Fellows

Abdulrahman has developed extensive academic and industry experience both over the past decade. He has worked in a diverse range of environments including public, profit and nonprofit organizations. He completed a PhD in Computer Science at Cairo University, achieving the Most Outstanding Thesis Award. Before that, he complemented his academic path with an MBA in International Business from the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport (AASTMT).While working at AASTMT as a Startup Support Officer, he helped student to translate their ideas into business plans, worked on fundraising and taught Computer Science. Previously, Abdulrahman supervised startup support activities at THE Technology Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center (TIEC) where he orchestrated the Industry-Driven Startups Program to consult entrepreneurs on how to approach common challenges. Through these experiences, Galal has developed various skills, from programming, giving public presentations and drafting proposals.

Host Organization : SAP

Role at Host Organization: Abdulrahman will manage logistical tasks of the department’s programs, liaising with partners to coordinate programs’ related events, engaging as an instructor of the programs’ training offerings, and drafting reports regarding different aspects of the programs.

Agha Mohsin Ali has been working in the development sector since 2006 with National & International organizations including NRDP, WWOP, Youth in Action, UNDP, BBSA, CPEA Network and SEHER on different management positions. He earned a Master’s in International Relations from the University of Balochistan, Quetta Pakistan. While working with the National Rural Development Programme (NRDP) Pakistan in Islamabad as Manager, Program Planning and Partnership Development, he led overall fundraising, resource mobilization, program research, planning, and program development processes. During 10 years of experience he implemented, coordinated, and developed partnerships with major donor agencies like USAID, DFID, UK-aid, UNICEF, USAID, CIDA, UNICEF, UNDP, USIP and IOM. Agha has had in-depth experience in child rights, education, and youth empowerment in Pakistan. He worked to protect children from abuse, neglect, and exploitation as well as to provide access to education through establishment of child-friendly spaces and temporary learning centers in flood affected areas. He has provided child protection actors opportunity to interact, share their experiences and avoid any duplication of resources through the CPEA Network and 12 larger projects on education, child rights, democracy and nutrition. Over this period, he has developed skills in monitoring and evaluation, program development, program implementation, proposal writing and resource mobilization. He has also written different articles and blogs on child rights and education in different news sites like ARY Blogs, Hamari Web, Duniya News and The Nations News. Agha also participated in different national and international forums like the World Youth Conference, 2010 in Leon City, Mexico, where he was as a delegate.

Host Organization: Creative Associates International

 Role at Host Organization: Agha will be assisting project staff with the development of an indicator database for a new evaluation project with the ExxonMobil Foundation. This project will be assessing the progress of client grantees in women’s economic empowerment on outcome indicators.

Aida Merabet has over ten years working experience with different nonprofits and corporations in the fields of business empowerment for women and youth educational programs in Algeria. She earned an MBA in Management Marketing from ESG Paris. Aida is the Founder of the social enterprise “Power Harmony Solution.” Previously, Aida worked as the Middle East Partnership (MEPI) Alumni Local Chapter Coordinator, where she strengthened commitment to civic activism, thus creating an environment where alumni can work together to bring positive change to the region. She helped empower young people to work for their economic success as an Education & Training Officer at Injaz El Djazair. As a Hub Manager for the Middle East and North Africa Business Women Network (MENABWN), she was responsible for leading and managing a program to support business women in Algeria. She has also served as an Algerian Country Officer Alwane-Algeria, with Women’s campaign International, an initiative that seeks to empower Algerian women to hold decision-making positions and to enhance their leadership roles so that they can become role models for the region. She also enjoys volunteering, whether it be as the Under Secretary General for Algeria’s national Model United Nations conference or as the Algeria Country Coordinator for the World Peace Initiative Foundation’s Project Peace In and Peace Out (PIPO).

Host Organization: Atlas Corps | American Express

Role at Host Organization: Aida will support the overall strengthening of leadership development in the nonprofit sector through a partnership with American Express. In her role, Aida will help to expand the American Express Leadership Academy franchise. Building on the American Express role in supporting best-in-class leadership practices and capacity building, she will coordinate and grow the alumni network; manage and coordinate the global Alumni Summit, help develop and improve communication and dissemination of best practices and provide overall project support for the Leaderstories.org website.

Alexandra has 9 years of experience in the nonprofit sector. She received a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations from the Autonomous Technological Institute of Mexico (ITAM) and a Master’s degree in International Cooperation for Development from Ortega y Gasset University Research Institute in Madrid, Spain. She was the Institutional Development Coordinator at Center Prodh – a human rights nonprofit in Mexico – for 8 years. She was also a consultant for AJWS. She has experience in strategic planning, monitoring and evaluation, as well as knowledge on methodologies such as Logical Framework Approach and Theory of Change. She has worked with U.S. private foundations and the EU-Mexico cooperation. Her experiences have provided her with an understanding of the main human rights issues and confirmed her deep commitment with social justice and strengthening of civil society. Alexandra enjoys processes of learning, cultural exchanges, the outside and the arts.

Host Organization: Southwest Economic Solutions

Role at Host Organization: Alexandra will develop, implement, and
evaluate processes that integrate the work of SWES both programmatically and technologically.
Her work will culminate in both the implementation of new programs as well as an actionable
recommendation for integrative practices for the future.

Amira holds a Bachelor’s degree in Dental Surgery from University of Khartoum and a Master’s of Public Health in Global Health – Leadership, Management and Policy from University of Washington. Amira currently works as a health officer supervisor for the Project for Strengthening Peace through the Improvement of Public Services in Darfur States. She is also a member of the University of Washington (UW) assessment team for the upcoming partnership project between UW and the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) that aims to strengthen FMoH capacity leadership and management and implementation science. Previously Amira worked with UNDP-Global Fund (GF) as a national consultant supporting FMOH implementation of the current Health System Strengthening (HSS) project. During her work as HIV specialist with UNDP-GF she carried out a situation analysis and proposed the first HIV/AIDS service intervention package targeting Internally Displaced Population (IDPs) in Sudan to be implemented in Darfur states. Throughout her eight years of experience Amira recognized that most of the health problems in Sudan are attributed to weakness of the health system. Hence, she started to focus her efforts on strengthening the health system through provision of technical support to FMOH in different programs. The experience she has working with health system in Sudan enabled her to develop a good understanding of productive solutions. She is also interested in development of leadership, management skills in public health, health system strengthening, HIV/AIDS, and reproductive health.

Host Organization: International Center for Research on Women (ICRW)

Role at Host Organization: Amira will be using her skills in quantitative data analysis and program monitoring and evaluation for supporting ongoing projects and providing input into the design of new research studies across the Gender, Population and Development portfolio. She will also deepen her skills in data analysis, research design, scientific writing, and business development.

Andrew Tangas has three years of experience in the nonprofit sector and earned a Bachelor’s degree in Politics and Sociology from La Trobe University in Australia. While working at the Foundation for Young Australians (FYA), a leading Australian youth program delivery and policy advocacy organization, Andrew engaged with federal and state governments to leverage program funds and influence policy change around youth-related education, employment, entrepreneurship, and social change. In this role, Andrew oversaw the development and implementation of the organization’s government relations strategy, worked closely with the CEO in developing relationships with key government decision-makers, and supported the organization’s program teams in generating government funding streams. Through his experience in the nonprofit sector, Andrew has developed strong government relations, strategic thinking, and communication skills. Andrew is particularly passionate about creating strategic partnerships between governments, nonprofit organizations, and social entrepreneurs to maximise the social impact of innovative change projects.

Host Organization: Atlas Corps

 Role at Host Organization: Andrew will be managing special projects within Atlas Corps, including the long-term plan to franchise the Atlas Corps model around the world. In addition, he will assist the CEO with organizational development, fundraising, and streamlining internal processes. He will help manage strategic partnerships and donor relationships.

Angela Betancur has three years of experience in the nonprofit sector working with different social and development projects to support disadvantaged youth and women’s groups. Angela earned a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from the University of Antioquia in Medellin, Colombia and received formal training in Art Therapy to work with communities in University of Saint Buenaventura. She is currently working with the at-risk youth population in areas of drug abuse, crime, prostitution, and teen pregnancy. Through prevention campaigns and group interventions she works to restore youth rights. She also worked at an organization for rehabilitating people with physical disabilities and youths with cognitive and mental disabilities. Her work there also included supporting the families of the youths. After graduating from college, Angela worked as a Toy Librarian planning activities for children, teenagers, and their families while addressing possible abuses and rights’ violations. She also worked as a research assistant for two projects concerning migration and transnational families. She is especially interested in youth rights and women’s empowerment. Angela’s focus in college dealt with verbal and gestural expressions concerning gender-based violence in the school setting.

Host Organization: Latin America Youth Center (LAYC)

Role at Host Organization: Angela will provide individual, family and group counseling services, diagnoses, treatment planning, and community support to approximately twenty-two youths and their families. She will work to create individual plans of care for her clients while consulting with qualified practitioners in the field.

Ankit is a queer feminist activist. He is a member of Youth Coalition for Sexual and Reproductive Rights (YCSRR) and also serves on the Board of Directors. Ankit is passionate about reproductive justice for queer and trans youth, and has worked on a range of issues from Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) and public safety to environment and climate change. He serves on the Advisory Group to The Guttmacher-Lancet Commission on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights and the CIVICUS’s Youth Action Taskforce.

Host Organization:  Gay and Lesbian Victory Institute

 Role at Host Organization: As a program manager, Ankit will be working on the international program expanding to other countries including India. He will contribute his knowledge of the situation in India to the program. Overall, he will be supporting Victory’s programs in a range of different countries.