Core 1
Core 1 is the inaugural cohort of the Global Youth Action Fellowship. It brought together over 250+ applicants from across the globe, with 80 exceptional young leaders selected to complete the Pre‑Fellowship and move into the six‑week Fellowship. This cohort is the living proof that when you equip young people with the right tools and support, they deliver.
Core 1 represents a diverse group of changemakers working across 14 thematic areas, from menstrual health and climate action to digital literacy and disability inclusion. Their projects are already making waves in their communities, and the momentum is just beginning.
Leading with purpose & impact
Elected fellows and leaders driving the Community Impact Fund — committed to turning ideas into lasting community solutions.
Message from the President
Helen F. Alabi, B.Sc, M.Sc
“Thank you so much for this honour and for the confidence placed in me to serve as President – Fellow Community & Impact Lead. I receive this appointment with deep gratitude and, most importantly, with a strong sense of responsibility. Leadership, to me, is not merely a position or a title; it is an opportunity to serve, listen, build bridges, and create meaningful impact.
I pledge my commitment to serving the GYAF Fellowship community with integrity, humility, accountability, and dedication. I am particularly excited about the responsibility of leading the Community Impact Fund and helping transform the ideas and passion of our fellows into tangible projects that positively impact communities.
I believe that when we mobilise our collective skills, networks, resources, and commitment to service, we can achieve far more together. I look forward to working closely with the GYAF team, fellow leaders, partners, and every fellow to build a community where promising ideas are supported and real impact is created.
I accept this responsibility with a heart ready to serve, and I pledge my allegiance to the values of leadership, service, collaboration, and impact. Thank you once again for this opportunity. I am ready to serve, and together, we will build a better tomorrow.”
Helen F. Alabi
President – Fellow Community & Impact Lead
B.Sc, M.Sc – A visionary Tech Educator and Digital Skills Trainer with over 6 years of experience across NGO, development, and corporate sectors. Helen has empowered 200+ youths with job-ready digital competencies in graphics, video editing, and web creation, directly enhancing their employability. As a passionate menstrual hygiene advocate, she advances reusable sanitary pad solutions, promoting girls’ education and dignity. Her dual expertise in content strategy and program coordination ensures that the Community Impact Fund translates fellow ideas into measurable, sustainable community outcomes.
Vanessa Lucie ADA ZO'O
Vice President – Partnerships & Community Impact
Industrial Engineer and Project Management specialist with 4+ years leading multi‑donor community projects, including two EUR 20,000+ initiatives. Vanessa co‑authored a scientific publication in IJPRT (2025) and secured an OAPI patent for an autonomous plastering machine. She founded STEM Her Future, a project that empowers women and youth through STEM education, mentorship, and leadership. Her rigorous approach to donor reporting, sustainable development, and cross‑sector collaboration makes her an invaluable asset in building strategic partnerships for the fund.
Katie Khethiwe Mtambo
Innovation, Advocacy & Engagement Lead
Holding a Diploma in Community Development from the University of Malawi, Katie serves as Chief Flight Operations Manager at MicroMek, where she leads drone‑based medicine delivery to underserved communities, improving healthcare access for children and pregnant women. As a STEM Education Project Manager, she designs hands‑on programs in drones, Arduino, and electronics, with a strong focus on encouraging girls in STEM through her initiative STEM Queens. Katie’s cybersecurity expertise (VAPT) further strengthens the fund’s technological and advocacy capacity.
Nneze Nnenna Ezeonwuka
Fellow Mobilization & Cohort Development Lead
A final‑year Student Nurse and wellness entrepreneur with a background in Health Science (UoPeople) and Biotechnology (ESUT), Nneze brings a unique blend of clinical insight and entrepreneurial drive to the Community Impact Fund. She leads the Community Mental Health Awareness and Education Initiative, where she has successfully conducted needs assessments and transitioned planning into active outreach, directly impacting community well‑being. Her ability to connect with diverse communities and her passion for empowering young people make her ideally suited to mobilize fellows and foster a strong, engaged cohort. She is dedicated to creating inclusive spaces where every fellow can contribute, learn, and lead, ensuring that the fellowship community thrives and drives collective impact.
Nicole Harriet
Resource Mobilization & Fundraising Lead
A passionate Youth Advocate and Human Rights Champion with a B.Sc. in Biotechnology, Nicole serves as an Ambassador for Light for the Sickle Cell Foundation and Welfare Manager at Unfold Joy Organization, where she drives mental health awareness and youth empowerment initiatives. Her experience in stakeholder engagement and her strategic approach to advocacy make her a natural fit for resource mobilization and fundraising. Nicole's dedication to building partnerships and her practical understanding of community needs enable her to attract and deploy resources effectively, ensuring that the fund's projects have the support they need to succeed.
Led by fellows, guided by experts. The Community Impact Fund is governed by an elected committee of fellows who bring lived experience, peer perspective, and a deep commitment to community-led change.
Reports
We believe in transparency. Our reports are publicly available to demonstrate accountability and learning.
The final fellowship report is being compiled and will be shared soon.
Facilitators
The experts who guided the Core 1 learning journey.
Emmanuel Newah
Technical Advisor – Safeguarding & Protection at Plan International Liberia
Session: Accountability & Safeguarding: Accountable Interventions and Protection
An accomplished safeguarding, child protection, and accountability professional with over a decade of experience leading programs across humanitarian and development settings in Africa. He provides strategic leadership in PSEAH, youth engagement, and organizational capacity strengthening.
Daron L. Davis
Founder, BlackGuard OS & Independent Governance Researcher at BlackGuard LLC
Session: Community Needs Analysis
An independent governance researcher, policy writer, and systems architect who built BlackGuard™ OS – an architecture focused on accountability, institutional authority, traceability, and implementation control. He develops applied governance frameworks that help leaders define problems, align stakeholders, and connect implementation to measurable impact.
Dr. Puleng Letsie
Coordinator – Menstrual Health & African Coalition for Menstrual Health at UNFPA East and Southern Africa Regional Office
Session: Systems Thinking & Stakeholder Mapping
A public health, gender, and human rights specialist with over 25 years of experience across Africa. She has held leadership roles with UNAIDS, UNFPA, and UNDP, working extensively on youth empowerment, SRHR, HIV, and health policy. She holds a PhD in Psychology of Education, an MPH, and an MPhil in Human Rights.
Mwikali Kasyoka
Legal Equality Associate at Equality Now Africa
Session: Ethics & Human Rights‑Based Approach
A human rights lawyer with expertise in refugee law, women's rights, and gender equality. She previously worked at the Kakuma Refugee Camp, providing legal representation to refugees and survivors of SGBV. At Equality Now, she provides technical expertise on advocacy strategies to advance women's rights and end violence against women and girls.
Divya Thakur
Psychologist & Psychotherapist at Chandragupt Institute of Management Patna (CIMP)
Session: Mental Health: Awareness, Support and Advocacy
A Psychologist and Psychotherapist with experience in counselling and mental health support. She conducts workshops on mental health, stress management, and life skills. She has authored research for the United Nations and represented India at an international conference in Vietnam.
Emanuela Pia Viglione
Senior Project Manager at GEINNOVA
Session: Project Design Fundamentals & Partnership Engagement
A senior project manager with a background in Political Science and International Relations. She connects global challenges with local realities, designing new approaches to learning and helping organizations navigate the green transition. Her focus is on creating conditions for people and places to thrive through culture, knowledge, and innovation.
Ange Flora Kamugisha
Senior Development Practitioner at CSR Solutions Rwanda
Session: Resource Mobilization & Engagement through CSR
A dedicated humanitarian and community development professional with over 20 years of experience leading programs across Africa. She is a board member of CSR Solutions Rwanda and a founding member of Zonta International Rwanda. A survivor of the Rwandan genocide, she is now a resilient advocate for gender equality and community resilience.
Festus Kang'alya
Programme Officer at Sightsavers Kenya Office
Session: Resilience & Self‑Care
An experienced development professional with over 15 years of expertise in disability inclusion, education, livelihoods, and policy advocacy. He leads a social inclusion programme supporting women and farmers with disabilities to understand and exercise their labour rights through associations and trade union participation.
Dala T. Korkoyah, Jr.
International Development Professional at Independent Consultant
Session: Results Framework & Theory of Change
A development professional with more than 20 years of experience working with international NGOs, governments, USAID, the UN, and the World Bank. He specializes in strategic planning, monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL), and organizational development. He is passionate about equipping emerging leaders with practical tools to turn vision into measurable impact.
Prof. Priya Nath
Assistant Professor & Executive Director, TiE Patna at Chandragupt Institute of Management Patna
Session: Digital Literacy and Advocacy
An educator and AI strategist with over 16 years of experience in artificial intelligence, digital transformation, marketing, and entrepreneurship. She is the author of 'Role of Artificial Intelligence in CSR' and has conducted AI workshops introducing over 2,000 students to generative AI. Her current research focuses on Emotional AI and its influence on trust and persuasion.
The Legacy of Core 1
Core 1 is not just a cohort – it's the foundation. The projects, relationships, and learning from this group will shape the future of the Global Youth Action Fellowship and inspire subsequent cohorts. Every fellow who completes Core 1 becomes part of a growing network of young leaders committed to action, accountability, and community impact.
The fellowship is hosted by My Safepad International, and co‑organized with partners who share the vision of youth‑led development. Together, we are building an ecosystem where young people don't just dream – they deliver.