In the midst of numerous global challenges, OYW Ambassadors have demonstrated their continued leadership in their countries and communities. This week, Ambassadors have featured in world-leading documentaries, been interviewed by CNN and given prestigious leadership appointments. Learn more below.
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Maatalii Okalik
National Geographic Documentary
Canada
Inuit rights activist, Maatalii Okalik, shares her story in THE LAST ICE. The documentary, which premiered on the National Geographic Channel, tells the story of the Inuit communities fighting to protect the disappearing Arctic that has been their home for centuries.
The Inuit, indigenous people living in the Arctic regions of Canada, Greenland and Alaska, have long been discriminated and marginalized, and Maatalii Okalik’s goal is ‘to ensure that Inuit live the same quality of life as fellow Canadians’.
Ryan Makuku
Barclays Feature
United Kingdom
Ryan Makuku featured as part of Barclays' Black History Month campaign.
Ryan says: "Black History Month exposed to me how we as black people can excel at the highest levels but also, how we can help to break down negative stereotypes, to show that we are worthy, that we are amazing and that we are excellent."
Hannah Rose Thomas
UN75 exhibition
United Kingdom
Hannah’s portraits of Yezidi, Rohingya and Nigerian women are being profiled as part of UN75 for an online exhibition produced by Google Arts & Culture. A visual testimony not only of war and injustice but also of humanity, dignity and resilience, Hannah hopes to empower the women’s voices to be heard and highlight the issue of sexual violence and the persecution of religious and ethnic minorities.
Paola Ramos
CNN Interview
Cuba, United States
Paola Ramos was interviewed by Christiane Amanpour on CNN. The author of "Finding Latinx", Paola explained the nuances of her community and why we need to be particularly cautious of misinformation during election times.
Izzy Obeng
WeWork Collaboration
United Kingdom
Izzy is the founder of Foundervine - an inclusive startup community where young people from diverse backgrounds come together to build networks and launch startups.
Foundervine has partnered with WeWork, which provides flexible working spaces, to offer free memberships for diverse founders. The aim of the initiative is to break down the racial and economic barriers that ethnically diverse founders in the UK and Ireland face.
Ilwad Elman
2020 German Africa Prize
Somalia
Somali-Canadian peace activist Ilwad Elman has been awarded the 2020 German Africa Prize. The prize has been awarded since 1993 to exemplary figures from the African continent. Past winners have advocated for democracy, peace, human rights, arts and culture, and social issues.
The Director of Programs & Development for the Elman Peace and Human Rights Centre in Somalia, Ilwad manages the economical, psycho-social rehabilitation and reintegration of youth and children involved in the armed conflict throughout Somalia.
Isra Chaker, Amanda Nguyen
Michelle Obama Campaign
United States
Amanda Nguyen and Isra Chaker featured in former First Lady of the United States Michelle Obama's Iwillvote.com video campaign ahead of the US elections.
Amanda and Isra are both civil rights activists, campaigners and advocacy experts.
There is no limit to what we, as women, can accomplish when we use our voices and vote. With only days left before the election, we have to keep showing up in numbers that can't be denied and voting like our lives depend on it. Vote for Joe and Kamala. https://t.co/vS12U5kabm pic.twitter.com/NXdP6z0eh1
— Michelle Obama (@MichelleObama) October 30, 2020
Jennifer Pfister
G(irls) 20 Summit Delegate
Germany
Jennifer represented Germany at the G(IRLS) 20 Summit, hosted virtually for the first time this year. She helped to draft a communique with policy recommendations regarding gender equality and female empowerment that was presented to G20 leaders.
Fadeia Hossain
Mentorship Project
Iraq
After attending the One Young World Summit, Fadeia launched a mentoring scheme for visually impaired law students at Clifford Chance. The 5 mentees have received monthly calls to support them during the training contract application process and will receive a personal coaching session with Martin Chapman, a leading virtual trainer.
Giuliana Bryan Alvarez
Comic Relief Youth Council
Colombia
Comic Relief US announced the launch of its inaugural Youth Advisory Council, comprising of eight trail-blazing young leaders from around the world. The Council includes Giuliana Bryan Alvarez, the project coordinator for youth and community empowerment at Manos Visibles (Visible Hands), a non-profit organisation in Colombia.
The Council Members will work alongside Comic Relief US’s grantmaking team to inform the organisation’s Red Nose Day grants portfolio across four pillars, ensuring children are safe, healthy, educated and empowered, with greater opportunities to thrive.
Pratik Gauri
WOCstar Fund
India
WOCstar Fund announced Pratik among the participants of the WOCstar Venture programme, a global group of investors, entrepreneurs, and business professional representing a new generation of leaders.
Pratik is an award-winning serial social entrepreneur, investor, public speaker and writer committed to making the world a better place by creating 5th Industrial Revolution through servant-driven leadership.
Tim Keaveney
Podcast Feature
United Kingdom
Tim Keaveney was invited to speak on the Young People Doing Things podcast to talk about his new initiative, Homethings. Homethings reimagines household products to remove single-use plastic, providing refillable and non-toxic cleaning products.
Grace Forrest, Eva Mackinley
Australian of the Year Award Nominees
Australia
Grace is the WA Young Australian of the Year nominee as a result of her work leading Walk Free, an all-female team working to eradicate modern slavery. Eva also received a nomination, as one of 17 Tasmanians put forwards for this year's awards. In five years, Eva has encouraged more than 1,000 Australian venues to change their straw use - saving 20 million plastic straws from entering the waste system.
Since its inception in 1960, the Australian of the Year awards have provided a forum for the recognition of outstanding achievement
Kian Bakhtiari
Mentorship Programme
Iran
Kian, along with his team at The People, are working with Freestar on a mentoring programme to support young people out of work. The group has gathered a collection of entrepreneurs, business leaders and industry captains to provide on-to-one sessions for young people.
Elissa Glorie
Moja Launch
Australia
Earlier this year, Elissa launched Moja, a Dutch startup with the mission of making good hygiene normal. Moja's underwear is made ethically in Portugal and part of the profits fund entrepreneurship, education and hygiene products in Tanzania.
Jonny Jacobs
Mental Health Role Model
United Kingdom
Jonny was included as a role model on the 2020 InsideOut LeaderBoard, #SmashingTheStigma of mental ill-health in the workplace.
The InsideOut LeaderBoard is a social enterprise with a mission of ending the stigma of mental ill-health in the workplace by creating a ripple effect of senior leaders who are willing to speak out about their own lived experience.
El Hadj Djitteye
Leadership Appointment
Mali
El Hadj has recently taken up a position of Programme Manager of Conflict Stability and Security Fund (CSSF) Sahel for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. The CSSF is a cross-departmental fund of Her Majesty's Government focused on promoting a secure, safer, and more stable Sahel.
Malibongwe Xaba
Book Release
South Africa
An author and mental strength motivational speaker, Malibongwe recently published a book titled “It’s okay not to be okay: Admitting you not okay is the new normal" to help people to overcome their everyday struggles and start a new positive path.
Speaking Engagements
15 October
Swarnima Bhattacharya was invited to speak on the topic of "Why the climate crisis needs a gender lens". The event formed part of the We Emerge Week digital series, organised by The DO School.
20 October
Apefa Adjivon spoke at Resolve 2020, an online conference organised by Resolution Project. The discussion was themed around 'Social Justice and Inequality in 2020'.
21 October
Tariq Al Olaimy delivered a Public Planet Partnerships session on inter-species collaborations last week, as part of #Expo2020 Climate and Biodiversity week.
30 October
Juan Carlos Viloria Doria was invited to speak on a webinar, titled "Los desafíos de la integración de refugiados y migrantes con vocación de permanencia en las ciudades de América Latina y el Caribe: una mirada social, económica y urbana."
Media Coverage
Marek Kubik
United Kingdom
Hauwa Ojeifo
Nigeria
Rza Aliyev
Azerbaijan
Martine Irakoze
Burundi
