Fuel the Future

Transformational change begins when we trust young people, and back that trust with real support.

Around the world, young changemakers are tackling the toughest challenges – from extremism to inequality and climate change – with passion, courage and vision. With adequate support and funding, they can achieve extraordinary things.

At the Kofi Annan Foundation, we believe in backing young people with seed grants, mentorship, and networks that unlock lasting change.

Discover what’s possible when young leaders are given the resources to lead, and why we urgently need to invest more in them.

Nabeela: Amplifying Young Women’s Stories in Sri Lanka

In post-crisis Sri Lanka, young women from minority communities often grew up in fear, with limited platforms to express themselves. Nabeela Iqbal set out to change that.

Through her organisation Sisterhood Initiative, Nabeela and her team organised ‘Write for Justice‘ to train and mentor emerging writers from minority communities, amplifying unheard voices – one story at a time.

By the time she joined the Kofi Annan Changemakers programme in 2023, Nabeela had already begun empowering young women to write boldly about social justice issues. With the Kofi Annan Changemakers’ seed grant, mentorship, and international platform, she deepened her work at a critical moment in her country’s history.

Since joining the programme, Nabeela and her team have:

• Trained 20 young women from minority communities in sensitive, justice-focused reporting.
• Provided one-on-one mentorship to develop powerful stories on peacebuilding, women’s rights, and minority rights.
• Published a trilingual zine featuring voices from across Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, and Eastern provinces.
• Created a safe platform for Muslim women to speak out despite their experienced fear and marginalisation.

Through Write for Justice and her organisation Sisterhood Initiative, Nabeela is not only helping young women tell their stories, she’s also helping them shape Sri Lanka’s future.

Ali: Countering Extremism Through Youth Leadership in Pakistan

For Ali Abbas Zaidi, founder of HIVE Pakistan, joining the Extremely Together initiative in 2016 marked a significant turning point.

With the Kofi Annan Foundation’s trust and support, Ali built one of Pakistan’s most visible youth networks countering violent extremism. The model wasn’t top-down; it was collaborative. “The Kofi Annan Foundation is not just a beacon, it is a lifeline,” he adds, “Kofi Annan’s legacy is not just a memory, it is a movement.”

“The Foundation gave me not just tools, but the agency to localize global values, uplift indigenous voices, and scale grassroots initiatives into national impact.”

Several of the young people Ali mentored through Extremely Together Pakistan are now global advocates or active in national politics, creating new pathways for peace.

Abdul: Expanding Women’s Economic Impact in Ghana

In 2019, Abdul Gafaru Amin founded SheaMe, a social enterprise supporting women in northern Ghana. When he joined the Kofi Annan Changemakers programme in 2021, his network had grown to 53. With our support, he more than doubled it: today, 125 women across eight communities are part of the initiative.

“The Kofi Annan Changemakers programme didn’t just provide momentary support; it helped build the skills, networks, and credibility that continue opening doors,” Abdul explains.

Since joining the Kofi Annan Changemakers, Abdul has:

• Increased his network to 125 women across eight communities
• Targeted support toward single mothers and school dropouts
• Secured major funding from the Mastercard Foundation
• Presented at regional conferences on women’s empowerment and sustainable agriculture
• Studied at the University of Edinburgh and is now pursuing an MSc in Climate Change Management and Finance at Imperial College London with the support of the Macro Advisory Partners Kofi Annan Fellowship.

A grant helped Abdul start, and continued support helped him further develop his initiative and position himself to lead on a global stage.

Mahnoz: Scaling Youth Leadership Across Central Asia

Growing up in post-conflict Tajikistan, Mahnoz Rahimzoda saw few spaces for youth voices in public life. “There was no space for students to share their thoughts or take part in global discussions,” she says. “I wanted to get involved, but I didn’t know where to start.”

That changed when she joined a youth workshop organised by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Programme Office in Dushanbe (OSCE POiD). Inspired, she stayed on to help organise future events.

Today, Mahnoz leads the OSCE Alumni Programme, Network by Consensus, connecting more than 1,700 young people across Central Asia. She also helped launch Central Asia (+) Youth Talks with the OSCE, later engaging the World Bank to co-host, giving youth a seat at the table in discussions on peace, climate, and gender.

Through the Kofi Annan Changemakers programme, Mahnoz deepened her leadership journey even further:

• Expanded her youth engagement work across Central Asia
• Built trust and delegation skills that helped her lead remotely while studying abroad
• Found a global network of peers and intergenerational mentors who share her values.

“I realised that leadership doesn’t mean doing it all yourself—it means building a community that shares the mission.”

And the ripple effects are tangible. Young people with whom Mahnoz worked have gone on to lead initiatives in education, climate, and technology. One participant now works at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Another created Tajikistan’s first comics. Others launched STEM programmes for girls or built the country’s first online learning platform.

From a single workshop to a region-wide movement, Mahnoz is showing how proper support can fuel long-term youth leadership.

Mealli: Advocating for Inclusive Governance in Kenya

In Kenya’s Kwale County, budget decisions are often made without the voices of the women most affected by them. With support from the WYDE Accountability Hubs seed grant, Mbodze Mealii Swazuri launched Young Women At The Table, a grassroots initiative empowering young women to shape public budgets that reflect their realities.

“When young women have a seat at the table, policy changes. Communities change.”

The project trained ten young women to become budget advocates in gender-responsive budgeting, budget analysis, and public participation. These advocates helped mobilise others in the community to take part in county public consultations, resulting in the submission of the first-ever Young Women’s Budget Memorandum in their ward.

“We now understand the county’s budget cycle. We’re more confident, informed, and able to engage with political leaders—and to push for change.”

Their work is already having ripple effects: more young women are participating in civic forums, and local officials have pledged ongoing support. What began as a pilot project has now become part of a broader shift in local civic participation. Mealii has empowered young women who are now ready to lead, lobby, and demand better public services.

Raymundo: Preparing Candidates for Office in Malawi

With elections approaching in 2025, Raymundo Magangani wanted to do more than vote; he wanted to prepare other young people to run for office. Through WYDE Accountability Hubs‘ training and seed grant support, he launched a youth-led political leadership training programme in Mzuzu, Malawi.

The programme featured expert sessions from the Malawi Electoral Commission, campaign strategists, and social media professionals, helping youth candidates strengthen their campaigns and expand their reach.

Raymundo’s project has already achieved:

• Comprehensive political training for 23 youth participants
• New partnerships with the Mzuzu Youth Network, Likoma Youth, and the U.S. Embassy-Malawi
• Media interest from Malawi Broadcasting Corporation and Times Television, both now collaborating on youth-focused political programmes

Next, he’s continuing the digital campaign and connecting youth candidates with political party leadership. “The Kofi Annan Foundation under WYDE has given me a tremendous platform. As a result of the recent work we did with the €5,000 grant, we have now secured $20,000 grant to transform those trainings into a digital tool.”

Raymundo is ensuring that young people are not just on the sidelines; they’re preparing to lead.

Thank you

Everything the Kofi Annan Foundation does is voluntarily funded, and none of our income is guaranteed. We want to extend our gratitude to all of our donors and partners, and, in particular, those who helped make the stories in this article possible:

• Ambassador Jenö Staehelin
• The European Union
• The Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA