Public Health

Abenezer is a Human Resource Professional with almost ten years of experience in the nonprofit sector. Abenezer earned a Bachelor of Art in Public Administration and Development Management from Addis Ababa University in Ethiopia. While working as a Senior Human Resource Officer with CARE International in Ethiopia, he helped the organization to recruit, train, and retain a high performing workforce and implemented gender equality program in recruitment to increase female employees in the organization. Previously, Abenezer worked as a HR & Admin Manager with International Rescue Committee Ethiopia program under USAID and other donors funded programs. Through these experiences, he has developed strong people management skills, communication skills, and created welcoming workplaces for employees, where they can strive to do their best. Abenezer enjoys focusing on the topics of economic development, democracy, and human rights and has a strong passion of reading books.

Host Organization: Panorama Global

Role at Host Organization: As a Talent Acquisition Fellow, Abenezer will help Panorama Global source, identify, screen, and hire individuals for a broad range of roles across the organization affiliates. The Fellow’s role includes: inputting the overall hiring strategy of the organization to ensure the teams consist of a diverse set of qualified individuals; ensuring the staffing needs of the company are being met, with a long-term talent strategy in mind; and devising and implementing sourcing strategies to build pipelines of potential applicants, such as employer branding initiatives.

Angela possesses four years of experience in both the nonprofit sector and media space. Currently, she is the Chief Operating Officer at Jela’s Development Initiatives (JDI) where she supervises project implementation, organizational operations and communications. She manages diverse teams to provide access to clean water as well as sanitation and hygiene facilities, mental healthcare, voluntary blood donors through an artificial intelligence called J  Match and promotes youth empowerment through volunteering. Most recently, she co-designed and implemented advocacy campaigns on mental health inclusion for PWDs and voluntary blood donation. She is also a writer and solutions journalist, whose work has explored maternal mortality, anti-corruption, climate change, mental health and food security, amongst other themes. As a World Literacy Foundation Ambassador (2020), she raised awareness on how illiteracy affects daily life by curating 112 ‘literacy stories’ which she shared on social media. Previously, she worked as Media and Communications Officer at Skills Outside School Foundation (SOSF) focusing on securing relevant partnerships and creating publicity for the Foundation’s work in life skill education through digital media and production of media materials. In the time she worked with SOSF, she raised the organization’s profile by increasing social media followership by over 80% and initiated partnership discussions with various organizations. She is certified by the University of California through Philanthropy University in developing Advocacy campaigns. Angela is most interested in improving inclusion in education, good governance and mental healthcare.

Host Organization: Medici Road

Role at Host Organization: As a Communications Analyst Fellow, Angela will assist in shaping, and executing, the audience engagement strategy and she will lead digital storytelling efforts for the organization. The Fellow will work side-by-side with senior staff to gain practical experience learning how to turn data and stories into infographics. Angela will also learn how to use software like Adobe InDesign and Photoshop and practice storytelling and community engagement skills with diverse stakeholder groups including residents and peer organizations.

Chibuzor Mgbeokwere is a dedicated and accomplished professional with a wealth of experience in monitoring, evaluation, research, and learning, demonstrating a strong commitment to driving impactful outcomes in both development and emergency context, especially in challenging operational environments. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Health Education (BSc.) – University of Nigeria Nsukka, Nigeria. Prior to her current role, Chibuzor was a Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, Research, and Learning Specialist at Tonipash Energy from September 2022. She made substantial contributions to the improving clean energy initiatives, overseeing the research, development, and implementation of the Performance Monitoring Plan, and providing crucial leadership in M&E. Chibuzor’s career journey also includes her role as a Country Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Officer (Environmental Health) at the International Rescue Committee from Feb 2021 to September 2022. Here, she showcased her expertise in producing high-quality reports and played a pivotal role in ensuring M&E and reporting requirements were met for multi-donor funded projects in Northeast Nigeria. Furthermore, she has contributed her skills and knowledge to various organizations, including The International Research & Exchanges Board (IREX), Premiere Urgence Internationale, Achieving Health Nigeria Initiative – SIDHAS Project, and World Health Organization (WHO), leaving a remarkable impact in the field of monitoring, evaluation, and learning. Chibuzor’s core competencies encompass strategic MEAL management, proficiency in database development, statistical analysis, data visualization, consultancy services, and project. She is fluent in English, Igbo, and Hausa languages, enhancing her ability to collaborate effectively in diverse multicultural settings. Her commitment to inclusive data and her proactive approach make her an invaluable asset in any professional environment.

Host Organization: Development Gateway

Role at Host Organization: As a Monitoring, Evaluation, Eesearch and Learning (MERL) Fellow, Chibuzor, in the capacity of an associate, would have a MERL focus and work on synthesizing and analyzing various pieces of key information collected on the programs. The Fellow is expected to contribute to writing of knowledge products and reports. Additional work may involve supporting other programs at DG should time allow.

Sophia Tiajoloff is the Director of Special Events at Fountain House in New York City where she has built an organizational infrastructure to engage diverse audiences in support of funding innovative initiatives, pilot programs, and evidence-based strategies for people living with serious mental illness. Sophia graduated from Vassar College with a degree in Psychology, focusing in neuroscience and cultural health, and a minor in Russian Studies. During her years at Fountain House, Sophia played a critical leadership role and spearheaded an organizational funding strategy, tapping into new key audiences to support the expansion from a local to national organization when operations grew from a $6M to $16M budget. During a time when public demand and engagement grew at the peak of the COVID-19 Pandemic, Sophia led a COVID-19 emergency response fundraising campaign, built an engagement plan recognizing long-standing donors and developed new pathways for a more diverse donor base to engage in public events. Previously, Sophia has volunteered at organizations at the intersection of youth education and disability rights. Her experiences fostered a commitment towards disability rights, social justice work and mental health reform.

Abenezer is a Human Resource Professional with almost ten years of experience in the nonprofit sector. Abenezer earned a Bachelor of Art in Public Administration and Development Management from Addis Ababa University in Ethiopia. While working as a Senior Human Resource Officer with CARE International in Ethiopia, he helped the organization to recruit, train, and retain a high performing workforce and implemented gender equality program in recruitment to increase female employees in the organization. Previously, Abenezer worked as a HR & Admin Manager with International Rescue Committee Ethiopia program under USAID and other donors funded programs. Through these experiences, he has developed strong people management skills, communication skills, and created welcoming workplaces for employees, where they can strive to do their best. Abenezer enjoys focusing on the topics of economic development, democracy, and human rights and has a strong passion of reading books.

Host Organization: Panorama Global

Role at Host Organization: As a Talent Acquisition Fellow, Abenezer will help Panorama Global source, identify, screen, and hire individuals for a broad range of roles across the organization affiliates. The Fellow’s role includes: inputting the overall hiring strategy of the organization to ensure the teams consist of a diverse set of qualified individuals; ensuring the staffing needs of the company are being met, with a long-term talent strategy in mind; and devising and implementing sourcing strategies to build pipelines of potential applicants, such as employer branding initiatives.

Dnyana S is serving as an American India Foundation (AIF) Banyan Impact Fellow with Seba Jagat in Kalahandi, Odisha, in the project of public health. Dnyaneshwar is a first-generation learner. He is a Master’s degree holder in Gender, Culture, and Development. Being critical of the add-and-stir approach to gender, he has written two research papers about media representations of gender, masculinities, and sexualities during his academic career. As an intern, he has worked with adolescent male children from underprivileged communities in Pune on gender sensitization and leadership skills. He has had short-term research experiences with folk artists and young entrepreneurs from Maharashtra. He has worked with men against violence and abuse for a research project on the construction of men and masculinities through different social institutions. He is a former Goonj Urban Fellow, where he worked with different left-out communities in West Bengal and Odisha on various initiatives by Goonj, like health and education. He intends to create safe spaces for people with different gender, sexual, social, and cultural identities. He believes in fluidity and tries to dismantle binaries for the betterment of human rights. He believes in acceptance, awareness, and advocacy for the rights of underprivileged people

Samhita Vadapalli is serving as an American India Foundation (AIF) Fellow with Satya Special School, in Puducherry. She is a Biotechnology and Genomics graduate and has completed both a Bachelor of Science, and a Master of Business and Science in Biotechnology from Rutgers University, New Jersey. Her previous work experience has included bioinformatics research, genetic experimentation, and data analysis, where she worked on a wide range of research projects focusing on the karyotyping of embryos, drug target development, and molecular docking simulations. In addition to this, she has served as a tutor with the Petey Greene Program and worked with incarcerated students to help them fulfill their educational goals in New Jersey’s correctional facilities throughout her undergraduate studies. Her area of interest lies in the utilization of data mining and informatics within the public health and developmental sectors for the establishment of improved healthcare interventions and management practices. She firmly believes that scientific innovation must be accompanied by inclusivity and accessibility in order to develop long-term and sustainable solutions to some of the most pressing issues in our world today. Her goal for her career is to partake in the building of healthier societies through innovative biological research and grassroots work.

Nayyar Abbas has participated in foreign academic programs, online leadership courses, internships, and community development activities. He participated in community service with the Rotary Club and arranged events while working as a research associate for the Lucas Economic Society during his junior year of college. He began his professional career as a financial executive for a financial firm, where he offered clients market research and financial understanding. In his second job as a research officer, he developed research procedures and handled data collection. During his Master’s internship, he worked in the Parliamentary Sustainable Development Goals Secretariat in the National Assembly of Pakistan. He assisted with research on Pakistan Vision 2025 (a comprehensive road map to achieve SDGs). He has started volunteering for Students for Liberty. Through this opportunity, he was able to take courses and attend seminars and conferences. At Students for Liberty, he oversees and helps with marketing, research, and communication. By applying for different programs around the world, he successfully secured an opportunity to study the Fund for American Study’s Prague program at Charles University. He was given the Prometheus Fellowship, where he worked with professionals who taught and coached him in professional and leadership abilities. He is the district coordinator at Interactive Research and Development and supervises the implementation and execution of the school-based deworming program in Islamabad. Nayyar loves to travel, read, and meet new people. He is planning to start his Ph.D. in political science in 2023.

Muniza Sangal has earned a Bachelor’s degree in Gender Studies from Fatima Jinnah Women University, Pakistan. She has been working social organizer in her community on the capacity building of women and enhancing awareness of menstrual hygiene management and reproductive health. She trained more than 2500 school-going girls on how to make low-cost sanitary napkins at home, as most of the people in her community are from underprivileged families. Since they do not have access to good menstrual hygiene kits and proper health centers, the mortality rate of women is high in her community. She is also providing entrepreneur workshops for women. She envisages that every girls and women in her community live a healthy and prosperous life. She is currently working as a field monitor for NID Vitamin A supplementation in Upper Chitral.

Muhammad Bilal is a seasoned professional with a passion for making a positive impact in the world. With seven successful years of practical experience in the nonprofit sector, he has a deep understanding of the inner workings of organizations that aim to make a difference. As a founder, Muhammad has a strong belief in the power of love and empathy to connect with people and make a real difference in their lives. In addition to his experience in the nonprofit sector, Muhammad also brings a wealth of professional experience to the table. He has spent the last 12 years working in multinational companies, gaining valuable insights into the inner workings of large organizations and honing his skills in areas such as project management and team leadership. With his combination of nonprofit and corporate experience, Muhammad is a valuable asset to any organization looking to make a positive impact in the world.

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.

Awaisha Inayat is a professional psychologist who has a diverse working experience in the fields of counseling, academia, and human resources. She is currently working as People Partner at Arbisoft in People Operations and Development. She has previously led a sports franchise – Bagh Stallions – as their Brand & Communications Manager in the first season of Kashmir Premier League becoming the first female Team Manager of Men’s cricket in Pakistan. After graduating as a psychology major in 2015 from the University of Karachi, she got affiliated with renowned schools as Student Counselor and has also been involved in academia where she served as visiting faculty in 3 universities in Karachi: University of Karachi, Institute of Business Management, and Iqra University. During this time, she successfully published two papers in HEC-recognized journals of Pakistan on the portrayal of mental disability and classroom engagement. Awaisha’s main interest in the social change sector is mental health and well-being. She is inspired by the idea of building healthier communities and has a passion for making a difference in people’s lives. For this end, she founded ‘Rahnuma’ which is a digital platform for counseling, therapy, mentoring, and coaching. It is Rahnuma’s vision to facilitate people in finding their paths and reimagining community mental well-being and support. Awaisha is always looking forward to learning new techniques to empower people and takes pleasure in perpetual growth. She is also working actively to de-stigmatize mental health support in Pakistan.