Celebrating Young Change Makers

A natural extension of the existing Make a Connection program, YouthActionNet^® links young, socially conscious citizens to the resources and support they need to strengthen their own efforts to improve communities and the world at large. learn more

Each year, the YouthActionNet® Global Fellowship trains 20 young leaders who have founded an NGO or inspired a civic or social movement to hone leadership skills, collaborate across national boundaries and advocate for their causes at the global level. On top of that, a virtual platform puts vital resources at the fingertips of young leaders around the globe.

Global Fellows 2002 through 2009

• 2002

  • Shilpi Barman, 24, Bangladesh
    Uttaran
  • Atiar Rahman, 21, Bangladesh
    Youth Coaching Academy
  • Jasmina Ivosevic, 24, Bosnia-Herzegovina
    Citizen Association "Bona Fides"
  • Emmanuel Dolo, 22, Ghana
    Children Better Way
  • Ameen Charles, 24, India
    Wainganga Samudayik Vikas Kendra
  • George Onyango, 24, Kenya
    Slums Information Development and Resources Centers (SIDAREC)
  • Aksels Ribenis, 22, Latvia
    Latvian Medical Students Association
  • Valeriu Popovici, 22, Moldova
    Future Business Leaders Association

  • Ndasimana Akuumba, 23, Namibia
    Eungudi
  • Swastika Shrestha, 22, Nepal
    Chiranjeevi
  • Rana Bilal Ahmad, 22, Pakistan
    Juvenile Prisoners Education Program
  • Juan Marcos Isuiza Shuna, 23, Peru
    Iglesia Joven
  • Sara Davidson & Shana Kirsch, 21, United States
    Conversation Peace
  • Ha Thi Lan Anh, 18, Vietnam
    Young Journalists Group (YOJO)

• 2003

  • Andrés Beibe, 22, Argentina
    Center for Social Responsibility
  • Federico Matías Rossi, 23, Argentina
    Propuesta Joven
  • Frances Bunji Elcoate, 23, Australia
    Nuff Stuff
  • Meseret Yirga, 23, Ethiopia
    Adugna Community Dance Theatre Company
  • Afia R. Fitriati, 23, Indonesia
    1001 Buku
  • Rula Khoury, 21, Israel
    Baladna
  • Dorothy Atieno, 21, Kenya
    Tunaweza - Street Children Feeding Program
  • Kingdom Kwapata, 24, Malawi
    Child Protection Project
  • Ilona Seure, 24, Netherlands
    Don Bosco Jonathan

  • Benjamin Azubogu, 20, Nigeria
    African Children's International Peace Forum (ACIPF)
  • Patrick Kaupun, 23, Papua New Guinea
    Klampun Conservation Corps
  • Pocholo D. Gonzales, 24, Philippines
    Tinig Kabatan (Voice of the Youth)
  • Dalila Ionescu, 24, Romania
    Refugee Adolescents Club (RAC)
  • Marina Ivkovich, 24, Russia
    Monitoring of Disturbances of Human Rights
  • Carole Akuavi Ejronu Midjola, 24, Togo
    Training of Peer Counselors
  • Zuhra Bahman, 20, United Kingdom
    Afghan Youth Council
  • Fabrizio Scrollini, 21, Uruguay
    Proyecto "Cebollati"
  • Harjant Gill, 21, United States
    Transgender Youth Ethnography Project
  • William (Billy) H. Hallowell, 20, United States
    Teen Web Online

• 2004

  • Marcelo Ber, 19, Argentina
    Compromiso Joven (Youth Commitment)
  • Maria D'Ovidio, 25, Argentina
    INTEPAY
  • Lilit Simonyan, 22, Armenia
    Stepanavan Youth Center (SYC)
  • Sylvie Ellsmore, 25, Australia
    ReconciliACTION Network
  • Raj Ridvan Singh, 23, Cambodia
    Science of Life Systems 24/7
  • Ernest Musong Mbandi, 25, Cameroon
    Anti-dChild Slavery Network
  • Tang Kun, 22, China
    Peer Education on AIDS & Reproductive Health
  • David Riman, 20, Czech Republic
    Zabava, Informace, Poradenstvi a pomac (Entertainment, Information, Counseling, and Help)
  • Khatuna Tsintsadze, 25, Georgia
    International Center of Youth Initiative for Peace and Development (ICIPD)
  • Zoltan Prekopcsak, 20, Hungary
    Stations Radio

  • Jyotirmayee Mohapatra, 19, India
    Meena Club
  • Stella Amojong Omunga, 27, Kenya
    Grassroots Empowerment Initiative (GEMINI)
  • Joseph Kimani Njuguna, 17, Kenya
    National Students Council for Peace (NSCP)
  • David Requejo Bercasio, 23, Philippines
    Naga City People's Council (NCPC)
  • Ana Popvic, 22, Serbia and Montenegro
    Children's Call
  • Lucky Eric Mlambo, 24, South Africa
    Vuk'Uzimele Msogwaba Youth at Work
  • Yevgen Bezvushko, 21, Ukraine
    Social Sewing Enterprise
  • Maya-Bianca Enista, 19, United States
    Inspiring Passion Project
  • Courtney Spence, 25, United States
    Students of the World
  • Jennifer Staple, 23, United States
    Unite for Sight

• 2005

  • Jonathan Greenacre, 20, Australia
    The Australian Youth Against Landmines Association (TAYALA)
  • Richard Lenn, 24, Australia
    YouthGAS
  • Jocelyn Land-Murphy & Jessica Lax, 21, Canada
    The Otesha Project
  • Hao Yan, 24, China
    Roots and Shoots
  • Pankaj Kumar Maskara, 22, India
    New Modern Public School (NMPS)
  • Alisher Djaborov, 25, Kyrgyzstan
    Law Students and Young Lawyers Association (LSYLA)
  • Inese Shubevica, 26, Latvia
    Youth Leaders Coalition - You Can Project
  • José Israel Herrera, 23, Mexico
    Registro y Diagnostico De Sitios Arqueologicos y Culturales Del Area Maya De Mexico (Rescuing and Diagnosing Mayan Cultural Heritage)
  • Javier Alejandro López Aguilar, 22, Mexico
    Parte y Comparte (Give & Share)
  • Vasile Galusca, 22, Moldova
    Asta DA

  • Kingsley Essomeonu, 22, Nigeria
    Society of Adolescents and Youth Health International (SAYHI)
  • Muktar Gadanya, 22, Nigeria
    Aiding the Aged HIV/AIDS Orphans
  • John Piermont V. Montilla, 22, Philippines
    Kabataang Gabay sa Positibong Pamumuhay (Peer Guides for a Positive Way of Life)
  • Laiden G. Pedriña, 23, Philippines
    Young Artists Fellowship for the Environment (YAFE)
  • Julia Parshina, 21, Russia
    Patriotic Camp Tanais
  • Ssegawa Meddy, 21, Uganda
    Education 4 the Street Child Project
  • Aditi Chokshi, 25, United States
    116th Street Gallery
  • Jason Dean Crowe, 20, United States
    The Cello Cries On, Inc.
  • Benita Singh, 25, United States
    Mercado Global
  • Tinashe Lukas Chimedza, 24, Zimbabwe
    National Youth Development Network (NYDN)

• 2006

  • Pablo Ezequiel Winokur, 22, Argentina
    Opinion Sur Joven
  • Roman Osipyan, 22, Armenia
    Unison NGO
  • David Bacon, 25, Australia
    Carpets for Communities
  • Holly Hou & Cindy Jin, 22, China
    North Eastern Volunteer Club
  • Ana Luisa Ahern, Jessica Mockrin, & Justin Otero, 22, Honduras
    Organization for Youth Empowerment (OYE)
  • Gautam Gupta, 25, India
    Activists in Action for Women Aid and Justice (AAWAJ)
  • Vikram Laishram, 21, India
    Better Treatment Equals Better Life
  • Michal Eskanazi, 22, Israel
    A Dialogue Encounter, Young Israeli & Palestinian
  • Selene Biffi, 23, Italy
    Youth Action for Change

  • Daniel Nduati, 22, Kenya
    Emmanuel Boyz Rescue Center
  • Alexei Buzu, 21, Moldova
    Geronimo
  • Shakti Shali Ghimire, 22, Nepal
    Idea Action and Idea Forum
  • Okolie Ugochukwu, 20, Nigeria
    Youth Workshop/ Leadership for Health
  • Ramzi Aburedwan, 24, Palestine
    Al Kamandjati Music Center
  • Andrea Argintariu, 24, Romania
    Career Development Center
  • Katarina Zugman, 23, Slovenia
    We Are, What About You?
  • Abdinasur Nur, 24, Somalia
    Somali Youth for Peace and Development
  • David Beaumont Smith, 26, United States
    Mobilize.org
  • Mark Hanis, 24, United States
    Genocide Intervention Network (GI-Net)
  • Dana Montgomery Frasz, 24, United States
    Empty Bellies Fair Food Distribution

• 2007

  • Tom Dawkins, 28, Australia
    Vibewire, Inc.
  • Anna Rose, 23, Australia
    Australian Youth Climate Coalition
  • Vanja Hamzic, 28, Bosnia and Herzegovina
    LOGOS
  • Tal Dehtiar, 27, Canada
    MBAs Without Borders
  • Cheryl Perera, 22, Canada
    OneChild
  • Li (Taylor) Shen, 27, China
    Psycho-Behavior Intervention Group
  • Ana Moraga, 24, Guatemala
    MuJER
  • John Miller Beauvoir, 26, Haiti
    The Pathway Toward the Future
  • Abhishek Bharadwaj, 28, India
    Alternative Realities
  • Rama Shyam, 27, India
    Society for Awareness, Harmony and Equal Rights (SAHER)

  • Zablon Wagalla, 28, Kenya
    Trees for Clean Energy
  • Maritza Morales, 23, Mexico
    Proyecto Hunab A.C.
  • Audrey Codera, 28, Philippines
    YouthWorks, Inc
  • Talía Delgado Culebras, 29, Romania
    Association Alter Eco Project: Brainstorming an Investigative International View
  • Bernise Ang, 27, Singapore
    Syinc
  • Sphamandla Mzobe, 28, South Africa
    Wala-Wala Productions
  • Rachel Nampinga, 29, Uganda
    Youth Action on Climate Change
  • Antoine Eloi, 25, United States
    Leadership Initiatives
  • Neilesh Patel, 26, United States
    Health Care Volunteer
  • Ainos Ngadya, 26, Zimbabwe
    SOYABIZ

• 2008

  • Alex Kelly, 29, Australia
    Ngapartji Ngapartji
  • Alistair Webster, 27, Australia
    The EastWeb Fund
  • Carla Tennenbaum, 29, Brazil
    EVAMARIA
  • Ankai Xu, 24, China
    Phoenix Program
  • Raghda Mohamed Mamdouh
    El Ebrashi, 25, Egypt
    Alashanek ya Balady Association
  • Bright Simons, 26, Ghana
    mPedigree
  • Iyyappan Subramanyan, 27, India
    Sri Arunodayam Charitable Trust
  • Ahmad Alhindawi, 24, Jordan
    Youth for Democracy Initiative (YFDI)
  • Luis Octavio Ortigoza Ayala, 26, Mexico
    Human Artifical Vision
  • Mario Aleman, 23, Nicaragua
    BRIGHT NEW IDEAS

  • Nnaemeka Ikegwuonu, 26, Nigeria
    The Smallholders Farmers Rural Radio
  • Khalida Brohi, 20, Pakistan
    YGDP, Youth and Gender Development Program
  • Therese Clarence Fernandez, 23, Philippines
    Rags2Riches, Inc.
  • Joy Olivier, 28, South Africa
    IkamvaYouth
  • Rajeeb Dey, 23, United Kingdom
    English Secondary Students' Association (ESSA)
  • Joseph Agoada, 24, United States
    Two Wheeled Foundation, Inc.
  • Sarah Anne Koch, 27, United States
    Development In Gardening (DIG)
  • Marisa Catalina Casey, 29, United States
    Starting Artists, Inc.
  • Richard Graves, 26, United States
    Fired Up Media
  • Jack Bbabbie Mukulu, 28, Zimbabwe
    Family-In-Need Trust (FIN)

• 2009

  • José Maria Sarasola, 29, Argentina
    Mediapila Foundation
  • Cecília Mendes Barros, 24, Brazil
    Oficina-Escola de Artes e Oficios (POEAO)
  • Alejandro Zapata Arango, 29, Colombia
    Portafolio Verde
  • Deepika Singh, 29, India
    Udaan (Education Resource Centre)
  • Fredrick Ouko, 26, Kenya
    Kenyan Disabled Action Network (KEDAN)
  • Dina Buchbinder Auron, 27, Mexico
    Deport-es para Compartir
  • Eugenui Graur, 27, Moldova
    NGO Certitude
  • Emmanuel Odiase, 27, Nigeria
    SmokeFreeNigeria Initiative
    (SmokeFree Foundation)
  • Gulalai Ismail, 23, Pakistan
    Educating Young Women of the North West
    Frontier Province of Pakistan (NWFP) on
    HIV/AIDS Transmission and Prevention
  • Muhammad Shahzad, 24, Pakistan
    Chanan Development Association (CDA)

  • Mohammed Zaid Al-Kilany, 27, Palestine
    Souktel
  • Bernardo Alayza, 29, Peru
    Warming of Andean Homes
  • José Miguel Pavão, 28, Portugal
    Mundo a Sorrir
  • Naadiya Moosajee, 25, South Africa
    SAWomEng
  • Gertrude Namuwonge, 26, Uganda
    Masaka Reflexology Center
  • Joshua Arnold, 27, United States
    Global Awareness Local Action (GALA)
  • Sarah Gogel, 27, United States
    Global Potential
  • Nick Martin, 27, United States
    DCPEACE
  • Alia Whitney-Johnson, 23, United States
    Emerge Global
  • Donald Bodzo, 23, Zimbabwe
    c-Manure Techology