YOUTH STORIES OF CHANGE
Inspiring anecdotes of youth changemakers around the worldby the inaugural cohort of the NGO CSW/NYGlobal Youth Fellows
Meet the first-ever cohort of NGO CSW/NY Global Youth Fellows for Gender Equality!
NGO CSW's Youth Leaders & Young Professionals (YLYPs) and our partner, Women Have Wings, are thrilled to announce the 20 Global Youth Fellows for Gender Equality. We had almost 500 applications from young people around the world, and hope that all applicants will continue to work with us. This group of 20 young leaders have been chosen for their dedication to gender equality, the diversity of experience that they bring to the UN, and their ability to inspire others. Our fellows will be leading global campaigns to raise the visibility of gender issues, speaking at our events, telling their inspiring stories and supporting efforts to advance global gender equality through a youth perspective. Through the generosity of Women Have Wings, each winner will receive an award of $1,000 to support their work on gender equality in 2024. We are so excited for you to meet them!
Learn more about the roles, responsibilities, and benefits of the Global Youth Fellows at the bottom of this page.
Angeline Eugenia Ariestantya (she/her/hers) is a researcher and consultant in the field of Women’s Economic Empowerment and Gender Equity & Justice. She is currently the Regional Leader for Girl Up Southeast Asia under United Nations Foundation. Her experience includes serving for Girl Up Indonesia, National Youth Gender Activist for UN Women Indonesia and a Fellow for Women’s Leader of Planetary Health. In her free time, she spends her time as a public speaker and educator, Angeline focuses on educating people and communities about Intersectional Feminism, Menstrual Equity and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) to build a more inclusive and kind world for all. She has always been compelled by the space where education, community development and gender justice work intersect.
Through her work in Girl Up, she has successfully positioned Girl Up in Southeast Asia, with over 3,500 girls benefited from Girl Up’s leadership building and education programs and over 8,000 girls benefited as beneficiaries. She has continuously promoted youth’s (in all their diversity) right to participation in decision making processes in diverse United Nations forums such as, Commission on the Status of Women, Generation Equality Forum, ECOSOC and various Regional Consultations.
She is passionate about FemTech, public health, and women’s economic empowerment. Thus, she is now embarking on a mission to use entrepreneurial action to transform lives and shape a better, more sustainable future for all women, regardless of their backgrounds with Lune Pads.
Amanda Arroyo Cabezas is the Program Director of Nosotras Women Connecting, an organization that promotes leadership in girls and women in Latin America and Kenya, Africa. In this space, Amanda has been working on several educational projects around Leadership, Communication, Menstrual Justice, Human Rights, Gender Violence, Women's Political Participation, and more.
She has been a Speaker and panelist in organizations such as the Council of Europe, the National Bank of Costa Rica, UNICEF Latin America, UN Women, Commission of the Status of Women (United Nations). In addition, she has been invited as a professor at Universities and Social Organizations all over Latin America, United States and Africa. She is also an alumni from the Vital Voices Global Partnership, and Department of State of the United States where she obtained her degree in Leadership from George Mason University through Community Engagement Exchange program, while working in New York with various organizations dedicated to feminism, migration, and LGBTQIA2S+.
Amanda Arroyo Cabezas is a Public Relations Specialist with a diploma in community development project management and another in Human Rights and Social Leadership. She is passionate about working with organizations and storytellers committed to creating a more equitable and sustainable world.
Hadiqa Bashir is a dedicated Pakistani activist renowned for her fervent commitment to advancing girls’ rights, education, and gender equality. As the founder of “Girls United for Human Rights” she leads initiatives addressing early and forced marriages, sexual and reproductive health, education, poverty alleviation, and climate change. Hadiqa champions gender equality in tribal regions, emphasizing the transformative power of education for young girls. Her current focus includes the “Girls Go Back to School” campaign, empowering girls through education,and SRHR campaigns conducted in schools to break the taboo around periods. A dynamic force for positive change, Hadiqa Bashir blends leadership and advocacy to contribute significantly to social justice and sustainable development in Pakistan.
Dr Ashna Basu is a doctor, speaker, writer and advocate. She works in Psychiatry in Sydney, Australia. Ashna serves as Chair of Young MWIA, a branch of the Medical Women's International Association that represents medical women up to the age of 40, globally. She also sits on the Global Youth Committee for the Global Institute of Women’s Leadership. Within Australia, she is the President of the Medical Women's Society of NSW. A passionate advocate for gender equity, Ashna was the 2022 recipient of the Australian Medical Association's Women's Health Award, the 2023 recipient of the NSW/ACT Young Achievers Awards' Leadership Award, and has also been recognised as a Finalist for NSW Young Woman of the Year 2023.
Ashna sits on the RANZCP Committee for Research and the Australasian Psychiatry Editorial Board. She is a conjoint associate lecturer at UNSW and a published researcher. Outside of medicine, Ashna is a co-founder and director of PinkSparrow Ltd, a governance advisory firm that assists not-for-profit organisations with their corporate governance. She holds a GAICD qualification and has previously served on the boards of various not-for-profit organisations.
Khongorzul is an educator and program coordinator hailing from Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. She currently works as a program coordinator at the Mongol Ecology Center where her work involves developing impactful environmental education programs for rural youth. Beyond the immediate goal of fostering ecological awareness, Khongorzul envisions these programs as a tool for promoting gender equality within the conservation sector. She also works to enhance the capacity of national park rangers in Lake Khuvsgul National Park and in the protected areas of the Gobi Desert region.
As a Future Rising fellow, she is currently working on a short film that focuses on a female national park ranger in Mongolia. Through this storytelling project, she seeks to increase awareness of the environmental conservation work of rangers and encourage young women to pursue careers in this traditionally male dominated field. Khongorzul's passion for education, environmental advocacy, and gender equality converge in her mission to create a network of local climate advocates across Mongolia.
Tahina Booth, a former tri-international elite athlete representing Papua New Guinea in Rugby League and Australia in Olympic Weightlifting and Powerlifting, boldly advocates for gender justice and equity in sports.
She founded the Grass Skirt Project (GSP), dedicated to addressing gender-based violence in Papua New Guinea, and has led transformative initiatives to empower individuals and challenge societal norms. Tahina's visionary leadership extends to combating GBV through sports, serving on influential boards and driving investments in gender equality. She is a true champion for positive change and a powerful speaker on various topics, including athletes' career transitions and promoting gender equality in sports.
Marina Csikós is a Roma feminist and dedicated advocate for gender equality and racial justice. She has a strong commitment to promoting the inclusion and empowerment of marginalized communities, particularly women of color. Born and raised in Hungary as a Roma woman, she embodies a passion for social justice that has led her to impactful professional roles. Marina gained her master’s education at the Central European University in Critical Gender Studies, where she focused her research on intersectional justice and feminist knowledge production. Throughout her career, she has engaged with various types of stakeholders, from intergovernmental organizations and civil society organizations to art institutions, which enabled her to build bridges between communities and ideas. Some of the policy stakeholders she has engaged with included the European Commission, Council of Europe and OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights. Currently based in Brussels, Belgium Marina is a colleague of Phiren Amenca International Network, a Roma youth organization that creates opportunities for non-formal education, dialogue, and engagement in order to challenge stereotypes and racism. She is also the co-founder of Feminist Collective of Romani Gender Experts, an initiative aiming to promote Roma gender equality professionals.
Moufeeda Haidar is a gender equality and social inclusion specialist with over 8 years of experience. She is currently the Senior Youth Collective Coordinator for the MENA region at Restless Development working mainly on SRHR issues within the We Lead program. Prior to joining Restless Development, Moufeeda served as the Lead Gender Integration Specialist at The Arab Institute for Women (AiW) at the Lebanese American University (LAU) and has also worked as a local consultant for international organizations and UN agencies. She acts as the chairperson of the Swedish Alumni Network in Lebanon. Moufeeda has been a panelist and moderator in international conferences such as Women Deliver, ICPD+25, CPD56 session, and Shaping Feminist Foreign Policy conference. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Law from the Lebanese University, and an MA in Interdisciplinary Gender Studies from LAU where she focused her research on Early Child Engagement. She also holds several certificates in gender issues, human rights, and leadership with expertise in meaningful youth engagement and international law.
Ms. Mardhia Hussein is a highly motivated and accomplished individual with a strong academic background in Petroleum and Energy Engineering. She is dedicated, passionate, and committed to environmental sustainability. As an alumna of the CEE-Community Engagement Exchange Program, UPG-United People Global Sustainability Leadership participant, EFA- European Forum Alpbach, and a member of CAI- Club Alpbach Iraq, she has demonstrated commitment to community service and global engagement.
Currently serving as the Founder and Leader of the Green Dream Organization for Environmental Service in the Kurdistan region and Iraq, Mardhia leads initiatives focused on environmental advocacy, community engagement, and women and youth empowerment. In her young but extensive experience, she has roles such as Supervisor of Sponsorship, Fundraising, and Grant-Writing at NVEEE-National Voices for Equality, Education, and Enlightenment, procurement officer at FOX Reforming Refinery, project coordination, and fundraising for organizations like Independent Media Organization in Kurdistan (IMOK) and Dialogue and Culture Organization (DCO).
Mardhia's dedication to women, youth, and environmental activism, combined with her leadership roles in diverse projects, showcases her as a dynamic professional with a profound commitment to positive change. Fluent in Kurdish, English, Turkish, and Arabic, she brings a wealth of skills and a global perspective to her endeavors.
Senamile Madlala obtained her Bachelor of Laws from Stellenbosch University, where she found and cultivated her passion for women’s rights and activism.
She is currently a Candidate Attorney at the Women’s Legal Centre, an African feminist legal organisation committed to advancing women’s rights and equality. She works in various programmatic areas in the organisation, actively working towards empowering women and challenging gender-based injustices. Her unapologetic stance as an intersectional feminist continues to shape her contributions to Parliament submissions, strategic litigation, educational material and op-eds. Her advocacy efforts start at grass-roots level with women of all diverse backgrounds, challenging harmful gender norms and empowering women to access and enjoy their rights. In 2023, she had the privilege of representing the Ford Foundation fellowship at the UN Commission on the Status of Women.
As someone from a rural area in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa, it has always been a priority for her to ensure the lived experiences of all women, especially those in vulnerable communities are highlighted and amplified. She continues to be dedicated to the goal of a gender equal world that furthers substantive equality and ensures the most marginalized people in society have access to their human rights.
Feminist lawyer, human rights activist, graduated with honors from the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru Law School, with a Second Specialty degree in Fundamental Rights and Constitutionalism in Latin America from the same university. She has extensive experience in gender justice, human rights and technology. She accompanies and represents cases of gender violence. She has participated in various network and group programs at the national, LATAM region and international levels that seek the promotion and protection of human rights.Likewise, she has provided various trainings and presentations on gender violence, technologies and criminal law. Currently, she is legal coordinator at the NGO Hiperderecho: she leads research projects on cybersecurity, online gender violence and digital rights. She represents Hiperderecho in the Ad Hoc Committee to Elaborate a Comprehensive International Convention on Countering the Use of Information and Communications Technologies for Criminal Purposes of the UN. Also, she is the author of various articles and texts on gender violence and criminal law.
Isha is a certified Policy Officer specializing in human rights, international law, and gender studies. With a bachelor’s degree in international business and political science and dual master's degrees in European Policy and Human Rights, she has a solid academic foundation for navigating complex global issues through an intersectional lens.
With over three years of professional experience, Isha focuses on research and policy analysis, particularly in multi-sectoral needs assessment (MSNA), humanitarian situation monitoring (HSM), migration, and conflict within the nexus of gender, migration, and international law. Her notable achievements include co-authoring CEDAW shadow reports, active engagement in EU-level lobbying during the '16 Days Against Gender-Based Violence,' collaboration with German parliamentarians to acknowledge the 2014 Yazidi Genocide and the publication of peer-reviewed policy briefs addressing 'Migrant Voting Rights.'
Committed to advancing human rights, especially in gender equality, Isha dedicates herself to contributing impactful solutions and shaping progressive policies on the global stage.
Lila Mansour (she/her) is a Syrian-Canadian Muslim woman and a third year law student at the Lincoln Alexander School of Law at Toronto Metropolitan University. She grew up in Prince George, BC and attained an undergraduate degree in Economics from the University of Northern British Columbia.
As an influential youth leader, Lila strives to lead with compassion, humility and purpose. She has championed various social and political causes including access to justice, environmental justice, online hate, racism and discrimination, newcomer support, youth empowerment, civic engagement, mentorship, and feminist issues. Prior to law school, Lila served as an Arabic-English public legal educator. In 2022, she founded the BC Arabic Legal Support Centre, a small grassroots organization, in an effort to bridge the dire access to justice gap faced by marginalized newcomers, especially women, who are eager to seek justice for themselves and their loved ones.
During the past summer, Lila was a Youth Leader for Women and Gender Equality Canada’s “It’s Not Just” initiative, a national campaign that empowers young people to take action against gender-based violence. Lila is a current 2023 Muslim Youth Fellow at Toronto City Hall and will soon be joining Green Ummah, a Muslim-led environmental justice organization, as a board member. Lila looks forward to being a part of the first-ever cohort of Global Youth Fellows for Gender Equality.
Michèle SOJIP is a Cameroonian activist passionate about gender equality and the rights of people with disabilities in general, and women and girls in particular. In 2013, she became tetraplegic as a result of a traffic accident, but in 2015 she obtained a Master’s degree in Law from the Catholic University of Central Africa, which allowed her to work for an insurance company. As a victim but also a witness to discrimination, violence, and the many unequal treatments to which women and girls with disabilities are subject, she decided to put her knowledge and skills in Law at the service of the fight for equal opportunities and rights. Thus, in 2019, she founded the association “Handicapés et Fiers”, through which she implements various initiatives to normalize and de-dramatize difference, raise awareness of the problems faced by women and girls with disabilities, appeal for greater humanism, and promote inclusion in all areas. She initiates advocacy campaigns, notably in relation to SRHR, and lends her voice in support of projects run by various associations and feminist movements. An inspirational figure, Michèle SOJIP also shares her personal story on various social networks to encourage young people to become agents of change.
Daniella Solano, a passionate human rights advocate from Costa Rica, holds a degree in international relations and has undertaken extensive studies in international law, human rights, gender, and HIV-related issues. With a global perspective, Daniella actively collaborates with diverse civil society organizations at local, national, and regional levels, contributing to various projects dedicated to promoting and defending LGBTIQ human rights.
Her primary focus is on championing and safeguarding the rights of the LGBTIQ community, with a special commitment to supporting lesbian and bisexual women, as well as young individuals living with HIV. Daniella’s unwavering dedication significantly advances human rights on an international scale.
Recognized and honored by international human rights organizations such as RFSL, ISHR, ILGA World, Health Equity Matters (formerly AFAO), and Outright International, among others. Daniella has received awards for the strengthening of her advocacy work and her impactful contributions to the organizations she collaborates with. Her achievements underscore a commendable commitment to the pursuit of a more just and inclusive world.
Hilux Fokou Ngoumo, a passionate advocate from Cameroon, is a leading advocate for gender equality. As the youngest in his family and the first to attend university, he was honoured with the 2021-2024 Study in India scholarship, which not only helped his studies but also fueled his love for tech in the fight for Gender Equality, Climate Action, and Adolescent Leadership.
Dedicated to his cause, his impact has been significant in his role as a committee member of Mifali, an adolescent-led movement in Cameroon. Proudly standing as a “He4She” within Mifali, he actively rallies fellow boys to respond to Gender-Based Violence and champion Gender Equality. Within the movement, he contributed to organizing workshops, campaigns, and training sessions in Cameroon and beyond, to educate and empower young people, reaching over 9,000 young people.
A member of GenEgaliteECCAS and YOUNGO, the UNFCCC’s youth constituency, he advocates for women’s empowerment within the ECCAS sub-region and youth inclusion in climate action. Now as a Global Youth Fellow for Gender Equality, Hilux aims to amplify youth voices and make a mark for a truly equal world. Through technology and advocacy, he aspires to be a positive force on the global stage.
Aditi Padiyar is a South Asian gender professional with over 5 years of extensive experience in development and humanitarian efforts across South East Asia and Sub Saharan Africa. Currently serving as a Program Officer at Women First International Fund, Aditi focuses on the Women's Economic Justice portfolio, contributing to initiatives that prioritise women's financial freedom. She is a Strategic Advisor at Amplify Change, an SRHR fund supporting civil society organizations advocating for women's sexual and reproductive health and rights.
In the past, she has worked with feminist funds like Mama Cash and Global Fund for Women on projects that support young and emerging women-led groups across the globe. She is passionate about women's financial independence, sexual and reproductive health and rights, and their right to education. She volunteers her time working with animal shelters and fostering cats in New Delhi, India. She is a Journalism graduate from St. Xavier's College, Mumbai, India.
Dedicated to effecting positive change in Uganda, Tendo Racheal is a remarkable female social activist whose journey of 6 years centers around the potent fusion of media production and advocacy. With an unyielding commitment to justice, equality, and human rights, she has emerged as a powerful voice within Uganda's social landscape.
Tendo is more than a filmmaker; she's a change-maker. Her creations spark dialogue, drive awareness, and mobilize action. From advocating for gender equality and disability rights to shedding light on environmental concerns, her work resonates far beyond screens, inspiring tangible change at local and national levels.
Using media as her canvas, Tendo masterfully weaves stories that illuminate societal issues often underlooked. Through compelling documentaries, photography, and captivating short films, she amplifies the narratives of marginalized communities and highlights pressing challenges faced by Ugandans.
Collaborative at heart, Tendo believes in unity's strength. She envisions a Uganda where the media becomes a conduit for unity, understanding, and progressive change. Through partnerships and creative collaborations, she is on a mission to dismantle barriers, create empathy, and forge a more equitable society.
Tendo has worked with advocacy organizations like Akina Mama wa Afrika, ActionAid, Women of Uganda network, Femme Forte Uganda, DefendDefenders among others through her skills in media advocacy.
Cécile Roth is a passionate advocate for feminism and urban and territorial equality. After growing up in the Pyrenees mountains, near the sea in the Caribbean, and on the coast of French Guiana, she studied development aid and urban planning. Research on migration trajectories towards informal settlements in Buenos Aires led her to urban segregation in Mexico City, and later to advocacy on the role of local public services for equality. Currently, Cécile works with United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), contributing to advancing just, sustainable and democratic cities and territories alongside local and regional governments worldwide, in a perspective of partnerships and knowledge exchange. Her advocacy experiences at global events have reinforced her aspiration to renew multilateralism based on feminist principles, and with and for young people and local communities. Alongside women and feminist local leaders, Cécile is committed to bringing about a world where girls, women and gender-diverse persons, as well as all other structurally marginalized people, are empowered to shape public and political life at all levels. Her engagement with young professionals and activists aims to expand capacities to navigate uncertain times, revitalize radical imagination, and catalyze reciprocal empowerment and collective action.
I am Shruti Singh, a 16 year old youth who is currently residing in the Fiji Islands. I have doing advocacy work on Gender equality since the age of 10. I am part of a local NGO, Fiji Women’s Rights Movement. As a youth who has been exposed to issues affecting the globe today, I strive to create even the slightest of awareness to achieve a change that will create a positive impact on our global community. As youths are the catalysts of tomorrow, I believe we can work together to craft innovative and sustainable solutions overcoming the issues faced today. This is the power a youth holds and I will use this platform to express what a youth can do to make this world better, more inclusive and accepting.
Roles, responsibilities, and benefits
The 20 Global Youth Fellows will participate in a number of campaigns, events, and advocacy efforts as appropriate and aligned with their expertise and interests. They will have access to platforms, events, communications channels and networks to advance their professional visibility, and will serve as ambassadors for the YLYP program and as mentors to over 1,500 young people who are part of the YLYP global network. The following lines of action will unfold over the course of the year:
Financial Award
Winners' organizations will receive up to $1,000 USD in award money in support of their ongoing work on gender equality.
Publication
Have your story and activism featured in a multimedia publication disseminated to the global NGO CSW/NY community.
Youth Preparation Series
Speak at the YLYPs’ Youth Preparation Series events and have an instrumental role in shaping the series.
Instagram Takeover
“Take over” our Instagram account to share your story, promote your work, and engage with the NGO CSW/NY community.
Advocacy
Have the opportunity to engage in the advocacy efforts of NGO CSW/NY and its partners including advocacy trainings.
Celebration
NGO CSW/NY and the YLYPs will host an awards ceremony and celebration of the Global Youth Fellows during CSW68 in New York City.