Fellows

Benjamin has more than two years of experience in the nonprofit sector. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations from Boston University’s College of Communications and a Masters in International Affairs from the Elliott School of International Affairs at George Washington University. He participated in the civil society development process as an intern for the Council for a Community of Democracies, applying his skills in written and oral communication. Later, he interned for the German Marshall Fund of the United States. This experience allowed him to engage with civil society leaders, understand current events, and their impact on government and civil society, and analyze and disseminate information effectively and concisely.

Host Organization: Fundación Capital

Bolatito has over five years of experience in the nonprofit sector in four Sub-Saharan African countries as a Population Health Specialist. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Nutrition and a Master of Public Health degree from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. While working as a Research, M&E Officer with Family Health International on a PEPFAR/USAID-funded program, Bolatito was involved in the implementation and documentation of high quality research including the HIV/STI Surveillance Surveys in Nigeria. Previously, she served as an Intern of the West African Health Organization with Helen Keller International, Niger, where she worked on a community-based child survival/nutrition program. Bolatito has volunteered in different capacities, including for a Most-at-Risk-Population program and UNICEF Total Goiter Rate Survey. Over the years, Bolatito has accrued technical competencies in the planning, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation of HIV/AIDS and nutrition programs, particularly in resource-constrained settings. Her research interests include maternal and child health/nutrition. She is a recipient of various awards including the Nigerian National Youth Service Corps recommendation as an outstanding corps member.

Host Organization: Population Action International

Cristina has over four years of professional experience in the corporate and nonprofit sectors. In 2008, she graduated from the Academy of Economic Studies of Moldova with a Master’s degree in Finance, specializing in Financial Banking Administration. Cristina is an alumna of the Fund for American Studies (AIPES) and the Freedom Support Act Programs. While working as a Program Assistant within the Media Program at the Soros Foundation-Moldova, Cristina was responsible for the overall financial management of grant and operational projects starting from budget allocation to project closing, drafting and monitoring budgets, overseeing project implementation, organizing trainings, network meetings and other events, reviewing beneficiaries’ financial reports, drafting agreements, and processing payments. Prior to this role, Cristina worked at Top Consulting LLC, a consulting firm specialized in quality management consulting, where she gained practical experience in project management by drafting documentation and assisting national companies in the implementation of international quality standards. Her work with the USAID Local Government Reform pilot project, in which she trained five accountants from Rezenu village city hall to use a computerized accounting program, further spurred her interest in nonprofits. Since 2002, Cristina has been involved in various civic initiatives: volunteering with the American Councils, engaging in the Bridges Between US project as an intern; participating in the Academy for Young Social Entrepreneurs in Poland; teaching at the Association for Young Managers of Moldova’s English summer camp; and assisting Mimi Chakarova’s long-term project on human trafficking in Eastern Europe which culminated in a full-length documentary.

Host Organization: Points of Light

Demetrio has four years of experience in the nonprofit sector in Spain, Madagascar, and Cambodia. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Physical Therapy issued by the UCAM University of Murcia and a Master’s degree in Management and Direction of NGO’s issued by the Esade University of Madrid. In Madagascar, he worked as the technical coordinator for a program to fight against child malnutrition with the NGO Bel Avenir in partnership with the French NGO, Enfants du Monde. This program served more than 4,000 children in southern Madagascar. Demetrio also managed the international volunteer program for the same NGO in Madagascar for 2 years, returning to his home country to continue this work in the local counterpart, Fundacion Agua de Coco. In his time with the foundation, he worked as technical coordinator in areas of awareness, communication, and volunteerism, managing more than one-hundred volunteers throughout Spain. His strides in organization, management, fundraising, graphic design and communication, such as establishing a presence in the world of social media, have made him a very versatile contributor to the nonprofit sector.

Host Organization: Habitat for Humanity

Diana has over three years of experience in the nonprofit sector. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in English Teaching and Translation from the Latin American University of Science and Technology-Laureate International Universities and a Master of Arts degree in Peace Education from the UN-Mandated University for Peace.

Host Organization: Youth Service America

Elisa has four years of experience in the nonprofit sector with a student-run organization called Pemon Health. She started as a participant then transitioned to Program Coordinator and is now Director. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Education with a minor in Latin American studies from Swarthmore College. Elisa helped promote preventative health initiatives in rural Venezuela. Her work with Pemon Health has been enriched through the use of critical perspectives related to social action endeavors. Elisa wrote her senior thesis on the complexities that college groups attempting such an endeavor face. She proudly embraces her Mexican and Colombian heritage and her hometown of Jackson Heights, NY.

Host Organization: Fundación Alejandrito Corazón

Esther has over eight years of experience working on sexuality and environmental issues. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry from the University of Calabar. Esther is a climate change policy expert and trainer with extensive experience in creating, facilitating and managing youth-led projects. Esther has represented Nigeria and Africa at over ten high-level global governance meetings on sustainable development and has served as the African coordinator of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development (UNCSD) Youth and Children Major Group. In 2009, Esther co-founded the Nigerian Youth Climate Coalition, the biggest youth climate movement in Nigeria. Esther also serves as a volunteer support staff member with the White Ribbon Alliance Nigeria and convened the first Youth E-consultation on Maternal New Born and Child Health (MNCH). She was selected as ‘Women Deliver 100 Young Leaders’ for her strong interest in women’s issues and was invited to attend the “Women Deliver” Global Conference in DC in June 2010. Esther is the recipient of the 2010 LEAP Africa Annual Nigerian Youth Leadership Award and is a Dekeyser & Friends Foundation Fellow and Commonwealth Youth Climate Fellow.

Host Organization: Population Action International

Eva has over five years of experience in the nonprofit sector. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Tourism from Makerere University in Uganda and holds Certificates in Fundraising Database Management (Blackbaud, UK) and Monitoring and Evaluation and Project Management from Makerere University Training Institute. Eva most recently served as the Program Officer of Fundraising and Resource Mobilization at the Uganda Society for Disabled Children (USDC), a local non-governmental organisation involved in the medical and social rehabilitation of children with disabilities and their families. USDC is currently implementing development projects ranging from advocacy and lobbying to capacity-building, social-economic empowerment, education, and health in twenty-four districts of Uganda. As the Fundraising Program Officer at USDC, Eva directed the organization’s public relations and media and communications campaigns, which included the development and production of the organization’s print media products and online communications. Prior to this role, Eva served as a hospitality and events manager in several capacities before finding her true calling in the development sector, where she has found a heightened sense of fulfilment in her work.

Host Organization: America Scores