace activators has strengthened efforts for peace and security in South Sudan. His engagement in supporting, advocating for, and mentoring internally displaced youth and women affected by the 2013 and 2016 conflict and exposing human rights violations remains among his key milestones. Yoal is the lead of Pan – African Solidarity Action for Sudan in South Sudan, an initiative of African Rising in partnership with PAPA and other solidarity workers in Africa. He is a member of several networks/coalitions nationally, regionally, and globally. Yoal serves as a peace ambassador for the International Women’s Peace Group (IWPG). Yoal is an alumnus of the Young African Leaders Initiative Regional Leadership Center (YALI RLC) in 2020 and the Mandela Washington Fellowship in 2022 at Kansas State University, where he focused on leadership in civic engagement. In recognition of his determination to promote and defend human rights in South Sudan, Yoal has received several prestigious awards, including the Upcoming Youth Human Rights Defender of the Year 2023 by the South Sudan Human Rights Defenders Network, the Top 30 AfroArab Youth Champions 30 under 30 for 2020 by the Guardians of AfroArab Leadership and Mastermind Afrisythesis, Focus Africa Award in 2021, as well as the Innovative Educator and Changemaker Award from the International Innovative Future Education Summit and Awards. Additionally, he was awarded by the Wolkite University Students’ Union leadership as an outstanding student leader in 2018 and recognized by the Department of Psychology as the founder of the Wolkite University Students’ Psychology Club in 2017. Despite the challenges and pushback, Yoal remains humble and dedicated to his cause. His passion for peacebuilding and human rights is truly inspiring and serves as an example of what can be achieved through hard work, determination, and a genuine desire to make the world a better place.
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.
Trevor Oahile is a Forbes BLK entrepreneur and award winning youth activist. With more than 8 years doing voluntary work, Trevor has change lives of young people not only in Botswana but also the rest of Africa. He has done work several with international organization such as UNFPA, UNICEF, GOALS AFRICA and SRHR AFRICA TRUSTY,YOUTH IMPACT just to mention a few. Mr. Oahile holds several awards and recognitions under his belt. He was name Best youth promoting health and well-being and Best youth of the year in 2018 at Botswana Youth Awards. He was also the winner of best youth promoting community develop by Future Africa Awards in 2020. These awards recognized his contribution towards Sexual reproductive health rights environment.UNFPA Botswana regularly relied on him to represent young people in national and regional meetings including the regional UNFPA Safeguard Young People Programme and AFRIYAN leadership Programme. He was nominated me to represent young people at the global UNFPA milestone Nairobi summit to mark the 25th anniversary of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) summit. Trevor contributed to the development of the sixth Country Programme for UNFPA’s support to the Government of Botswana. He also supported the UNFPA office to convene over 200 adolescent girls for the annual Girls summit in partnership with the Office of the First Lady of Botswana. Together with a group of young people, they successively lobbied policy makers to include protective clauses during the 2018 amendment of the Age of Consent to Sex Penal Code.Finally, Trevor was the co-host of radio show called Dont Get it Twisted for four years in which they had conversations with young people across the Botswana discussing SRHR issues that affect them daily.
Stacey Fru is the former face of the African Union (AU) and International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) International Campaign for the Elimination of Child Labour 2021 #EndChildLabour. She is a South African International Multiple Award-Winning Child Author turned novelist, and Activist, who wrote her first book “Smelly Cats” at age 7. She has since dedicated a portion of her life to reach out, to inspire and edutain people of various ages across the world. One of her books is available in Braille and Daisy formats. Books by Stacey Fru include: – Smelly Cats (Published in 2015), – Bob and the Snake (Published in 2016), – Smelly Cats on Vacation (Published in 2018) – Where is Tammy (Published in 2019) – Tim’s Answer (Published in 2019). – Middleburg East (Published in 2023) The Stacey Fru Foundation is an initiative which arose out of then 9-year-old Stacey Fru’s zeal to empower and encourage children and adults alike to learn how to read and write. Amongst other things, the Foundation sup-ports Stacey’s vision of motivating and empowering through many initiatives, including creating partnerships that aim at Elevating the African Child, buying her books and donating them to schools, institutions and libraries and seeking pledges and donations that enable her to travel to schools in rural areas and/or transport rural children to the cities for specific Foundation activities.
Numa Bere Berine is the Founder of Berine and Bokwe Foundation. Berine and Bokwe Foundation (BEBOF) is a duly registered Non-profit women-led association. BEBOF aims to reach out, support and empower abandoned widows, orphans, internally displaced persons (IDPs) and underprivileged persons Founded in May 2017. Our mission is to bring hope, put smile, and empower them spiritually, economically, socially and financially. We support widows, orphans and internally displaced persons.
Named favourite person of the year by German magazine Taz.de, Sylvie Njobati is an activist championing the restitution and repatriation of Africa’s heritage looted during the grim colonial era now hoarded in German museums and storage facilities. At the center of her work is Pan-Africanism: challenging and dismantling colonial narratives crafted to undermined Africa’s potentials. Her powerful voice and action has moved some of the worlds most powerful institutions to agreeing to return more than 30 ‘objects’ in some 3 institutions in Germany. She is currently leading the #BringBackNgonnso campaign that has reached more than 47 million people and is now a blueprint for the restitution of Africa’s cultural heritage. Sylvie’s wealth of knowledge in dealing with diplomatic bureaucracies, managing controversies between governments and communities, working with legal personnel to develop frameworks and developing tools for community advocacies while supporting them through their restitution process is changing the narrative for Africa and redefining the role of individuals and civil society in forging for the change we want
Seyram Agbleze is an artist, writer and activist from Ghana educated at Central University College. He employs the arts as a tool for advocacy. His works explore themes of humanity, identity and freedom. He is the first recipient of the prestigous Merian Institute for Advanced Studies in Africa (MIASA) Artist Fellowship (sponsored by the German Federal Ministry for Education and Research with co-funding from the University of Ghana). He is also a recipient of the Thetis Blacker Award (2019) from Temenos Academy, London ( Patron: King Charles III). The renowned USA social justice organisation Undocublack Network picked him as one of the Black Personalities of Choice for the 2022 Black History Month for his contributions in uplifting black voices (Lift Every Voice Up Series). He is the author of Journey of West African Textile Traditions (Book), A Forgotten People (body of artworks), Gold Coast Elmina (Documentary), Still Here (body of work) among others. The overarching anchor of his works stem from re-examining narratives about Africa which have been largely influenced through eurocentric lenses. It all started with retelling the African textiles story with “Journey of West African Textile Traditions” to counter the prevailing story at the time of African textiles not being actually African. He is still documenting narratives of Africa till date, this time through arts by using it’s iconic textiles as it has been done for ages in Africa. He is an artist whose work pushes boundaries and transcends form. His visual art practice is inspired by Asafo flags and he is known for striking art collages which also employs handwoven textiles for visual storytelling. Seyram Agbleze’s latest project is Still Here, a product of his 2023 MIASA Art Fellowship. It is a body of work comprising of socially conscious artworks and a documentary film titled Still Here: Story of Africa (now available on YouTube). This film explores the root causes of Africa’s current state. Africa suffers from the legacy of slavery, colonialism and political corruption. He believes these factors result in lack of opportunities for its youth pushing them to seek greener pastures dangerously through illegal migration.
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.
I’m Kikuni Papy Victor Most known by popular Stage Name as Papsher Babu ni Babu, I’m artist multi-talented and Youth advocate for peace building /Youth advocate for refugees, children and the most marginalized people and also I’m Social entrepreneur Founder and CEO of Refugee Talent Group Centre (RTG) which is non formal educational organization aims to empower refugees and Ugandan through life skills, music,dance,art for social development and local integration. I’m passionate about humanitarian service I love serving people through my Talent. Original from Democratic Republic of Congo living in Uganda. As artist I used my voice and my body as media to promote Social peaceful coexistence I sing about Peace, love,unity, life, pain,happiness,hope, Entertain and educate
Storyteller in schools in Luanda. Street photographer. Writes about social and political situations in Angola. Director of documentaries about poverty in his country.
Vanessa Chisakula is an artist, speaker, and creative activist who employs art as a medium for advocacy. She perceives creativity as the connecting thread between art and social justice. Her writings aim to heal and speak truth to power. She has contributed to creating and facilitating safe spaces for women to creatively speak out about their political, social, and economic issues of concern in Zambia. She has conducted campaigns on young people’s participation in a functioning democracy, which led to her project on unity, free, and peaceful elections in the case of Zambia’s 2021 election, executed during a nonresidential fellowship. https://www.cipe.org/blog/2021/08/14/youth-perspective-from-zambia-amid-key-ele ctions/pe. She has been using her creativity to speak on issues of peace and has not only used her social media platforms but has been featured at the UN High-Level Global Conference on Youth-Inclusive Peace Processes 2021 and also on Oxfam Imatter (Women and Peace Series).
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.
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.
BAWAC Cameroon is a Young and dynamic Cameroonian Organization protecting women and children through Human Rights, Youth Development and Entrepreneurship, GBV prevention, Health, Nutrition/Shelter/NFI/WASH as well as Peace Building, Mediation and Conflict resolution. VISION A Dignified Life for ALL Women and Children. MISSION BAWAC supports underprivileged groups on GBV prevention, Health, Wealth creation, Security and sustainable peace using Community centered approach and Advocacy. CORE VALUES BAWAC is guided by three key principles summarized in Honesty and transparency for all beneficiaries, donors, Partners and team BAWAC. OBJECTIVES To promote and protect the rights of women and children. To help alleviate Poverty via self-help programs and sustainable livelihoods projects. To engage women in peace building and Conflict resolution. To prevent GBV and provide psychosocial support, social services and safe spaces for survivors. To promote Hygiene, Sanitation and Health programs and capacity building activities (Entrepreneurship). FOCUS Skills Development. Empowerment. GBV. Health. Human Rights and Democracy Frontline advocacy for minority groups Wealth Creation Trauma healing &Psychosocial Support Protection Monitoring. Peacebuilding processes. RETURN OF REFUGEES: Provide comprehensive, confidential psychosocial support Connect psychosocial support to reproductive health and socioeconomic support initiate multi – stakeholder reintegration program Ensure context sensitivity of livelihood program Engage local communities in stigma reduction We flop teacher training and support mechanisms and curricula to address rehabilitation and reintegration and broader PVE issues in schools. Engage local communities in stigma reduction Engage female religious authorities Encourage programming to help women and girls returnees rediscover different and positive aspects of their identity. Facilitate opportunities for them to pursue pro – social activities and discover alternative ways to fulfill their sense of purpose. Implement sustainable development solutions Initiate sustainable economic and employment development, including by working with the private private sector, to determine critical needs and potentials for new sectorial Development and vocational training for men and women Initiate multi- stakeholder reintegration programs, including employers, educators, and communities, to enhance access to education, job placement, and entrepreneurship. Avoid gendered or cultural assumptions about what kind of work women (and men) can or should do Conduct labor market assessments to inform job training and skills Development TARGET GROUP Rural women, Youths and vulnerable groups/Communities
The Forum for Development and Democracy is a civil society organization in Tunisia based in the governorate of Mahdia since 2016 that works for the consolidation of the culture of citizenship and democracy and contributes to the achievement of development in various fields. It aims to: – sensitize young people – organize various events for youth and civil society activists – provide an appropriate framework for participatory actions. – Contribute to building a culture of human rights. – Protect the rights of children and support women’s rights . – Working to achieve sustainable development We are not only playing our role as a mediator between cytizens and the authority but also doing our best in lobbying to deffend many projects and social as well as economic and developmental needs. We worked with youths to build their career and skills. We also strengthened the economic situation of women. Besides, we participated in the political level by suggesting laws and being present in the parliament to defend our views and we succeeded in many cases. We were present in all dilemas mainly in the coronavirus epidemic by organizing awareness campaigns, distribute masks and gels as well as many other activities. To put it in a nutshell, we are trying to add a value to our community and make a positive change.
Escola dos direitos humanos e liderança comunitária Angola
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.
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.
I’m an environmentalist by training, a senior technician specializing in the packaging and valorization of agricultural products. Founder of the TOP BIORIM company, which specializes in the production of natural fertilizers in Mauritania, I’m currently working for an NGO (Banlieue du Monde Mauritanie) as a youth officer. I set up a natural fertilizer production unit called TOP_BIORIM in 2021. Currently, I’m in Morocco as part of a training program offered by the Moroccan International Cooperation. In 2017, I provided tutoring for senior high school students in Natural Science. In 2019, I embarked on agricultural entrepreneurship: I accompanied 130 women on good agricultural practices in the commune of Darel Avia as part of the Salam project piloted by the NGO banlieue du Monde Mauritanie. I’m a local development project coordinator with this Mauritanian organization. I’m in charge of communications for the African leadership programs in Mauritania, a network comprising 30 countries. In 2023, I represented Mauritania in the YALI DAKAR 100 Alumni/ 10000 candidates program in West Africa.
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.
we promote the reading culture, literacy, education, youth empowerment and more