As part of their commitment to the network, Eisenhower Fellowships Youth Leaders work on projects during their leadership year. These projects can take many forms and can be a solo or group effort, with Fellow mentors on hand throughout the year to provide guidance as necessary. As the 2017 Youth Leadership year came to an end, we were looking forward to seeing the project results and we were not disappointed. Below is a summary of their work.
Israa Al Bargoothy (Jordan 2017)
Founder of Change a Million Souls
Inspired by the Future of Work conference in Spain, Israa Al Bargoothy’s organization, Change a Million Souls, hosted ‘The Future of Work for Us’ in Amman, Jordan. 50 children from the Palestinian Al Nasir refugee camp were invited to spend the day at workshops encouraging them to make plans for the future. Using interactive games, reading and face painting, these children learned communication techniques and life lessons in a safe and fun atmosphere. Partnering with Dar Al Manhal publishers, Al Bargoothy hopes this event will be the first of many workshops in the future. Read the report here.
Anita Braga (Italy 2017)
High school graduate
A recent high school graduate, Anita Braga’s project was inspired by her experiences in both Italian and German schools. Her report covers her research into an alternative school system for Italy, with its high unemployment rate, and makes recommendations for improvements based on the German model. She interviewed many students for her project and provides some useful results. Read the report here.
Ben Butler (Ireland 2017)
User Ops, Stripe; Founder, Keep Appy
Ben Butler’s project began as a social enterprise app ‘Keep Appy’. Devised to destigmatize mental health issues, Keep Appy helps people improve and maintain a healthy mental state. This past year, Butler has transformed the app into a fully functioning product with corporate partners and multiple awards. His report takes us through his year and the project. Read the report here.
Diana Ciobanu (Romania 2017)
Tax Consultant, Deloitte Romania
Diana Ciobanu used her EF year to push her project much further than she anticipated. As co-founder of an association to improve living conditions in her rural home village ‘Asociatia Grup de Actiune Locala Bercini’, she had already hosted several successful events, but now the group has moved on to projects benefitting the local county. With the help of grants, the group is running four programs:
- Improving thermal insulation of local homes
• Developing a mobile application to reduce food waste
• Creating an air pollution measurement system
• Developing a much-needed school science program for local children
Ciobanu’s project report provides details on the work she and her team has done over the past year. Read the report here.
Tamara Abusara Darwich (Spain 2017)
Junior Brand Manager, Milka, Freia & Marabou
Tamara Darwich’s project was to create a support group for young women at the start of their careers. ‘The Zillennial Squad’ aims to motivate and empower young women and use the power of mentorship and networks to achieve this. Her final project report takes elements from her thesis and infographics created after interviews she conducted as well as first-hand experiences. Darwich spoke eloquently at EF’s Women’s Leadership conference in London, on a panel on ‘Investing in others: mentoring as a path to individual and collective success.’ Read the report here.
Alexia Hilbertidou (New Zealand 2017)
Founder of GirlBoss NZ
Alexia Hilbertidou’s project is also her organization. With the help of her EF mentors and the wider network, she has been able to take ‘GirlBoss NZ’ to new heights, with membership growing from 1500 young girls to 8000. Her report consists of a video and a written introduction. Read the report here.
Natasha Khan (Pakistan 2017)
Student, University of Massachusetts Amherst
Natasha Khan’s project was centered on a Syrian refugee settlement in Eastern Lebanon. She was part of a team trying to gain a deeper understanding of life in refugee camps and to find solutions to some of the most prevalent issues. She struggled with the notion that, as only students, her team could find solutions but were without the resources to implement them, and feels that as a Youth Leader she has a responsibility to invoke a sense of urgency in her generation towards finding long-term solutions to current problems. Read the report here.
Yoon Ji Kim (Korea 2017)
Architecture student, Seoul National University
Yoon Ji Kim is concerned about economic inequality and the role architects and city planners can play to alleviate the issues around economic polarization in cities. Her report ‘Niche for misfits’ is a proposal for an alternative way to revitalize urban areas while not excluding those typically marginalized by gentrification. Read the report here.
Shadrack Kiratu (Kenya 2017)
Co-Founder of Growing Africa (GA) Capital
Growing Africa (GA) Capital is a venture capital fund which invests in small and medium-sized enterprises in Kenya. Founded by Shadrack Kiratu and four friends after graduating from university, GA Capital aimed to help inexperienced entrepreneurs expand new businesses. Kiratu’s project report shows us the evolution of GA Capital, from the first investment to a realization that Kiratu himself needed to improve his own knowledge and skill set before further investments are made. GA Capital continues to maintain investments and support to current partnerships while Kiratu completes his MBA in December 2018, when he will then explore new ways of growing his company. Read the report here.
Weixingzi Liu (China 2017)
Student, NYU
After much thought and discussion, Weixingzi Liu’s project report was a reflection of the events of the May 16 gala dinner, when Eisenhower Fellowships paid tribute to outgoing chairman General Colin L. Powell, USA (Retired) and welcomed his successor, former Secretary of Defense, Robert M. Gates. Liu attended as a guest of her mentor, EF Trustee and Fellow, Solomon Cai (China ’11). Read the report here.
Adil Al-Karim Manji (Pakistan 2017)
2017 Base Commander, Buraq Space Camp
The Buraq Space Camp aims to create the next generation of leaders through experiential learning, with cadets learning subjects from rocket design to astrophysics, IT to entrepreneurship, all while simulating what it is like to work effectively in a team, sustaining the pressure of competitive environments. Adil Manji’s project has been to promote the camp and work with alumni to connect and encourage projects. His report outlines the aims and objectives of the camp and its future goals. Read the report here.
Dami Makinde (UK 2017)
Co-Lead, Let us Learn
Dami Makinde’s project is also her job and her life goal. Under the umbrella of ‘Just for Kids Law’ founded by Shauneen Lambe (UK ’15) Makinde aims for all young people living in the UK to be able to access student finance, regardless of immigration status. She spoke movingly about this at the European Regional Conference in London, on a panel focusing on ‘Global Citizens in a Nationalist World’. Makinde’s project report shares her story. Read the report here.
Mos-Ab Hadji Nasser (Philippines 2017)
Recent graduate from Mindanao State University
‘Sustaining Community Madrasa Project’ is part of a larger program in association with the Office of the Regional Governor – ARMM, Ayala Foundation and the EF Fellows Association of the Philippines. Mos-Ab Hadji Nasser’s project report provides a detailed look at the work he has been doing to prevent violent extremism in his region. Read the report here.
Alberto Niego (Peru 2017)
Project Manager, Open Education
As co-chair of the 2017 Youth Leaders, Alberto Niego has been instrumental in encouraging the group to remain cohesive and to get their projects in on time! His own project report details what he considers to be his lifelong journey with EF, and was given out to the 2018 Youth Leaders in London. It provided much inspiration and encouragement! Read the report here.
Perttu Polonen (Finland 2017)
Founder, Musiclock
Pertu Polonen created a video to explain his year since Malaga. He has given over 100 presentations in Finland and relates much of his experiences to the Future of Work conference in Malaga. He also worked on a teaching project in Myanmar. See the report here.
Mary-Kate Portley (Ireland 2017)
Management Consultant, Baringa Partners
Until recently Mary-Kate Portley was the Regional Director for Europe with the Circle of Young Intrapreneurs, bringing together young professionals working in corporates and helping them design socially conscious and profitable solutions to the world’s most pressing issues. This was a pro bono position and she based her project, bringing the concept of social intrapreneurship to corporate businesses, around this. Her final report was part of a white paper produced by the Circle of Young Intrapreneurs. The launch of the white paper followed a ‘Circle Talks’ speech Portley gave on ‘The Workforce of the Future’. Read the report here.
Dyani Rivera, USA 2017
Former Case Manager, Congreso de Latinos Unidos
Dyani Rivera has just completed her Post-Baccalaureate program for medical school. In this project report video, she tells us more about her year post Future of Work conference in Malaga! https://youtu.be/7JMRVW_Uct4
Jose Sanchez Elia (Argentina 2017) – Lawyer with Cabanellas Etchebarne Kelly
Sofia Terrile (Argentina 2017) – Journalist, La Nacion
Carolina Zaccato (Argentina 2017) – Regional Research Coordinator for CRIES
Inspired by the Future of Work conference in Spain, the three Youth Leaders from Argentina joined forces to organize a similar conference for 250 high school students in Buenos Aires. The one-day event took place at the Universidad Catolica Argentina. Fellows from Argentina were among the presenters. The project report is a detailed breakdown of the extremely successful event, from the planning to reflections afterwards. Read the report here.
Navneet Singh (India 2017)
Consultant, MyGov
Navneet Singh’s ‘SMART Village’ project is part of an initiative focused on holistic rural development. Navneet Singh visited villages and provides a very detailed description of all aspects of village life. Working with MyGov, Singh was then able to run a summer internship, requiring young people to visit villages and improve sanitation. His report provides detailed information of this initiative and makes recommendations for the future of Indian villages. Read the report here.
Nurhati Tangging (Philippines 2017)
Executive Assistant at the Office of the Regional Governor
Nurhati Tangging’s project was to lead a small team to a rural area of Mindanao to profile members of the Abu Sayyaf Group who had recently surrendered and wanted to be reintegrated into society. Her team worked with local villagers to help plant seeds and encourage the community to come together to assist with the reintegration efforts. Tangging’s report details the considerable efforts and achievements her group has made. Read the report here.
Mihai Toader-Pasti, Romania 2017
Co-Founder and General Manager, EFdeN
Mihai Toader-Pasti believes in social change through smart design. He is co-founder of EFdeN, one of Romania’s most important NGOs for sustainability, with a mission is to create context for innovation. Toader-Pasti’s project report takes us through the early days of his organization and ends as he writes his final report while competing in a global competition for solar houses.
Bassam Yousuf (Pakistan 2017)
Graduate, American University of Sharjah
Recently graduated from the American University of Sharjah, Bassam Yousuf combined his project with his senior thesis on a smart parking system. Read the report here.
Osaid Zkarneh (Jordan 2017)
Founder of DArts (Development through Arts)
‘DArts’ is a group of young artists and social activists which aims to raise awareness about the role of art towards social change and social justice, through launching an Art for Change platform. This platform gives opportunities to youth who have a passion for art, and allows them to take a more active role in developing their society using art-based approaches and mechanisms. ‘DArts’ also plans to establish an Art towards Social Cohesion Platform. This platform focuses on fostering social cohesion and reducing rising social tensions between refugees and host communities in non-camp, urban contexts. The aims of Osaid Zkarneh’s report are:
1. To better understand the sources, trends and changing dynamics of tensions between the host community, refugees and migrants
2. To better understand art-based approaches and mechanisms through which conflict mitigation programs can be effective at reducing conflict
Read the report here.