In the midst of new challenges, OYW Ambassadors continue to display leadership and innovation in their communities. Over the past week, Ambassadors have helped introduce historic legislation, been awarded global accolades and launched new initiatives. Learn more below.
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Amanda Nguyen
United States
Amanda is the CEO and founder of Rise, an organisation that helps ensure the rights of sexual assault survivors across the US. In the 2020 cycle, Rise has introduced model legislation in 9 States and the Sexual Assault Survivors’ Bill of Rights has been signed into law in Indiana, Nebraska and Missouri. This means that 1.8 million survivors in Missouri and 628,000 survivors in Nebraska will officially have their civil rights protected under the law in 2020.
Farhad Wajdi
Afghanistan
Farhad won the Waislitz Global Citizens' Choice Award and a $50,000 cash prize for his work as Founder and Executive Director of Ebtakar Inspiring Entrepreneurs of Afghanistan Organization. Farhad empowers women to break into the male-dominated profession of food cart vending in Afghanistan, and during COVID-19 converted these food carts into mobile disinfectant units.
Christian Achaleke
Cameroon
Christian received an award from UNESCO for the best youth-led COVID-19 Response in Cameroon. Christian is the National Coordinator of the youth-led peace-building civil society organization Local Youth Corner (LOYOC). With the outbreak of the pandemic, Christian led his peacebuilding organization to double efforts in public assistance by producing 100,000 bottles of hand sanitizers to be distributed freely in the most vulnerable localities. The organization also set up a center of a toll-free call service to bring psychological assistance to those suffering from the traumatic side effects of the pandemic.
Luisa Fernanda Gaviria Forero
Colombia
Luisa helped coordinate a week of celebration with the Tenjo Mayor's Office and the Youth Coordination. They hosted the event virtually, bringing high-quality content to the youth of the municipality. Luisa extended an invitation to other OYW Ambassadors and thus generated a week full of inspiring stories told by Ambassadors from both Colombia and other countries. This resulted in a collection of video recordings that can be used in the future for training and education on the importance of youth for society.
Marc Alain Boucicault
Haiti
Marc Alain was presented with an award for his work in the economics sector empowering young entrepreneurs and startups in Haiti. The award was given by the highest instance of the Government of Haiti with regards to youth affairs (the Secretary of State for Youth of Haiti and the Ministry of Youth) and occurred in the framework of the International Day of Youth. Marc Alain is the founder of Banj, a local entrepreneurship hub in Port-au-Prince.
Kehkashan Basu
Canada
Kehkashan Basu was awarded the Voices Youth Award for Peace. The Award was inaugurated to coincide with the official introduction of the Hiroshima/Nagasaki Accord during a global broadcast in remembrance of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the sites of the first and only use of nuclear weapons against civilians in our planet's history. Kehkashan is the founder of the Green Hope Foundation, and her goal is to work with youth and a worldwide leadership team to rid the world of nuclear weapons.
Lucky Aziken
Nigeria
Lucky Aziken's organisation Vision Care Givers International launched an initiative to protect correctional facilities in Nigeria from the COVID-19 Pandemic. His team produced antibacterial wash and hand sanitiser, established washing stations within the prison and created posters to spread awareness.
Monica Moisin
Sweden
Monica is one of the DO School's 5 #WeEmerge Solutions finalists. Monica is the founder of the Cultural Intellectual Property Rights Initiative, which is designed to be a worldwide movement supporting the recognition of cultural IP rights© for craftsmen and women who are the custodians and transmitters of traditional garments, traditional designs and traditional manufacturing techniques.
Mary Helda Akongo
Uganda
Mary Helda Akongo launched the #WomenForWomen fund, which is an initiative aimed at helping small business owners affected by the adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The main aim of this fund is to help women, with special emphasis on urban refugees, market vendors and street vendors to get back on their feet.
Benjamin Bocio Richardson
Dominican Republic
Benjamin Bocio Richardson is the founder of FUMEBO, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing healthcare and resources to vulnerable communities in the Dominican Republic. During the pandemic, they have been recipients of the Covid Young Leaders Fund and have used the funds to provide essential items for the prevention of COVID-19 to low-income communities in the Santo Domingo province.
Speaking Engagements
Lina al-Hathloul
Saudi Arabia
Lina al-Hathloul, the sister of Loujain al-Hathloul, was featured on the Guardian's Football Weekly podcast. Lina spoke about Loujain's imprisonment and the regime in Saudi Arabia.
Christian Routouang Mohamed Ndonga
Chad
Christian Ndonga spoke on a panel on the greater inclusion of African youth in public service and governance hosted by the African Leadership Institute.
Ferdinant Mbiydzenyuy
Cameroon
Ferdinant spoke at a webinar on the future after COVID-19 hosted by the CORE Group NCD Interest Group.
Brighton Kaoma
Zambia
Brighton spoke on the Queen's Commonwealth Trust In Conversation with The Duke and Duchess of Sussex: Digital for Good event. He spoke about his work at the Agents of Change Foundation in Zambia.
Katharina Hilker
Germany
Katharina spoke at the Women in STEM workshop in Frau Gerolds Garten in Zürich. She spoke to high school students about her passion for STEM topics, sharing her experience with the younger generation.
Jamira Burley
United States
Jamira Burley spoke at the first night of the Democratic National Convention. She spoke in a conversation On “The Path Forward”, engaging with Joe Biden, Chicago Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot, Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo, NAACP President Derrick Johnson and author Gwen Carr, mother of Eric Garner.
Ambassadors in the Media
Olcay Silahlı
Turkey
Olcay Silahlı was featured in the Balkan Green Energy News. Olcay is the CEO and co-founder of Whole Surplus, which connects suppliers and retailers with HoReCas (hotels, restaurants and cafes), recycling businesses and food banks to make the most out of unsold inventories. He spoke about his journey and his experience participating in the GGF’s clim@ competition this year.
Diana Constantinide
Cyprus
Diana Constantinide was interviewed on British TV. Diana is a barrister specialising in international criminal law and human rights.
Padinya Aree
Thailand
Padinya's organisation Tlejourn was featured in Channel News Asia. Tlejourn is a social enterprise that reduces ocean waste while supporting the local economy and raising awareness about marine debris through its products – flip-flops.