Atlas Corps Fellows represent the richness of diversity, inclusion, and cultural awareness. Now, more than ever, we need to keep building bridges between social changes leaders from around the world.
Model Innovation – Class 39 (May 2020) will pilot our blended fellowship model, which is a combination of virtual and in-person service.
Abir Chermiti
Tunisia (Host: Cultural Vistas)Abir Chermiti is a Software Engineer from Tunisia. She is a Program Manager of the nonprofit Arab Women In Computing (ArabWIC) as well as an ICT4D Research Fellow for Engineering For Change LLC. Abir has years of volunteer experience among a variety of organizations. Professionally, she is well versed in computer sciences and was selected by the IEEE Women In Engineering as the Winner of the Most Inspiring Student Member of the year 2017 award. Additionally, Abir founded the first women in technology summit in Tunisia, the IEEE Women in Engineering Leadership Summit. She is a proactive team player, problem solver and has impressive interpersonal skills.
Abir will serve as a Software Engineer Fellow and is responsible for developing, creating, and modifying general computer applications software or specialized utility programs. She will also analyze users needs and design databases within an application area.
Duaa Elfadil Adam
Sudan (Host: MetroLab Network)Duaa Elfadil is a social entrepreneur, web designer and social media specialist with four years of experiences in web designing and social media management. Duaa is passionate about using technology innovations to solve chronic social problems. Her interest in youth empowerment inspired her to join YALI R LC East Africa where she expanded her network throughout the continent. Dua also later joined Shabab Gadir, a national leadership development program. Currently, Duaa is leading two startups project, acting as Founder and CEO of the social enterprise My Academic Platform (MAP), a professional development platform that compiles different professional development opportunities targeting Sudanese and African youth professionals. She is also the Founder and Web Solutions and Digital Marketing Manager at Zonilus Tech Solutions, which provides digital services for different sectors. Leading regional and national initiatives, Duaa co-founded and designed the website of Kush Sudan; the first Sudanese digital initiative that aims to reflect a positive image about Sudan. She is also leading A MORAN (The Great I AM), an initiative and movement around Africa founded by a `group of YALI RLC East Africa Alumni aiming to empower and transform African youth.
Duaa will serve as a Project Coordinator, working on content and exploratory research, supporting MetroLab’s Annual Summit, and assisting with website development.
Joshua Eyaru
Uganda (Host: Center for Technology & Workforce)Joshua has four years of experience in the nonprofit sector, and earned a Master’s degree in Business Administration majoring in Nongovernmental Organizations Management at Kampala International University and a Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology. In 2014 he co-founded Youth for Reconciliation and Leadership, a community based organization in rural Serere promoting peace and digital skills. Acting as Head of Communications and Partnerships he is responsible for acquiring partners, finding new local and international partners within his first six month. Joshua works part-time as a digital skills trainer, helping over five thousand young people with the Google Digital Skills for Africa project under the Ujamaa Tribe. Previously he worked as the IT Support Staff and Google Suite Administrator at Kampala International University. Joshua is an alumni of the Young African Leaders Initiative, a flagship program of President Obama. Over time he has developed skills in grassroots mobilization and improved his cultural intelligence. As he continues to work within the nonprofit sector, Joshua desires to learn new skills in managing growth, volunteers, stakeholder expectations and managing conflicts.
Joshua will serve as a Program Manager, working to create events, resources and studies that will help get more people into and retained in tech and tech-enabled careers, preparing them for future employment.
Karla Cecilia Guerra
El Salvador (Host: The Unity Council)Karla has five years of experience in the nonprofit sector, having earned a Bachelor’s in Laws, a Postgraduate in Family Law Procedures and a Diploma in International Humanitarian Law with a focus on Crimes against Humanity from El Salvador’s University. Previously, Karla worked as a Project Assistance and Case Manager for the International Organization for Migration under the United States Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP), performing activities directly related to children in risk, migrant populations, refugees and parolees. Karla worked with IOM’s Child Protection Department, providing support in different tasks and legal translations of high confidential cases from the UNHCR. Prior to that Karla worked as Judicial Assistant in a Trial Court and in the Appeals Chamber of a Criminal Court, where she gained experience working with human rights, gender, children and family rights. She has worked as a founder, leader and volunteer of the nonprofit Organization Milagros de Amor in El Salvador, where she ran charity events and helped her community address concerns and perform animal welfare activities. Karla is very interested in international legal matters related to animal welfare, sexual and human rights, migration and children.
Karla will serve as a Policy Advisor Fellow, conducting research, developing communications and presentations, and interfacing with a variety of partners and stakeholders. She will act as the proxy for the CEO.
Meenakshi Monga
India ( Host: Parent-Child Home Program )Meenakshi has eight years of experience in the development sector. She earned her Bachelor’s of Science followed by a Post Graduate Program in Hospital Administration from IILM Institute and Master of Arts in Psychology from India. Meenakshi was recently involved in the World Breastfeeding Trends Initiative assessment for India. Prior to that, she worked as a program associate in collaboration with UNICEF and the Lady Harding Medical College and Hospital, New Delhi where she developed communication and training materials for maternal, infant and young child feeding practices for communities and frontline healthcare providers. In 2015, Meenakshi worked as a member of Nepal Earthquake emergency response team with Christian Aid and RedR, conducting Multi-Cluster Initial Rapid Assessment of Nutrition and Health sector. Previously, Meenakshi worked as a research associate with UC Berkeley for a study of sensor-enabled cookstoves in Orissa, India. She also worked with the Public Health Foundation of India, engaging in a research study assessing disease burden across India. Meenakshi also worked with the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Centre for Communication Programs in India, developing social behavior change communications to promote and support maternal and child health and nutrition. She is passionate about humanitarian aid work, social equality, and positive collaboration.
Meenakshi will work as part of the research team at Parent-Child Home Program, focusing on internal and external research projects and data analysis, and leveraging that information to improve home visiting training and practice to prepare young families for school success.
Olumide Idowu
Nigeria ( Host: Creating IT Futures )Olumide has over 10 years of experience working on Communications, Environment Sustainability, Climate Change, Agro-ecology, Monitoring & Evaluation, and Sustainable Development issues. He received his Bachelor’s Degree in Statistics from the University of Abuja in 2010. Olumide is a communication and digital expert and trainer with extensive experience in creating, facilitating and managing projects. He has represented Nigeria and Africa at over 25 high-level global governance and environment meetings on sustainable development and has served as the African Youth Champion for UNISDR. He was selected as a facilitator for UNISDR in Japan 2014 and Mexico 2017 for his strong interest in Youth and Disaster Risk Reduction, as well as serving as an Expert of the Week by UN environment and UNISDR. Olumide is the recipient of the 2015 Save the Children Award of Contribution toward Sustainable Development in Nigeria and Commonwealth Youth Climate Fellow. Olumide has co-founded two organizations: the Nigerian Youth Climate Coalition, the biggest youth environmental movement in Nigeria, and the International Climate Change Development Initiative, which identifies key environment-based issues affecting development across Africa. Olumide currently works as the Youth Lead Author for Global Environmental Outlook of the UN Environment and was selected by the US Embassy in Nigeria for International Visitors Leadership Program (IVLP), where he spent almost 3 weeks in the United State learning about Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation.
Olumide will serve as a Social Media and Student Recruitment Fellow where he will manage social networks to increase audience engagement and strengthen the reputation as a thought-leader in the STEM and tech workforce development markets.
Vanessa Alexandra Prado Baltodano
Nicaragua (Host: The Nature Conservancy)Vanessa is passionate about the arts, culture, and environment. She has six years of experience in the nonprofit, public and private sectors in Nicaragua. Vanessa earned a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Central America University (UCA) in Nicaragua. In several of her previous roles, she contributed building and reinforcing leadership abilities of students from different high schools and universities from the United States. Vanessa worked with university students to help them design work plans and write grants focused on health awareness, women’s rights, environmental care, education and economic development for the community of Masaya. Previously, Vanessa worked with GSE, where she leads educational exchange trips that focused on sustainable small-scale agriculture and promoted the social leadership of students from the USA and local community members from the State of Boaco, Nicaragua. She guided in the process of finding sustainable solutions to address the common challenges as species. Through these experiences Vanessa has developed capacity-building abilities and project management, creating spaces in which art is included as a channel for recognition of the self and transmission of ideas. In November of 2017 she founded the social program: “Potencial de Nicaragua” and in April of 2018 participated as a finalist in the international competence, (TIC Américas), celebrated in Lima, Perú in the framework of the VIII Summit of the Americas. Her main goals are to strengthen human potential and promote respect for the environment.
Vanessa will serve as an Ecosystem Disaster Risk Reduction Fellow and will contribute to the design and development of outreach tools, guidance and other resources pertaining to coastal risk and resilience. She will assume the lead role for one or more projects pertaining to strategic priorities and support website content development/maintenance and social media outreach.
