Class 23

Itena holds a Bachelor degree in Philosophy-Sociology from the Social Sciences Faculty of Tirana University, Albania. Currently she is a PhD candidate in Sociology at the same University. Itena has eight years of work experience in the nonprofit sector. While working as a project officer at “Children Are the Future” organization in Albania, Itena has coordinated several projects aiming at the improvement of education quality and empowerment of children and youth in disadvantaged areas. She has worked closely with schools through awareness-raising and consultation meetings, capacity building trainings, and workshops with students, teachers, and parents. Her studies and work experience have helped her gain a deep understanding of various issues concerning youth and education in Albania and she is highly committed to the development of a socially just society, where children and youth have equal chances to develop and realize their full potential. Itena likes focusing on topics of education, capacity building, youth and human rights at national and international level.

Host Organization : Making Cents International

Role at Host Organization : Itena will support the YouthPower.org learning hub and YouthPower Learning webinar series, which provides a learning platform that strengthens the positive youth development field across all sectors (Health, Education. She will also participate in the planning of the annual YP meeting and contribute to social media outreach.

Wafaa has five years of experience in Media, and earned a Bachelor’s of Mass Media and Communication in Journalism from the University of Cairo in Egypt. During the first year of the uprising of 25 of January, Wafaa found herself diligently engaging wholeheartedly in student activism, in specific campaigns, which lead to the amendment of the 2011-2012 Electoral and Constituency laws. While working as a freelance editor with Correspondents an online platform to support journalism development as a key factor in conflict transition, across three post-revolution nations, Egypt, Libya and Tunisia. Wafaa has also worked for Welad El Balad where she successfully help shed a spotlight on hyper-local journalism, helping to magnify the voices of marginalized communities in a highly centralized socio-political environment. Through these experiences, she developed strong project coordination and implementation skills. Wafaa enjoys focusing on the topics of culture, human rights and education, and has a strong passion for women empowerment.

Host Organization: Meedan Labs

Role at Host Organization:  Wafaa will work with the Business Development and Product teams to refine and implement a communications and launch strategy for Check, Meedan’s award-winning verification toolkit. In addition to working on public, lead-generating communications (through blogging, media outreach and social media) she will also support the Check Product team in customer and partner-facing communications related to product updates and support.

Sopheakpanha Cambodian citizen who resides in Phnom Penh. He graduated two years ago with a major in English language from Royal University of Phnom Penh and in economics from Royal University of Law and Economics. For roughly a year and half till now, he has been working as a digital media coordinator at Voice of America (VOA) in Phnom Penh. As a digital media coordinator , his job is to translate assigned international news articles, help edit the translation work from other digital media news assistants, transcribe English audio of an interview for translation and handle the Facebook page of Voice of America. In addition, he helps organize the digital work flow by delegating works to other digital media news assistants since quality digital news contents need to be posted on VOA online platforms in a timely manner. Until now, VOA digital work flow embarks on a smooth road with the number of audience engagement keeps on rising as the digital team brings forward quality and credible digital contents. Providing the audience quality enterprise news reports to the audience is one of the driving forces behind his taking up of journalism.

Host Organization: Voice of America

Role at Host Organization: Sopheakpanha will work on reporting, translating, voicing, narrating, shooting video, recording audio, posting and publishing digital text and visual content online to digital web and social platforms, and conducting on-camera interviews.

Shaza has four years’ experience working in the development and corporate sector of Pakistan. She earned a Master’s degree in Organizational and Social Psychology from London School of Economics and Political Science, UK. She worked closely with the Minister for Planning, Development & Reform on strategic communications of some of the biggest development projects in the country, including China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and Vision 2025. Shaza was part of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) team that worked towards modernizing and reforming the public sector of Pakistan through Civil Service Reforms. She brought to the government’s attention the long-neglected issue of mental health and advocated for legislative action through organizing a first-of-its-kind policy dialogue on the issue. Previously, she worked as a Brand Manager at GlaxoSmithKline Pakistan and at an NGO helping flood victims in Punjab, Pakistan. One of her great passions in life is to explore cultures through travel and photography.

Host Organization: Disaster Accountability Project

Role at Host Organization: “Shaza will add critical capacity building support as DAP prepares for the launch of SmartResponse, an ambitious effort to improve effectiveness/transparency/accountability in humanitarian aid donations by collecting and sharing “location-specific” and “pre-disaster” data on the capacity, activities, and history of CSOs, NGOs, and INGOs involved in disaster relief, humanitarian aid, and other human services.

Nyasha has a strong background in youth employment initiatives, workforce training, and community engagement. Following his relocation to South Africa, he earned his Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) in Marketing Management from the Management College of Southern Africa. He is committed to the development of sustainable social entrepreneurship initiatives to improve the living conditions of underprivileged communities in Southern Africa. As a Work Seeker Support Manager, he has been a part of the Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator’s Leadership Team that facilitated the successful transition of over 30,000 at-risk youth into sustained employment. The team also supported over 250,000 young unemployed South Africans with the skills needed to find themselves employment since 2011. In his role, he provided operational leadership to support the organization’s work seeker support targets. Previously, Nyasha worked as an IT Coordinator for Media Works, an education and training organization focused on literacy and numeracy challenges for groups in need, including people with disabilities, and farm and mine workers. There he was involved in the design and implementation of e-Learning projects funded by various Skills Education Training Authorities (SETAs) in South Africa. Through these experiences, Nyasha developed strong leadership, project coordination, and management skills. He is passionate about promoting youth employment, skills development, and has a particular interest in development communication.

Host Organization: BroadFutures

Role at Host Organization: Nyasha will support the Program Director and CEO with coordination and management of the BroadFutures program, including program development and implementation, communications and marketing. He will also help BroadFutures to serve a greater number of interns both directly through the program and through in-services and workshops.

Mazhun has six years experience in professional content production and translation for nonprofits. He has a Bachelor’s in Economic Science from Ahmadu Bello University, proficiency certificates in Hausa and Arabic languages. He also possesses MOOC certificates in “Building State Capability” from Harvard Center for International Development and “Creativity Innovation & Change” from Pennsylvania State University. Mazhun is a professional web search analyst, open-source data miner and volunteer linguist. Mazhun has delivered volunteer localization works for Breast Cancer Self Awareness messages under Project PINK BLUE-Health & Psychological Trust Centre. In June 2016 in Kano, Mazhun organized a one-day regional training workshop on sustainable control of Tuta Absoluta tomato pest, sponsored by Russell IPM, London, for northern Nigerian farmers. Five years ago, Mazhun was the acting editor of Al-Ikhtiyar, a monthly Islamic social reform magazine. In his previous employment with a media communication firm, Mazhun acquired content production skills as a guest interviewer, scriptwriter, subtitle supervisor, and cultural adaptation specialist for various TV programs. Mazhun has authored two books, two academic papers, and a number of poems in literary magazines, along with many features in Leadership, The Nation, Daily Trust and News of Nigeria newspapers.

Host Organization: Center for Islam and Religious Freedom (CIRF)

Role at Host Organization: Mazhun will assist with research, education, media production, and advocacy working in partnership with Muslims who support religious freedom. He will take part in educational programs about religious freedom, provide advice about work in Nigeria and other areas, and assist with grant applications.

“Maxsalia has six years experience in the nonprofit sector, particularly engaged in activities related to youth development, gender equality, and sexual and reproductive health and rights. She completed her second Master’s degree in International Development at the University of Birmingham in England and also holds a Masters in Clinical Psychology, as well as a Bachelors degree in Psychology and from The University of the West Indies. Maxsalia was most recently employed as a Foreign Service Officer at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade in Jamaica, where her duties included liaising with multiple state and non-state stakeholders, coordinating meetings, preparing reports, briefs, statements and position papers on a wide variety of development issues. Furthermore, Maxsalia is passionate about youth and women’s empowerment and has extensive advocacy experience as part of local, regional and international nonprofit networks such as the International Women’s Health Coalition (IWHC), Advocates for Youth (AFY), and Development Alternatives with Women for a New Era (DAWN). Through these experiences, Maxsalia has developed strong coordination, interpersonal, research, and communication skills.”

Host Organization: Council on Foundations

Role at Host Organization: Maxsalia will work closely with the Council’s Global Philanthropy Director in growing a portfolio of internationally focused programming for the Council on Foundations, including supporting ongoing resource development for expanded global activities. She will also help research and write about trends in international philanthropy and develop marketing and communications strategies and support the Council’s advocacy activities on global regulation of cross-border grantmaking.

Maysa is a graduate of Computer Man College (CMC) where she obtained Bachelor’s of Information Technology. She also holds a Master’s degree in Project Management from the University of Medical Science and Technology. Maysa has three years’ work experience in nonprofit organizations. Most recently, Maysa was the Programs Coordinator at Organization for Voluntary Humanitarian Assistance Programme at Food Security and Livelihoods (FSL). In thos role, she researched humanitarian needs and vulnerable population context, implementation of food security and livelihood activities and conducted monitoring and evaluation of food security and livelihood projects In November 2016, Maysa participated in a mission to South Sudanese refugee camps to assess the food security situation and livelihoods opportunities reinforcing her resolve to do more to alleviate the sufferings. She is passionate about food security, women empowerment projects, disarmament, topics of poverty alleviation and eradication of hunger and passion for child education and development.

Host Organization: Street Sense

Role at Host Organization: Maysa will oversee the sales department –where vendors purchase newspapers from Street Sense as independent contractors and then sell those newspapers to the public. She will work with both the sales operation directly and supervise a volunteer sales team, focusing on the delivery of case management.

Njeri has over five years working in the nonprofit sector. She has earned a Diploma in Social Development Studies, Bachelor’s in Social Work from Catholic University of Eastern Africa in Nairobi, Kenya and a Master’s in Criminology from the University of Brighton in the UK. She previously worked at St John’s School and College in Brighton, working with young people who have a wide range of complex learning disabilities and difficulties. Njeri has volunteered in Ghana as a Human Rights and Organization Development Advisor at Widows and Orphans Movement. In this capacity, she created partnerships with Action Aid Ghana, Amnesty International, Ghana and UNICEF. In addition, Njeri worked at African Medical and Research Foundation (AMREF) Dagoretti Child in Need Project where she provided community-based support for children from disadvantaged backgrounds and assisted them in re-joining the Kenyan school system. She developed hands-on experience in the process of Rescuing, Rehabilitation, Re-socialization and Reintegration (4-Rs). Prior to that, Njeri worked at the AMREF and Terra Nova’s Students, Artisans and Youth Program as an Apprentice Social Work Consultant. Her experience at the Aga Khan Foundation-Kenya, Coastal Rural Support Program saw her grow the company’s network by 70%. She conducted capacity building training and supported Village Development Organizations. More recently, Njeri has worked as a Project Director at Kestrel Limited where she increased employment opportunities and training in many Nairobi communities. Through these experiences, she developed strong skills in capacity building, project coordination and implementation, networking, and human rights and advocacy. Njeri is a social impact professional, zealous about creating meaningful and sustainable change among marginalized people and communities by contribution to strategic social interventions.

Host Organization: Points of Light

Role at Host Organization: Njeri will support the successful development and execution of the Points of Light’s portfolio of programs focused on meeting both the academic needs and service leadership development of youth through youth and volunteer engagement. He will equip youth and volunteers with the right resources that allow youth, volunteers, parents and teachers to collaborate on academic interventions and service opportunities that support the development of caring, compassionate and capable youth.

Gentian has 14 years of experience in Media, and earned a Bachelor’s of Journalism from the University of Tirana in Albania. While he worked in different printed and electronic Media, he developed strong communication skills. Though his work at its early stage focused on show business, lifestyle and entertainment, he showed a strong passion and interest toward social issues, using entertainment industry and its popularity to give voice to vulnerable social categories. Not many Media expert have been using entertainment industry for social and human rights purposes. Previously Gentian has worked with UN Albania and UNDP Albania in a fancy project, focused on deaf pupils abilities and talents, under the slogan “People with limited abilities but with unlimited talents.” He has leveraged entertainment, show business and lifestyle media to give voice to social and human rights causes and campaigns.

Host Organization: Voice of America

Role at Host Organization: Gentian will identify and research news and feature stories about American life, thought and institutions that are of interest to the Albanian target audience in the Balkans, and will be called upon to conduct interviews. He will expand his skills in journalism and storytelling and produce TV reports for international broadcast and/or digital content for the Albanian Service website and work at its social media outreach.

Esra has six years of experience in the nonprofit sector, and earned a Master’s degree of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Khartoum in Sudan. She also received a Professional Diploma in Management of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) from the University of Medical Sciences and Technology in Sudan. While working as a Program Associate with the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), she coordinated the implementation of the DFID-funded Joint Resilience Project (JRP) in Eastern Sudan. This was to improve targeted communities’ health and nutrition conditions, increasing their livelihoods and building their capacity to absorb shocks. She managed to ensure that communities were satisfied with the package of interventions provided and donor requirements were being met. Previously, Esra worked with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) serving the women in Darfur as a member of the Humanitarian Response unit. She was responsible for managing the yearly work plans and providing regular reports on programmatic financial data. Through these experiences, Esra has developed good project management, monitoring and evaluation, and reporting skills. She appreciates focusing on results-based programs and working on tools that measure the impact of assistance on people’s lives.

Host Organization: Disaster Accountability Project

Role at Host Organization: “Esra will add critical capacity building support as DAP prepares for the launch of SmartResponse, an ambitious effort to improve
effectiveness/transparency/accountability in humanitarian aid donations by collecting and sharing “location-specific” and “pre-disaster” data on the capacity, activities, and history of CSOs, NGOs, and INGOs involved in disaster relief, humanitarian aid, and other human services.
“

Calum has seven years of experience in the nonprofit and education sectors, and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Politics and Philosophy from the University of Melbourne. While working at the Foundation for Young Australians, Calum coordinated a number of education campaigns utilizing his expertise in policy, media, government relations and digital campaigning. Calum also designed, facilitated and evaluated programs to support young people’s transition from education to employment. Previous to this, Calum worked as a teacher assistant at an elementary school for three years where he supported and led classes across a range of disciplines. Through these experiences, Calum has developed strong skills in policy analysis, campaign strategy, and a detailed understanding of the education sector. Calum is passionate about supporting all young people in their transition from education to employment and strives to create a world where everyone can participate in lifelong learning.

Host Organization: Atlas Corps

Role at Host Organization: Calum will help enhance the capacity of the CEO and advance strategic goals and initiatives, especially expanding the Atlas Corps model. He will help with managing internal and external communications managing internal and external communications; coordinating the CEO’s schedule and travel; researching and collaborating on strategic projects and initiatives and supporting critical relationships with partners, supporters and the Board of Directors.