Scholars

Almamoon Almashaqba has seven years of experience in the nonprofit sector and earned a Bachelor’s degree in Management Information Systems from Al Albyt University in Jordan. Almamoon worked as a Technical Youth Assistant with a youth capacity building project for community engagement in Jordan under the Norwegian Refugee Council program. In this role, he helped increase the accessibility of the labor market for youth by building their capacity and mitigating local market employment challenges. He provided a set of systematic training for Jordanian and Syrian youth aged between 16 and 26 years old, including: positive thinking, employment skills, and communication skills. Previously, Almamoon worked as a Protection Case Manager with the International Catholic Migration Commission to assist the most vulnerable people in the community. Through these experiences, he developed solid knowledge and experience in project life cycle management, program development planning, setting indicators, implementing, and monitoring and evaluation. Almamoon worked with the International Rescue Committee in the Child Protection Program based in refugee camps in Jordan as a Child Protection Case Worker in unaccompanied and separated children to provide protection and make reunification with their families. Almamoon enjoys focusing on the topics of protection and livelihoods. Almamoon has a strong passion for youth empowerment.

Current Organization: FE at AVSI

Ambreen Kokab Shah is a technology and transformation consultant, futurist, and professional advisor. Ambreen brings 11 years of diversified corporate experience from across the telecom industry. After completing her Bachelor’s degree in Telecommunications from NED University of Engineering and Technology, she joined satellite company SUPARCO as an Assistant Manager in the Systems Engineering Department. In 2011, Ambreen entered the corporate world by joining Ericsson Pakistan, where she consulted local and international telecommunications giants in the design and optimization of wireless networks, deployment and performance management, presales, and service delivery. Her combined exposure to technical and management issues enabled her to build customer and inter-departmental relationships and develop conflict resolution skills. While earning her Executive MBA from the Institute of Business Administration in Karachi in 2017, she became passionate about social entrepreneurship, especially in the field of education and training. She volunteered as a Baghban Ambassador to transform underprivileged communities with the Citizen Foundation, judged tech projects at universities, mentored Smart City ideation at a hackathon competition, and served as an Innovation Mentor at the 2018 Ericsson Innovation Awards. Ambreen is also a Global Ambassador at WomenTech Network and Circle Chair of Lean In Pakistan Tech. She started her own consulting firm AKS Consulting Space in 2020, which aspires to transform youth, women and organizations through an emphasis on the Sustainable Development Goals. A gold medalist and NLP certified, Ambreen loves to travel and has explored 8 countries.

Current Organization: Network Consultant at Ericsson

Bashar Timraz has eight years of experience in the nonprofit and government sectors. Bashar earned a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administrations from Al-Quds Open University in Palestine. Bashar has diverse work experience in administration, coordination, security, reporting, and project management. In his current role as Operations Coordinator in the Field Security and Risk Management at the United Nations for Relief & Work Agency (UNRWA), he provides emergency response to around 13,000 staff members working in 300 UNRWA installations, guarantees a safe work environment for the UNRWA employees, follows up and reports all security incidents as needed, and organizes and maintains security files on all issues related to assessments, security plans, and more. Through his work with UNRWA, Bashar works with staff from different backgrounds, experiences, and working styles. Thus, he has developed strong communication, teamwork, risk-management and problem-solving skills. Previously, Bashar worked at the Ministry of Detainees and Ex-detainees Affairs in the projects and planning department, and was responsible for preparing the Ministry’s projects, operational plans, and reports. Working with the government has enabled him to develop report writing skills, strategic thinking, and communication skills, along with the ability to organize media events. Bashar is particularly looking to challenge himself and learn new things focusing on the topics of humanitarian, operations, and economic development.

Current Organization: Operations Coordinator at United Nations for Relief & Work Agency (UNRWA)

Dorice Damian is a committed, results-oriented, and enthusiastic young professional with three years of experience in the community integrated initiatives through the youth-led organization, Sustainable Health Initiative (SHI). Dorice has a degree in Environmental Health Sciences with IT from Ruaha Catholic University in Iringa, Tanzania. As SHI’s Executive Director, since 2019 she has been designing and organizing interventions intended to develop community capacity in Nutrition, WASH, and Sexual and Reproductive Health by using locally available resources. Prior to the foundation of this initiative, as a passionate professional aspiring to make an impact in her community, she volunteered through a collaborative project between the Tanzanian government and NAFAKA. In this role, she served as a nutrition champion by leading radio sessions advocating for the use of fortified food for the reduction of malnutrition rates. She also volunteered for community-based organization Afya Plus Tanzania for two years to improve the menstrual health of young adolescents through hygiene education delivery and provision of sanitary pads. She excels in organizational, coordination, and communication skills, while centering her core principles of accountability in every decision she undertakes. Her compassion for underserved communities is attested by the efforts she has taken to build resilient communities that own their health by utilizing their surrounding local available resources. Dorice is a Mandela Washington Fellow for 2021.

Current Organization: Environmental Health Officer at the Sustainable Health Initiative

Faten Juma has more than nine years of experience in the nonprofit sector. Faten has been working with the United Nations for Relief & Work Agency (UNRWA) since 2010. She earned a Bachelor’s degree of Science in Business Administration from Al-Quds Open University in Palestine, and a two-year diploma in Commerce from Gaza Training/Community College. Working with UNRWA as Human Resources Associate has enabled her to contribute significantly in developing the internal policies to ensure strong governance and effective accountability systems. Faten has worked on maintaining positive morale and trust through increasing the engagement and structural communication among employees. While she was working at the Recruitment Office, she made constant efforts in improving the quality of living standards for refugees on infrastructure, educational, health, and humanitarian aid through recommending the most competent employees to ensure delivering best services. Also, she has made many achievements in bridging the gender gap and realizing gender equality principles by her outreaching efforts and powerful networking skills. As an HR professional, her ultimate goal is to contribute in building a thriving and prosperous economy through managing the human capital by establishing an institute for people management and development. Faten has a great eagerness in utilizing her proven knowledge and expertise to benefit her venerable community and has assiduously played a key role in supporting it by sharing innovative ideas and launching initiatives properly while volunteering in community associations. She is well-known for having constructive insights about human resources and keeping abreast with the latest international approaches.

Current Organization: Human Resources Associate at United Nations for Relief & Work Agency

Lishu Gang has four years of professional experience at the intersection of technology, media, and politics. Currently, Lishu is a project manager at a data science startup working on products that help liberal-progressive political parties and organizations better control their media narratives. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts and Sciences from Minerva Schools at KGI in a six-country global rotation program. Most recently, she completed a Master’s degree in Nationalism Studies from Central European University in Austria and Hungary, with a focus on migration and refugee studies and the Israel-Palestine conflict. While volunteering for the Alumni Relations Office and the Student Recruitment Office at CEU, Lishu contributed to various projects in event planning and operations, media production, and marketing and communications. Previously, she worked at an NGO to promote effective implementation of youth social change programs in Kenya, during which she researched the informal sector innovation gap and helped design a curriculum on systems-thinking. She also led several marketing projects and website development for two ed-tech startups in Berlin and San Francisco. Additionally, Lishu volunteered as a community-building assistant on diversity and inclusion at her undergraduate university. Through these experiences, she developed a diverse skill set of research and policy analysis, project coordination, and media production. She enjoys exploring innovative solutions to address complex political, social, and cultural problems.

Current Organization: Project Manager at Big Data Analytics

Millicent Sarfo is a confident, well-organized person with over 6 years’ experience in the telecommunication, management and administrative sectors. Mimi has extensive experience in supporting mid and senior-level managers by providing them with consistent administrative support. Mimi is a highly approachable individual with a pleasant attitude and a willingness to make a positive mark. She demonstrates her ability to maintain workflow of the office by ensuring that systems are running appropriately, organizing and scheduling appointments, and planning meeting details. Additionally, Mimi develops and maintains filing systems following her company’s established procedures and protocols, liaises between different departments, and acts as a sole point of contact for both external and internal agencies and clients. She has excellent communications skills honed over the years from interacting with customers, partners, and management; strong management and customer relationship skills; and a sharp eye for detail. Mimi manages the company clients’ accounts across the continent and ensures timely resolution of issues. She successfully brought on various board vendors, making the supplies system 60% more efficient than before. Mimi is also a peer educator volunteer for youth development and an entrepreneur in her local community. Mimi shows commitment to the young women in her community by organizing trainings on handiwork, catering, and administrative skills. Her passion for development led her to pursue a Master’s degree in Development Management, which she is currently undertaking. Mimi loves to touch lives and is motivated by her passion-driven heart to make a change anywhere she finds herself.

Current Organization: Administrative Manager at Yafking Logistics Company

Natasha Dadzie has four years of work experience in the nonprofit and education sectors. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Management Studies from the University of Cape Coast, Ghana. As an Engagement Manager with the New Entrepreneurs Xchange for Transformation: Idea to Impact program, she leads stakeholder engagements across platforms and provides venture development consultancy to entrepreneurs. Natasha is passionate about using business as a force for good: creating businesses that contribute to making social impact as well as generating wealth. She uses her expertise to contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by helping young startups in Ghana build structure, create long term value and processes for business development, as well as to make social impact. She is passionate about social development, entrepreneurship, youth development, venture growth and success, girl empowerment, and child rights. She created, developed and managed the Ashesi Venture Incubator COVID Relief Impact Project: a collaborative effort to mitigate the immediate challenges posed by the pandemic in her community. Previously, as a Programs Manager for The BEIGE Foundation, she managed fifteen projects promoting and advocating for education, youth development, entrepreneurship, gender issues, financial literacy, and environmental sustainability. The BEIGE Foundation celebrated Natasha with the Youth Excellence League Award for her exceptional contribution to her organization and community in 2018. She has developed a lifelong urge to work on the fringes of social development, gaining leadership skills and exceptional expertise to run projects from inception to completion. She is a change agent, driving change in Africa.

Current Organization: Engagement Manager at Ashesi University