Media & Journalism

Comfort is a communications professional with over five years of experience in internal and external communications in various industries like education, media (print and social media), professional training and research as well as operations. She worked as the COO at the KSE Network while also serving as a media account officer at The Alpha Reach. Comfort recently led the KSE Network’s team in a 3 months and 2 weeks training of 100 participants at the #MTNPulseBlowMyHustle campaign which recorded overwhelmingly positive feedback. At This Day Newspaper where she worked as a reporter, she had over 100 articles published in her maiden name (Comfort Umoren). Comfort has an MA (Distinction) and a BA (First Class) in Communication and Language Arts, both at the prestigious University of Ibadan and, an OND (Distinction) in Mass Communication at the former Lagos State Polytechnic. She runs a blog – Unwind With Kam4t, where she writes on issues that affect young professionals and entrepreneurs in a relaxed way.

Host Organization: Deseret Management Corporation

Role at Host Organization: As a Global Communications Fellow, Comfort will assist the global reach efforts of the Deseret Management Corporation, including expanding a mission-driven mandate to help media be a constructive, inclusive part of civil society, in particular as it relates to some of the oft-forgotten issues of faith and values. Comfort will assist in managing a diverse portfolio of activities and partnership in the communications realm. As the supervisor is also the CEO of the Radiant Foundation (the corporate foundation associated with the corporation), there will be ample opportunities to assist with projects that build partnerships and awareness around the foundation’s core issues. Comfort’s fellowship will focus on media brands, on communications, public relations and the nexus of how those issues impact society as a whole.

Abie is a humanitarian worker whose work focuses on migrant protection and supporting the sexual and gender minority community around the world. In 2019, he founded BRANI, a virtual safe space for Indonesians that encourages discussion and provides information on SOGIESC-related issues. Abie has previously worked with diverse organizations, such as Amnesty International, Project Hope 4 Kids, and International Organization for Migration. He has experience in program management and providing direct assistance to vulnerable groups such as asylum seekers, refugees, and victims of human trafficking both in Indonesia and abroad. Abie earned a Master’s degree in Theology from Uppsala University in Sweden and a Master’s degree in International Humanitarian Action from the University of Groningen in the Netherlands. Abie holds a Bachelor’s degree in Law from Universitas Gadjah Mada. Abie aims to bolster BRANI by learning about effective online campaigns and how to reach those without Internet access. He also wants to gain insight into the unintended negative consequences of outreach campaigns, including backlash, confusion, and desensitization. Abie now focuses on acquiring skills in organizational management, leadership, fundraising and grant-writing, marketing and communications, and strategic planning.

Host Organization: Princeton in Asia

Role at Host Organization: As a Programs Fellow, Abie will develop relationships with host countries and organizations; improve tools for evaluating new and renewing partnerships for Princeton in Asia; and implement equitable, inclusive best practices in recruitment, application, review, and fellow support in partnership with PiA staff and Board of Trustees committees.

Mamoona Sarwar earned a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from the University of Punjab in 2015. Four years later, Mamoona earned a Master’s degree in Urdu from the University of Gujrat. Meanwhile, She also had the opportunity to experience teaching in different private schools & colleges for about nine years, and after that, she became a principal at “The future Montessori school Gujrat”, where she currently works.
She serves as a managing director, teacher, trainer, and Career counselor at the future Montessori school. She has experience taking part in different social projects, training, and research activities. Mamoona has been working to educate the children since 2010, first, she started educating poor children free of cost at home in her spare time in the evening but later on a coaching center “The future academy” requested her to join them as a teacher and trainer in2018. she accepted this request and she is still there While working in this academy, she prepared various training for students and faculty members. Additionally, Mamoona provided training for students and youngsters, to let them find their goals, carrier, and jobs, or create their own. As the Project Coordinator, she has been running a carrier counseling program at the future academy since 2020. Besides this, she provided counseling services and training for teachers, parents, and students to solve their issues. Lastly, she also provides a workshop on ” can I…? ” since August 2020

Rocío Corrales is a social entrepreneur and communication lover who lives in Bolivia. She graduated with honors in Social Communication from the Universidad Mayor de San Simón and has three years of experience in journalism, marketing, and strategic communication. She is currently an investigative journalist at the digital media outlet MUY WASO, whose work consists of researching and writing about human rights, gender, and indigenous peoples. In parallel, in 2020 she founded the communication and marketing agency “CREACTIVAS.” During 2021, Rocío worked in the communication area of ​​the organization PROMOCIÓN INTEGRAL DE LA MUJER Y LA INFANCIA, managing more than five social and communication projects with women and children in situations of violence, increasing digital positioning, and social impact. In 2020 she was director of communication and marketing within the organization MUJERES TICS. In 2019 she worked as a journalist on social issues in the local newspaper LOS TIEMPOS.

Saleta Ameixeiras is a Forest Engineer from the University of Santiago de Compostela with a Master’s Degree in Environmental Engineering from the University of Basque Country and a Social Innovation and Responsibility Diploma from the University of A Coruña. She has studied in various countries throughout Europe and Latin America learning about foreign languages and cultures. Her international experience makes her feel comfortable in multicultural environments and allows her to develop her ability to adapt to different working styles and groups. After her studies, she worked in the Environmental Impact Assessment department of TRAGSATEC, a Spanish state-owned company. For more than three years of working directly with political offices, she learned intensively about the field of environmental impact assessment projects, local and regional legislation, and procedures with public institutions. Afterwards, she started in a new position at ALLCOT, where she currently works as a Climate Change Consultant focusing on renewable energy projects. Since working at ALLCOT, she has learned about the carbon markets and different international carbon credit certification standards. She is also deeply skilled in working under pressure, multitasking, and teamworking. Since 2020, she has been a climate leader after completing training by the Climate Reality Project, an organization created by former U.S. Vice President Al Gore and whose goals are to create climate leaders all over the world to raise awareness about climate change. Saleta is passionate about sustainability, ecosystem restoration, climate change, and believes in communication and climate leadership as the way to change climate change.

Sivakami Prasanna is a social science graduate who aspires to understand how gender intersects with different socio-cultural and economic inequities, aiming to work at the intersection of academia, action research, and policy making. She completed her Bachelor’s in Social Sciences from Tata Institute of Social Sciences and later pursued a Post Graduate Diploma in Liberal Arts from Ashoka University as a Young India Fellow. The writings of Amartya Sen and Jean Dreze in advocating for participatory models for development that focus on the reflective participation and agency of people resonate deeply with her. While working in rural Maharashtra and Kerala, her engagement with communities awoke her to the large gap between policymaking, academia, and ground reality. To further explore this, she interned with the Center for Public Policy Research to understand the nuances of policymaking and its implications while also working with women from rural Ernakulam through Goonj and with migrant laborers through Let’s Reach Out Kerala. A firm believer in the might of the pen, she has published articles on the Rights Collective blog, Café Dissensus, Truecopy Think, Countercurrents, Feminism in India, and the CPPR blog on several issues relating to identity, culture, and social justice. Sivakami is currently a Banyan Impact Fellow, working with India Health Action Trust in Shahdol, Madhya Pradesh. She is associated with Project MANCH, which seeks to improve maternal and newborn child healthcare outcomes in Tribal areas of MP.

Willy Pedroso Aguiar has seven years of experience as an environmental activist, specialist in communication for development and social change (C4D), and researcher on inequalities and information poverty. He obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications and Marketing and a Master’s Degree in Library and Information Science, both at the University of Havana (UH). He also completed a Master’s in Latin American Studies at University College London. He has worked as an advocacy and actor articulation specialist, a C4D officer in international campaigns and projects, and has also been a researcher and data analyst. In addition, Willy has extensive experience in causes such as climate change, land degradation, ecosystem conservation, disaster risk management, and clean energy. Willy is very interested in continuing to work on environmental problems, especially climate change, which strongly affects small island states like his country.

Zainab Farooq is a HR professional with 8 years of working in a key position at UN WHO. She has also worked in one of the most prestigious universities in Pakistan and writes articles for a well-known Pakistani newspaper. She’s an active social worker and has worked as a volunteer for UNESCO World Heritage in Turkey. Zainab has led many mental health campaigns and runs a website on social issues. She believes that all people have a role to play in this world and we should try to bring positivity to the community.

Saad Athar Sheikh has over a decade of experience serving as a policy advisor to various donor organizations such as the British Council, USAID, GIZ, and the government of Punjab, including Chief Minister Office, CM Special Monitoring Unit, Chief Minister Inspection Team, Punjab Board of Investment & Trade & Commissioner Lahore. Moreover, he spearheaded TEVTA’s organization restructuring (communication, innovation, digital transformation, and policy domains) as well as restructuring the Population Welfare Department Communication Domain. He was responsible for setting up an apprenticeship system, drafting a skill policy, and drafting the investment and trade promotion strategy for Punjab. Previously, he was instrumental in looking after environmental and social repercussions of major initiatives such as CPEC with the execution of over 40+ mega projects worth over PKR 900 billion for premier international clients such as ADB, DOLSAR, Japan Techno, CMEC, Zonergy, StormHarbor, Solution De Energy. Local clients include Lahore Waste Management Company, Urban Unit, Energy Department, Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park, Lahore Development Authority, and Punjab Saaf Paani Company. He has been recognized as a National Hero by Pakistan Television Network on the 75th Independence Day. He currently heads Skillnopolis, a venture development firm, and serves governments in various capacities.

Maha Dev Makwano is a noted development practitioner and research scholar. He is an Honorary Executive Director of Help to Underprivileged Masses and Non-Developed Societies (HUMANS) Pakistan, a registered NGO working in Tharparkar, raising small funds and taking small need-based initiatives. He has earned a Master’s degree in Sociology from the University of Sindh Jamshoro. He has got seven years of experience in designing, implementing, and monitoring small projects and grand programs. He has trained more than 1500 community-based nutrition workers, doctors, workers, and practitioners. He did not remain merely a manager but a leader who took the team and teamwork at their best in all assignments. Maha Dev has raised funds by hosting a television show and presenting documentaries for different small projects for Care & Relief Foundation. He was involved in designing, fundraising, and establishing two hospitals. Maha Dev writes articles in daily circulating newspapers and magazines and is working on some books of poetry and prose currently. Recently, he is working on two research-based documents, The Construction Manual of Dug Wells and The Lost Technology – History of Dug Wells. He has played a key role in the excavation of collapsed dug wells in Tharparkar with government departments and concerned organizations.

Afsheen Fatima is a lecturer from Karachi. She started her career as a Researcher of Political Affairs for Pakistan Television Corporation. Later, Afsheen moved to Turkey to pursue her Master’s degree in South Asian Studies and International Relations at Necmettin Erbakan University under the Türkiye Burslari Scholarship program. After completing her degree, she returned to Pakistan and began teaching various courses in social sciences such as International Relations, World History, and Sociology. In addition to her work at IQRA University she’s also an intern at The Gender Guardian (TGG) NGO. TGG is the first school in Pakistan established specifically to provide vocational training to the marginalized transgender community in Pakistan so that they can earn a respectable living. Her areas of interest include media and politics, identity politics, minority rights, gender issues, and sustainable development. Previously, she worked for the Salman Sufi Foundation as the coordinator for the Women on Wheels project. This project was funded by UNDP and enabled women to learn how to ride motorcycles to improve their freedom of movement. She enjoys participating in youth-related programs and strongly believes that if we equip our youth with the right skills, things will change. In addition to her professional activities, she’s passionate about making organic soaps, learning languages, traveling, meeting new people and experiencing new cultures.

Willy has seven years of experience as an environmental activist, specialist in communication for development and social change (C4D), and researcher on inequalities and information poverty. He obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications and Marketing and a Master’s Degree in Library and Information Science, both at the University of Havana (UH). He also completed a Master’s in Latin American Studies at University College London. He has worked as an advocacy and actor articulation specialist, a C4D officer in international campaigns and projects, and has also been a researcher and data analyst. In addition, Willy has extensive experience in causes such as climate change, land degradation, ecosystem conservation, disaster risk management, and clean energy. Willy is very interested in continuing to work on environmental problems, especially climate change, which strongly affects small island states like his country.

Host Organization: Generation

Role at Host Organization: As the External Relations Fellow, Willy will shadow external relations meetings and activities and begin to play a key supporter role in external relations planning and research. The Fellow will develop expertise in the various tools and measures for these activities. Willy will also work closely with senior staff to develop and execute external communications plans, develop writing skills in creating external content, and shepherd external opportunities (media and/or event) to fruition. The Fellow will understand the global/affiliate model Generation uses, and develop toolkits that can support affiliate communications.