Fellows
Amahoro Coalition Fellows are exceptional leaders with lived experience as Forcibly Displaced Persons (FDPs) from different parts of Africa. They come together as a cohort for a 12-month program to acquire the essential skills and resources to create transformative change.
They also use this platform to cultivate and disseminate their ideas on the world stage, expand their networks, and seize numerous professional opportunities. As a network of change agents working towards positive and long-lasting ecosystems and systemic shifts, Fellows have the power to make a real difference in the world and will utilize their voices, skills, expertise, and innovations to catalyze solutions in Africa and globally.
Umeh Charles, a Nigerian runs Parkers Mobile Clinic (PMC360) – a healthcare-focused social enterprise in South-East Nigeria to enhance healthcare accessibility for vulnerable populations, including the internally displaced.
Collaborating with international organizations and government bodies to deliver cost-effective and direct health services, with targeted health interventions, PMC 360 has grown into an integral part of Nigeria’s healthcare ecosystem.
By the end of 2030, Umeh is looking to provide basic healthcare to at least 5 Million of Nigeria’s vulnerable population and address pressing healthcare needs faced by underserved communities affordably. This is through Telemedicine, community health outreaches, partnerships for health system strengthening and the establishment of three Community Health Centers in South-East Nigeria
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-umeh-ba53a012a/
Website: https://pmc360.org/
Originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Espoir is a Co-founder and Professional Development Lead at Advocacy Training and Education Hub (ATE-Hub), an organization based in Malawi dedicated to fostering social change for refugees and underserved communities through strategic advocacy, adaptive learning, and livelihood programs.
In his role, Espoir spearheads initiatives to help bridge the gap between education and meaningful employment for marginalized individuals. His focus is the provision of sustainable livelihood activities, including comprehensive job readiness training programs for essential skills for the workforce.
Espoir actively collaborates with employers to showcase student talent and competencies, boosting their chances of securing meaningful job opportunities. By fostering these connections, he supports marginalized individuals with critical skills and opportunities to succeed in the job market.
After spending nine years in Malawi, Espoir recently returned to the DRC on a humanitarian mission utilizing drone technology to deliver healthcare supplies to extremely remote areas. Further flaming his fire to drive social impact in marginalized communities with his expertise .
Espoir is a certified Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) pilot, with a BA Management – Logistics and Operations from Southern New Hampshire University. He also holds a diploma in Liberal Arts from Regis University.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/espoir-bahirwe-312198139/
Website: https://www.atehub.org/
Originally from Kenya, now residing in South Africa, Cindy runs Young Queens, an initiative she founded in 2021 to empower young women through education and social media.
Young Queens provides a platform to impart financial literacy, self development, property ownership, women empowerment and motivational coaching through hosting workshops, seminars and their social media YouTube channel.
This educational platform supports learning while encouraging relationship-building among women, especially those with growing businesses and an entrepreneurship spirit. This has not only been a passion project, but has fulfilled Cindy’s ambition to develop a training center that up-skills women, by providing them with market-relevant skills and getting them ready for employment.
Cindy holds a BA degree in Communications and Political Science. She has a decade of managerial experience in Training and Development and looks forward to transferring her decade-long experience in the private sector over to Young Queens.
Her desire is to grow and elevate her platform into a sustainable Center for Training and Development that inspires and motivates women to be the best version of themselves.
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/cindy-oyugi
Instagram: www.instagram.com/youngqueens_motivation/
Agwu Kalu Ibe from Nigeria founded LevelUp Recyclers, a company addressing plastic pollution and sustainable income for women and youth in the Internally Displaced Persons camps.
In addition to Agwu’s pursuit of achieving zero plastic waste plastic to landfills, he utilizes this platform to engage in social education to the community towards responsible behavior in the use and management of plastics . He hopes to raise 20,000 artisans from the FDP Camps in Nigeria in the coming years.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/agwukaluibe/
Website: https://www.leveluprecylers.com
Founder and CEO, Zang Global
A Nigerian entrepreneur, Founder and CEO of Zang Global – A venture that repurposes electronic waste into sustainable products; Power Banks and Solar Lanterns, In addition to producing biodegradable packaging from agricultural waste and mycelium.
Fueled by his lived experience as an internally displaced person (IDP) in a country grappling with high unemployment rates, Zang chose the self-employment path, utilizing old laptop batteries to produce lanterns and extended this to fellow refugee youth from his community.
Zang Global’s vision is for sustainable manufacturing in Africa, which begins with responsibility over our environment through proper waste disposal and the development of innovative solutions using locally available resources, to reduce environmental impact.
An Award Winning Innovator and the creator of a computer foot mouse.
In 2019, he was awarded the prestigious award of Excellence in Technology Innovation by the Federal Government of Nigeria; with his project, “Driving Sustainability and Clean Energy Inclusion in Africa,” having won the Energy Globe Award in 2022.
Zang is a fellow of the Western Union Foundation Passionate about developing products for Africans in africa.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zang-luka
The Girl Power Action Initiative
Originally from Somalia, now residing in Kenya, Sudi runs The Girl Power Action Initiative – a grassroots movement-women-led org dedicated to empowering girls in the Kakuma refugee camps and Kaloboyei settlement.
The initiative promotes gender equality for girls, seeking to destigmatize menstruation by availing menstrual hygiene solutions such as reusable sanitary pads, to improve cleanliness and restore their dignity.
By engaging women and girls, this platform also allows for comprehensive reproductive health education and Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) to promote their safety and well-being.
Through mentorship programs and social media engagement, the Girl Power Initiative advocates and amplifies the voices of refugee girls, boosting their confidence to pursue their passions beyond their current situation.
As an embodiment of empowerment herself, Sudi is dedicated to transforming the lives of refugee girls in her community. She remains a beacon of hope in building the foundation for a dignified life.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sudi-omar/
Entrepreneur, Co-Founder JCKFRUT
Michelle is the co-founder of JCKFRUT, an award-winning web design business in Cape Town, South Africa. With seven years of entrepreneurship and small business management, she has enabled businesses to achieve the next level of growth through custom web design, innovative marketing strategies and tailored content. JCKFRUT has collaborated with well-known brands in South Africa,expanding reach internationally to the Netherlands, Australia and various countries across Africa.
Beyond her business, Michelle is passionate about building businesses that prioritize employee wellbeing and the creation of inclusive societies given her commitment to social impact.This has seen her mentor Syrian refugees aspiring to become entrepreneurs, going beyond profit and into social impact for more inclusive societies.
Her most outstanding work is her founding of an NPO whose media campaign on a young South Sudanese girl who was convicted for a crime committed in self-defense in the US, saw her secure a pardon. The campaign caught the attention of councilmen and celebrity Naomi Campbell.
She holds a BA in Politics and Philosophy from the Stellenbosch University, a graduate Diploma in Business Management and a Diploma in Small Business Management from the Stellenbosch Business School.
Website: https://jckfrut.co/
Women’s Health and Empowerment Advocate
A Togolese now residing in Ghana is a registered nurse with over 5 years experience in this field.Her interests range from Health, Nutrition and Well-being, Sexual& Reproductive Health and Rights have seen her take to the international stage to agitate for better conditions for refugee Girls, Women and Youth.
Having witnessed her agemates fall into teenage pregnancy and victims of gender violence,which was made worse by the hardships faced by refugees. She committed to make things better for herself, pursuing education for a bachelor’s degree in nursing.
A firm believer in education herself, she extends career guidance to students in primary and tertiary education, motivated by her own experience and impact of pulling displaced persons out of the cycle of poverty.
Louange is committed to the empowerment of women and girls with health education while looking at men and boys as critical advocates in combating Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) by prioritizing their involvement in outreach programmes
She is an ex-Dafi (Albert Einstein German Academic Initiative) Scholar and a
UNFPA Youth Leaders Fellow, passionate about the health and well-being of people.
She has her sights set on the provision of menstrual hygiene products, to extend the impact of her advocacy work in health and develop a scholarship fund to educate more displaced persons in Ghana and beyond.
Founder and CEO, Action for Refugee Life (AReL)
A visionary entrepreneur originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), now residing in Kakuma camp, Kenya. Kiza founded Action for Refugee Life (AReL). A social enterprise equipping young forcibly displaced persons and the host community with IT and Business Management skills, enabling them to secure dignified employment globally.
Through these digital training courses, refugees build on their tech, entrepreneurship, and mentorship skills, positioning them for decent employment or to take up entrepreneurial opportunities, towards self-reliance driven by passion.
Mauridi’s focus is enabling refugees to achieve socio-economic advancement and integration into society, reducing aid dependency for sustainable livelihoods.
In 2023 and for his work, AReL was a top three finalist for the Sharjah International Award for Refugee Advocacy and Support, organized by The Big Heart Foundation (TBHF) in collaboration with United Nations High commission for Refugees (UNHCR). In the same year, Kiza was selected as the 2023 Youth Digital Champion by the mEducation Alliance for the significant role he played in the Vodafone foundation’s Instant Network School Programs.
Kiza is pursuing his undergraduate degree in Logistics and Operations from Southern New Hampshire University.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mauridi-kiza-46035b247/
Website: https://refugeelife.org/
Founder, GLAP Enterprises
Innocent Havyarimana Domitien is an entrepreneur from Burundi and founder of GLAP Enterprises – A soap manufacturing business in Kakuma, Kenya.
The enterprise specializes in the production of 16 varieties of soap, entrenching the value of community hygiene and job creation within its operations , helping enhance a culture of proper hygiene and sanitation, challenges of which remain high in this community.
Beyond running a manufacturing business, Innocent is keen on boosting sanitation needs a notch higher, by sinking a borehole to cater for his production needs to meet the needs of a growing market, boost employment opportunities while availing critical resources to help his proper hygiene and sanitation efforts in the Kakuma and Dadaab refugee camps.
Innocent prides in his business acumen, reflected in his understanding of financial concepts running his enterprises, while investing time to conduct periodic market research for a better market understanding. He holds the Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration
Website: glapenterprises.netfly
Founder, Iwacu Creatives
Originally from Rwanda and currently residing in Kenya, Didier is a multi-passionate creative who founded a creative agency that produces engaging and innovative content for meaningful conversations, empowering communities through photography and videography education.
He also runs a socioeconomic enterprise that empowers refugee creatives and artisans to thrive in their entrepreneurial endeavors, selling handcrafted goods and exhibiting their art.
In addition to his personal initiatives, Didier serves as the Refugee Youth Coordinator at UNHCR, where he represents and advocates for the inclusion of refugee youths and Refugee-Led Organizations.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/didierhabimana/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yvesdidier/
Changemaker and Women Empowerment Advocate
Originally from Rwanda and residing in Kenya, Deline Ramiro Yihumutima is currently the Refugee-Led Organization Program Advisor at Inkomoko. She is dedicated to enhancing the capacity and sustainability of refugee-led initiatives through affordable finance and business advisory services serving refugees, asylum seekers and host communities across different parts of Africa..
With at least 5 years’ experience in the digital space, she has promoted digital literacy among young girls and women, enabling them to secure online work through coding and freelance programs.
Deline has been instrumental in educating children and youth on environmental conservation and education such as tree-planting initiatives at the Kakuma Refugee Camp, earning accolades with the YES Power Hands Award 2023 for her efforts in advocating for renewable energy use in the camp.
An advocate for financial inclusion and investment in refugee businesses to reduce aid dependency and improve sustainability,she is now set on integrating AI technology in education for underserved communities to enhance learning.
She is also the co-founder of the African Refugee Women Empowerment Network (ARWEN) in Uganda, a network aimed to strengthen the capacities of refugee women-led initiatives.
She holds a BSc.,Journalism & Mass communication
Shalom Ishimwe, originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo, is the founder and CEO of Mata Creative Agency in Uganda, Shalom’s vision is to transform African narratives through innovative media and communication.
Mata Creative Agency is dedicated to redefining African stories, amplifying authentic voices that foster a deep sense of pride and connection within Africa. The agency prides itself in a definitively African approach to media campaigns, digital branding, consultancy and content creation that celebrates African heritage.
On a mission to challenge stereotypes and cultural norms, Shalom envisions a future where Africans embrace and celebrate their diverse cultures, ambitious to create a platform that unites celebrated African content as a showcase of her rich cultural diversity and inspiring a mindset shift towards self-appreciation.
Driven by expertise and passion for mental health, Shalom founded “Companions without Borders” to support young people and vulnerable communities. He looks to create a nurturing environment where everyone is valued and empowered to reach their full potential through essential mental health services.
He is currently pursuing a BA Communications and Journalism at Makerere University.
LinkedIn: Shalom Ishimwe [www.linkedin.com/in/shalom-ishimwe-430365127 ]
Website: www.matacreativeagency.com
Founder and CEO, Aspire Digital Hub
Binyam Meles, an Ethiopian entrepreneur now residing in Australia, is the visionary behind Aspire Digital Hub, a for-profit social enterprise committed to empowering refugees through entrepreneurship and ICT training.
Binyam’s personal experiences of hardship due to war and violence in his home country pushed him to create a space where individuals like himself could acquire essential literacy and digital skills, having missed out on several opportunities owing to a lack of proper skilling.
Beyond skilling and in a bid to build on various entrepreneurial capabilities of the youth, the Aspire Digital Hub also serves as an incubator for business ideas, nurturing their growth for the marketplace.
The hub offers IT consultancy services for clients and provides specialized programs in ICT, entrepreneurship and soft skills for refugees.
Binyam holds a BSc in Software Engineering from Addis Ababa, Institute of Technology.
LinkedIn for Binyam: https://www.linkedin.com/in/binyam-meles-450045115/
Website: https://aspiredigitalhub.com/
Founder, Ademaria Initiative
Originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) now residing in Uganda, Gloria runs the Ademaria Initiative – a non-profit organization empowering women and mothers with vocational skills training and financial literacy, while providing their children with nursery and daycare services.
Gloria has been advocating for refugee rights, early childhood education, livelihood support and women empowerment.
Through partnerships and grassroots mobilization, her advocacy work runs parallel to the provision of vocational training, financial literacy and mentorship, aligned with her dream of a space where displaced communities grow.
She holds a BA International Relations and Diplomacy from Nkumba University,Uganda where she held the Gender docket as minister and Member of Parliament in the Guild Government of 2016.
Founder, The Oasis Inclusive Centre, Formerly Know Autism Africa Foundation
Originally from Congo and currently residing in South Africa, Ariane founded The Oasis Inclusive Centre, formerly Know Autism Africa Foundation in 2020, with a mission to advocate for and raise awareness of autism across the African continent.
While raising children is considered tough, the needs of an autistic child born to a refugee mother can be a source of significant responsibility, resulting in stress, trauma and frustrations.
In 2017, struck by the language barrier faced by refugee parents on their integration efforts with their host communities, access medical attention and cope with the irregular sleep patterns brought on by their autistic children, Ariane started helping these parents, driven by her personal experience and passion to make a difference.
In 2020, The Oasis Inclusive Centre was born, offering training programs and support to caregiving for refugee mothers.
On a mission to advocate for and raise awareness of autism on the continent, she looks to set up a respite center. A place where mothers can leave their autistic children for caregiving as they acquire valuable skills or simply take a break.
Ariane looks to a future where every autistic child can thrive and their families feel supported. She has in the past collaborated with organizations like the Scalabrini Centre of Cape Town and Autism Western Cape, seeking to develop custom programs that answer to the varying needs of autistic children and their families.
She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications
Founder, EasyFit Gang
Abubakar Rugamba is the driving force behind Easy Fitgang – a community-based organization founded in 2020 to promote mental well-being through physical fitness and artistic expression.
Originally from Burundi and currently residing in Kenya, Abubakar brought on a diverse group of refugees and local youth with a view of using this as a platform to motivate young refugees to self-reliance.
By way of sports and recreational fitness exercises, Easy Fitgang has not only brought together youth from displaced communities but also boosted co-existence between the host communities in Kakuma and Kalobeyei Integrated Settlement.
