Zanele Lulane 🇸🇿

Meet Zanele Lulane! She is a dedicated young professional who is committed to empowering youth and advancing sustainable water management in Eswatini. As the co-founder of Youth and Kids Alive (YAKA), she provides career guidance and mentorship to rural youth, helping them access local and international development opportunities. Zanele actively supports young people by sharing resources and guiding them through the application and preparation processes. In her role as Projects Officer at the Joint River Basin Authorities-Project Board, Zanele oversees projects related to national water sector policy implementation. She also leads the Eswatini Youth in Water Initiative (EYIW), a platform designed to engage youth in sustainable water resource management, ensuring the next generation is equipped to tackle pressing environmental challenges. Zanele’s contributions to youth empowerment and water sustainability have earned her recognition, including the Mandela Washington Fellowship and the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship. Her work continues to inspire and uplift young changemakers, making her a powerful advocate for positive change in Eswatini.

Mathias Charles Yabea 🇬🇭

Meet Mathias Charles Yabe! An award-winning Ghanaian social entrepreneur and innovator, Mathias is driven by his passion to create positive community impact. As the Founder and CEO of AkoFresh, he developed a groundbreaking solar-powered cold storage technology that reduces post-harvest losses by 50%, extending the shelf life of perishable produce by up to 21 days. His innovation has directly impacted over 3,000 smallholder farmers, saving millions in lost income. Growing up in a small village in the Eastern Region of Ghana, Mathias experienced firsthand food insecurity and youth marginalization. These challenges fueled his determination to create solutions that empower communities. Today, his work has gained global recognition from the Global Solutions Initiative, World Economic Forum, FAO, UNICEF, and the Anzisha Prize, among others. Mathias also mentors aspiring entrepreneurs through initiatives like the Women Entrepreneurship Accelerator Challenge and the “Your Future in Green Jobs Fellowship.” Through his leadership, he continues to build climate resilience and uplift marginalized communities in Ghana and beyond.

Oumaima EL Idrissi 🇲🇦

Meet Oumaima EL Idrissi! A leader in sustainable development and youth empowerment, Oumaima currently serves as a Municipal Councillor and Vice President of Anfa in Casablanca, Morocco. She advocates for green infrastructure, sustainable transportation, and waste reduction, driving lasting change in her community. Her leadership has secured funding for youth-led climate projects and simplified processes for youth associations. Recently, in partnership with the private sector, she launched Casablanca’s first AI-augmented nursery for children and a free AI training program for young adults. Oumaima is the CSR Manager at EGC Environment, leading sustainability initiatives for large-scale infrastructure projects. Previously, she worked as an Analyst at HSBC Private Bank in New York, managing a global AUM of $338 billion. While in the U.S., she also volunteered as an interpreter at the Newark Asylum Office, helping migrants navigate the asylum process. She holds a BSc (Hons) in Business with Economics from the University of Brighton and a Master’s in International Politics from SOAS University of London, where she worked as a Junior Analyst at the Moroccan Consulate, researching key investment projects. Recognized as an Atlantic Dialogues Emerging Leader, Oumaima has represented Morocco at global forums including COP27 and COP28. As the youngest elected official in Casablanca, she continues to champion youth empowerment and sustainability, striving for lasting local and global impact.

Efe Johnson 🇳🇬

Meet Efe Johnson, fondly known as “Efe Johnson of Impact.” She is a Nigerian youth leader driving social change across Africa, Efe is the founder of XariAfrica Academy, Africa’s first online platform dedicated to simplifying and amplifying Sexual and Reproductive Health (SH) education. Through XariAfrica, she works to destigmatize women’s health and promote girls’ education in Nigeria. Her book, Just Period It, has empowered over 5,000 girls to track their menstrual cycles for the first time. As a #Generation17 young leader, Efe advocates for the global goals with support from the UNDP and SAMSUNG. She is also a Mandela-Washington Young African Leader and advises organizations on gender and SRHR needs across the continent. Efe’s leadership has been recognized with numerous accolades, including being the first-ever recipient of the “Most Inspiring Student Award” at her university and recognition from the Haiti Ministry of Education for rehabilitating out-of-school girls affected by earthquakes and conflict. Efe is committed to contributing to youth leadership, gender equality, and media development across Africa. She believes in the transformative power of young people and is on a mission to provide universal access to SH education for one million girls in Africa. Widely known as “Efe Johnson,” she continues to inspire others globally with her unwavering dedication to impact.

Wilson Kageruka 🇷🇼

Meet Wilson, a 23-year-old visionary creative entrepreneur and motivational speaker, currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Business Entrepreneurial Leadership at African Leadership University. As the founder and CEO of Tarama Rwanda, Wilson leads a groundbreaking Pan-African initiative that champions entrepreneurship and the arts to drive job creation and economic growth across Africa. Under his leadership, Tarama Rwanda has built a global network of over 20,000 creatives and directly impacted more than 250 talents, securing permanent jobs for 70, signing 2 to music labels, and helping over 15 start their businesses. Through Tarama Rwanda, Wilson has also facilitated mentorship for over 12,000 individuals and reached more than 200,000 people through events and programs. His initiative extends to empowering high schools and universities in Rwanda by offering free masterclasses in creative industries, entrepreneurship, and digital technologies, as well as supporting startups through competitive pitching sessions. Wilson’s business plays a key role in supporting Rwanda’s vision to become Africa’s premier events and investment hub, organizing both local and international events while providing comprehensive event management services. By 2030, he aims to create over 1,000 permanent jobs, inspire 120 new startups, and engage 10 million creatives worldwide. Driven by his passion for Africa’s growth and innovation, Wilson is dedicated to leveraging his expertise and networks to make a profound global impact.

Anza Tshipetane 🇿🇦

Meet Dr. Anza Tshipetane, a renowned medical professional and social entrepreneur from South Africa with a distinguished background in public health research and education. She holds a Bachelor’s in Medicine and Surgery and a Master’s in Public Health, specializing in health economics, from the University of Cape Town. Currently, as a Management Consultant at a leading global firm, Dr. Tshipetane is focused on improving healthcare and public sector services, contributing to the advancement of vital systems. Dr. Tshipetane’s academic journey began with outstanding achievements in high school, where she won the SAASTA National Science Olympiad and was named the top girl learner from previously disadvantaged schools. She represented South Africa at the London International Youth Science Forum in 2017 and matriculated as the overall top achiever in Limpopo province, earning a national top achiever title with an average of 95.5%. At the University of Cape Town, her academic excellence was recognized with prestigious awards, including the Oppenheimer Memorial Scholarship, the Vice Chancellor’s Entry Scholarship, and the Elaine and Matthew Potter Foundation Scholarship for her MPH studies. Dr. Tshipetane’s dedication to both healthcare and education is making a lasting impact on communities in South Africa and beyond.

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