Kofi Annan Changemakers

Ongoing

Kofi Annan Changemakers

An intergenerational dialogue for impact

Elevating and supporting young people by giving them a space to dialogue with and seek counsel from experienced leaders on issues of deep concern whilst affording the opportunity to leaders to better understand the preoccupation of young people.

Each year, a select group of twelve young leaders are invited to join the Kofi Annan Changemakers initiative: An Intergenerational Dialogue for Impact.

Across a 12-month programme, the chosen young leaders, who have already demonstrated commitment and impact in their respective fields, interact with leaders from the high-level network of Kofi Annan and the Kofi Annan Foundation, searching for ways to build their capacity for positive action.

To learn more about the Kofi Annan Changemakers Initiative, watch this video  

About the Kofi Annan Changemakers

1. Dialogue and mutual learning between this new generation of changemakers and experienced experts and leaders who worked closely with Kofi Annan and/or his Foundation on topics such as ethical leadership, building resilience and bridging divides.

2. Insight into the “Kofi Annan Way” through a series of encounters and workshops to teach and bring to life the values and approaches underpinning the work of Kofi Annan and his colleagues.

3. Mentorship and support. Each Changemaker will be paired with a mentor/expert and receive a seed grant. Their mentor will provide advice, inspiration and support during and after the programme. Throughout the mentorship the Changemaker and Mentor will work together to apply their learnings and make the best use of the seed grant offered to scale up a project which boosts their work.

“I talk to a lot of young people—their attitude, determination to make a difference, innovative spirit and desire to change things gives me hope.”

Kofi Annan

Meet the Kofi Annan Changemakers

Since our launch in 2021, we’ve grown into a vibrant network of Kofi Annan Changemakers from 27 countries across five continents, with 12 new young leaders joining us annually.

Kofi Annan Changemakers 2025

Michelle Shi Jie Chew

Malaysia

Michelle (she/her) is an experienced youth advocate committed to social justice and inclusive governance. Starting as a grassroots volunteer, she progressed to shaping global youth initiatives. She played a key role in launching the Red Cross Red Crescent Strategy on Youth-led Climate Action and revising the IFRC Youth Engagement Strategy. Her work focuses on reducing inequalities, strengthening youth participation through policy, advocacy and education.

Saviour Iwezue

Nigeria

Saviour (she/her) is an environmental activist and founded ’Team Illuminate’ in 2021 to empower youth as climate leaders through education and grassroots action. Blending digital tools, storytelling, and experiential learning, her initiative embeds sustainability in school curricula and trains students and teachers. With her team of 15 volunteers, they foster climate leadership across regions, using design thinking and reflection to build deep environmental awareness.

Esso-Dong Kongah

Togo

Esso-Dong (he/him) works for the protection and realization of human rights and the rule of law by offering legal assistance. He leads the ’Centre de Documentation et de Formation sur les Droits de l’Homme’ (CDFDH) in Togo, using digital tools to promote access to justice. CDFDH also works to advance human rights via training, research, and collaboration with regional partners to strengthen the capacity of lawyers, civil society, and institutions across Africa.

Lenox Omondi

Kenya

Lennox (he/him) leads ‘Ecobana Limited’, Kenya’s first startup producing 100% biodegradable sanitary pads, tackling menstrual product inaccessibility and stigma. His initiative helps keep girls in school and promotes male involvement in menstrual health education. Its impact spans Kenya and exports to various countries in and beyond Africa.

Ahmed Abdulghani

Libya

Ahmed (he/him) is a peacebuilder driving youth-led solutions to conflict and climate challenges in the MENA region, with a focus on Libya. He is a lead at the ’MENA Coalition for YPS Agenda’, empowering youth through innovation, knowledge-sharing, and tailored approaches.Key achievements include Libya’s first national climate competition,the Climate Ambassador Network, and launching the first NGO fundraising department through the ‘Perpetual Peace Foundation’.

Ronny Saeed Hasan

Iraq

Ronny (she/her) advocates for Yazidi survivors of the 2014 ISIS genocide, combining legal accountability with community recovery. Ronny writes about human rights violations in Iraq and works with the ‘Yazidi Legal Network’ where she documents crimes, offers legal aid, and supports survivors in navigating justice systems: Ronny fosters a global network of Yazidi survivors for healing and solidarity. By merging legal advocacy with trauma support, she advances justice and empowers the Yazidi community.

Nusaiba Binte Mamun

Bangladesh

Nusaiba (she/her) founded ‘Anondopath’ in March 2024 to deliver accessible STEM education to rural students in Bangladesh, especially girls. Using virtual labs via smartphones, her team bridges the digital divide without internet or expensive tools. With her team, Nusaiba runs workshops around the country, creating inclusive learning experiences and reaching underserved communities.

Printiss Domah

Liberia

Printiss (he/him) is a young political activist who empowers youth in Liberia through programs that promote job creation, education, and entrepreneurship. With ‘Unity Party’, he advocates for transparency in public institutions and strengthens democracy through civic engagement. By educating citizens on their rights and responsibilities, and partnering with local and global groups, Printiss ensures youth play an active role in shaping Liberia’s political future.

Shirley Santana Herrera

Dominican Republic

Shirley (she/her) founded ‘Excelsior Academy’ in September 2022 to bridge the gap between talent and opportunity for youth in the Dominican Republic. Rooted in her experience growing up in a hurricane-stricken community, Shirley equips students with skills in critical thinking, digital literacy, and entrepreneurship. By preparing youth for the future of work and leadership, her work promotes long-term socioeconomic empowerment and resilience.

Davi Augusto

Brazil

Davi Augusto (he/him) is a psychologist, researcher and sexual reproductive rights advocate. His project ‘Sex Education for All‘ fosters critical thinking, violence prevention, and promotes youth autonomy. So far, his program has reached over 1,000 students in public schools, and through strategic advocacy, he is now working to expand the project to gain national visibility. His mission is to drive structural change in Brazilian education by institutionalizing comprehensive, evidence-based sex education as a national public policy rooted in human rights.

Larisa Aguilar

Guatemala

Larisa (she/her) works to eradicate gender inequalities in Guatemala, focusing on education and empowerment of women and girls. Addressing violence and discrimination rooted in patriarchal and racist systems, especially in rural Indigenous communities, her approach uses gender-transformative and participatory methods.

Nguyen Huu Quynh Huong

Vietnam

Quyhn Huong (she/her) leads ‘Slowbooks‘ to empower young authors and illustrators to create children’s books on social issues such as the environment and mental health. She has published several books for Vietnamese children and nurtures ‘SlowCircle’, a network of creatives in Vietnam where she combines storytelling and education through workshops, creative camps, reaching over 15,000 children so far.

Ria Das

India

Ria (she/her) is a lawyer working at the intersection of criminal law, environmental law, and juvenile justice, defending young activists and human rights defenders in India. She provides pro bono legal aid to juveniles, ensuring protection under child rights laws. Ria also trains youth in legal literacy and advocates for alternatives to imprisonment, such as counseling and rehabilitation, to reduce criminalization and support empowered, rights-aware activism.

Anna Ferreira

Venezuela

Anna (she/her) is a grassroots activist focused on combating oppression and shrinking civic spaces by building movements and empowering youth participation. She leads Venezuela’s National Student Movement and has mobilized over 1 million people. As a Youth Engagement Coordinator for ‘CIVICUS’, Anna also drives global peer learning and leads campaigns amplifying grassroots voices for justice and peace.

Kofi Annan Changemakers 2024

Camila Baello

Argentina

Camila (she/her) is dedicated to empowering youth, especially those from underprivileged backgrounds, to participate in shaping a more inclusive digital future for their communities. Through youth initiatives like ITU Generation Connect and The Fifty Percent, Camila helps bridge the gap between youth and policy-making by fostering dialogue and building capacity for multi-level engagement.

Cedric Bichano

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Cedric (he/him) founded the World Refuge Film Academy, based in the Nakival Refugee Settlement in Uganda. With this initiative, Cedric equips refugees and host communities with digital filmmaking and storytelling skills so that they can share their unique experiences and challenge misconceptions surrounding refugee issues.

Huma Nasir

India

Huma Nasir (she/her) is a Human Rights Lawyer, Researcher, and Gender Justice Advocate. With a strong passion for advancing equal justice for everyone, her work and research interests center on ensuring fair access to legal representation for indigenous communities and identifying gaps in the intersection of human rights, gender, and indigenous identities through the lens of international law.

Keshoe Isaiah

Kenya

Keshoe (he/him) is a climate activist from the Maasai Indigenous community in Kenya. In 2020, Keshoe founded the youth-led organisation New Lion Project to empower Indigenous communities to tackle climate change by drawing on their Indigenous knowledge, scaling up grassroots actions and raising awareness through storytelling.

Laura Pistarini Teixeira Nunes

Brazil

Laura (she/her) is a peacebuilder who advocates for social justice. As project manager at PATRIR, she is committed to long-term healing and supports Ukrainian civil society in peace education, youth empowerment, and reconciliation. Her work fosters dialogue and resilience, with non-violent resistance as a core value. Laura is also the Regional Coordinator for Europe at the United Network of Young Peacebuilders.

Luis Gerardo Carvajal Fernández

Mexico

Luis (he/him) is a climate activist and advocate. He co-leads CLAIMATE, a pioneering project that merges education, storytelling, artificial intelligence (AI), and artivism to amplify the voices of climate activists and those affected by environmental challenges. Through AI-generated art, Luis transforms narratives around climate, sparking a global movement for change.

Mahnoz Rahimzoda

Tajikistan

Mahnoz (she/her) empowers young people across Central Asia. Through her work at the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), she equips young people to become agents of change by cultivating narratives for an inclusive future, tackling gender equality issues and advocating for youth’s participation in decision-making processes.

Mehrbanou Hosseinirad

Iran

Mehrbanou (she/her) is motivated to empower youth and bridge healthcare gaps. She established a local Iranian Medical Student’s Association committee at her university. Her actions foster resilience and build capacity around youth engagement in human rights and public health, amplifying the voices of Iranian healthcare students and youth globally.

Nancy Mma-Ngaare Mba

Ghana

Nancy (she/her) founded the Magnificent Smiles Foundation, an organisation dedicated to reducing inequalities and providing quality education for all. The foundation focuses on educational and psychosocial support and ethical leadership programming for disadvantaged children and teenagers, especially orphans and the most vulnerable.

Sameer Ali Khan

Pakistan

Sameer (he/him) founded Collective Pakistan in 2020 to combat online hate speech and violent extremism, and to promote peaceful coexistence. By providing a content creation platform and an online support group, Sameer empowers peace activists and fosters collaboration and interfaith dialogue.

Sylvain Obedi Katindi

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Sylvain (he/him) advocates for the rights and participation of people with disabilities in his country. Through his organisation, Enable the Disable Action, Sylvain trains disabled individuals in digital technologies, entrepreneurship, and how to be resilient to the effects of climate change. His work was also instrumental in securing the country’s first disability rights law.

Victor Okechukwu Chimezie

Nigeria

Victor (he/him) is a passionate peacebuilder and founder of the youth-led, non-profit organisation Mind Reformers Network. Through his work, Victor empowers young Nigerians and Africans to become agents of peace, tackling insecurity challenges through education and fostering a generation committed to a more peaceful future.

Yairy Vega Muenala

Ecuador

Yairy (she/her) is a Kichwa Otavalo activist who promotes Indigenous rights, particularly those of women and their political participation. She is a member of the Tuparina Sinchi Warmikuna Collective (Women’s Power), where she develops women’s leadership camps and pursues her advocacy efforts as a Young Advisor for Cooperation at the European Union Delegation to Ecuador.

Zulaikha Patel

South Africa

Zulaikha (she/her) is an Anti-Racism Activist and Author driven by the vision of quality education for all. She founded Dare To Change in 2022 with the aim to eradicate literacy poverty among children in South Africa by establishing library corners in schools, and intends to contribute to a decolonized African anti-racism feminist course to be used in universities, schools and workshops.

Kofi Annan Changemakers 2023
Aida Marukyan, Kofi Annan Changemakers, 2023

Aida Marukyan

Armenia

Aida (she/her) is a queer feminist activist who, with the youth-led queer-feminist initiative “Queer Sista,” tackles discrimination and gender-based violence through grassroots community-based approaches focusing on gender mainstreaming, art activism and promoting well-being. Her work creates a safe space by promoting solidarity and mutual support.

Benjie Allen Dela Pasion Aquino, Kofi Annan Changemaker, 2023

Benjie Allen Dela Pasion Aquino

The Philippines

With the University of the Philippines Paralegal Volunteers’ Organization (UP PVO) Benjie (he/him) works to defend changemakers from repression. Through the provision of legal rights education and through direct paralegal assistance they aim to reduce the security risks that changemakers face and increase the legal aid accessible to young activists and human rights defenders.

Clement Ngosong, Kofi Annan Changemaker, 2023

Clement Ngosong

Cameroon

Driven by his belief that young people have the power and potential to change the world, Clement (he/him) founded the non-profit organization “Youths Inspiration.” With the goal to cultivate a new generation of African leaders who will drive progress and innovation across the continent they provide young people with informal education and mentorship that empowers them with the skills and knowledge necessary to bring positive change.

Laura Natalia Garcia Torrejano, Kofi Annan Changemaker, 2023

Laura Natalia García Torrejano

Colombia

Laura (she/her) is part of the “Match Tennis Foundation” which was conceived in 2018 as a way to empower children and youth to prevent their recruitment by armed groups. Their work shows how tennis and education can positively impact children and youth, helping them be agents of change in their own communities.

Mable Chileshe, Kofi Annan Changemaker, 2023

Mable Chileshe

Zambia

Mable (she/her) is a gender advocate working towards digital inclusion and social justice. She founded AmplifyHer STEM, an NGO that empowers Zambian girls in STEM through mentorship and experiential learning. In 2022 She was named a gender champion by ITU for her work.

Mathias Charles Yabe, Kofi Annan Changemaker, 2023

Mathias Charles Yabe

Ghana

Mathias (he/him) and his organization “AkoFresh” are on a mission to build strong and resilient food systems in local communities across Africa by offering sustainable cold chain services, trainings, and market linkages to help reduce postharvest losses thereby creating lasting profits for smallholder farmers, reducing food waste carbon emissions and alleviating poverty.

Nabeela Iqbal, Kofi Annan Changemaker, 2023

Nabeela Iqbal

Sri Lanka

Nabeela (she/her) is a peacebuilder who works for women’s and minority rights in Sri Lanka. She founded the “Sisterhood Initiative” with the goal to bring young women and girls from minority groups to the front lines of activism. One of their objectives is to address the increased stereotyping of minority communities and to work towards building peaceful communities.

Sabir Ali, Kofi Annan Changemaker, 2023

Sabir Ali

Pakistan

Sabir (he/him) is a human rights activist striving for the equal rights of vulnerable groups, with the aim to provide a favorable living environment for every human being. His activism, which focuses on peace building, ensures the implementation of projects that ensure youth engagement in peace building and interfaith dialogue among diverse groups in communities.

Taylor Dee Hawkins, Kofi Annan Changemaker, 2023

Taylor Dee Hawkins

Australia

Taylor (she/her) is co-founder of Foundations for Tomorrow, a non-profit with the mission of advancing the protection of future generations in Australia, which has also recently launched the Australian Parliamentary Group for Future Generations. She is also an Advisor to the Our Future Agenda initiative of the United Nations Foundation.

Taymaa Z.M. Abdalhadi, Kofi Annan Changemaker, 2023

Tayma Abdalhadi

Palestine

Tayma (she/her) helps internet residents navigate their digital spaces more safely, and the public & civil society in their pursuit of safe and inclusive digital transformation. By building a digital security mindset, and a communication channel between techie and non-techie people.

Toha Shamsoo Issah, Kofi Annan Changemaker, 2023

Toha Shamsoo Issah

Ghana

Toha Shamsoo Issah (he/him) works passionately for a peaceful and inclusive world through innovative peacebuilding, and youth empowerment in partnership with religious and traditional leaders. He is part of the youth-led peacebuilding NGO “African Students For Interfaith Tolerance” which aims to promote interfaith harmony and peace while advocating for the Youth, Peace and Security agenda in Ghana.

Veronica (Vee) Silas, Kofi Annan Changemaker, 2023

Vee Silas

Nigeria

Veronica ‘Vee’ Silas (she/her) is engaged with community-based organizations that focus on mental health and youth development, aiming to reduce the cultural and social stereotypes aimed against people battling with mental illness. Together they empower young people through In-My-Head Support Group with essential soft skills and resources through trainings, internships, and support groups to become mentally aware global citizens and to attain economic security.

Kofi Annan Changemakers 2022
Fahd Jamaleddine, Kofi Annan Changemaker, 2022

Fahd Jamaleddine

Lebanon

Fahd (he/him) created ‘Learning Land’, a virtual and physical platform that brings educators together with policymakers to co-create bottom-up sustainable solutions and advocate for policy change. Fahd hopes to leverage his grassroots movement to bridge the learning gap in Lebanon, accelerate progress and shape the future of education in the country.

Mahryan Sampaio, Kofi Annan Changemaker, 2022

Mahryan Sampaio

Brazil

Mahryan (she/her) works to promote, defend and raise awareness of the rights of refugee children and contribute to environmental justice in Brazil. She trains young migrants and refugees to become digital mobilizers for human rights. She was part of the delegation to COP26, where she brought environmental racism to the forefront of the agenda.

Afolayan Juwon Samuel, Kofi Annan Changemaker, 2022

Juwon Samuel Afolayan

Nigeria & UK

Juwon (he/him) leads the Chapters working group of the World Youth Parliament for Water. His vision is to contribute to actualising international cooperation of young water professionals, who could promote sustainable dialogues and actions that would birth a new era of water response globally.

Luisa Fernanda Romero Munoz, Kofi Annan Changemaker, 2022

Luisa Fernanda Romero Munoz

Colombia

Luisa (she/her) empowers poor communities who were previously devastated by conflict in Colombia by training locals, especially women, to work in the Tourism industry. Luisa has supported over 20,000 people, providing a source of livelihood through sustainable ecotourism, and furthering peacebuilding and reconciliation among her community.

Nojus Saad, Kofi Annan Changemaker, 2022

Nojus Saad

Iraq

Nojus (he/him) is the CEO of Youth for Women Foundation, mobilizing and empowering community stakeholders to advocate for gender equality, LGBTQIA+ rights, and gender-based violence policies, fostering digital healthcare and literacy initiatives, and bridging the widespread digital divide. He hopes to continue to educate and empower women and youth from rural, marginalized communities on their mental health, human rights, physical well-being, and digital literacy.

Manata Sadykova Aleksandrovna, Kofi Annan Changemaker, 2022

Manata Aleksandr

Kyrgyzstan

Manata (she/her) works with the Danko Public Foundation in Kyrgyzstan. Together with her team, she develops programs for high school students to improve literacy. She hopes to continue to contribute to the development of youth in a rapidly changing world, and also reducing ‘brain drain’ in Kyrgyzstan.

Marius Affonfere, Kofi Annan Changemaker, 2022

Marius Affonfere

Benin

Marius (he/him) contributes to alleviating malnutrition among women of reproductive age and children under the age of five in the Benin Republic. Through his enterprise, BICOF, he aims to provide affordable and nutritious food and boost food and nutritional security. Marius has been working closely with the local people of Northern Benin to improve their nutritional status by disseminating healthy, nutritionally dense products.

Shradha Pandey, Kofi Annan Changemaker, 2022

Shradha Pandey

India

Shradha (She/her) is leading the Grassroots Energy Management Support (GEMS) project focused on bringing about an inclusive energetic transition in rural India. GEMS is working to ensure lower pollution, improved health, and social welfare of women and girls in rural India. GEMS will achieve its goals by replacing traditional open-pit cooking with low-smoke ones and solar lamps instead of kerosene lighting. An add-on advantage of the energy transformation is improved time management of women, creating new income-generating opportunities.

Saif Ullah Khan, Kofi Annan Changemaker, 2022

Saif Ullah Khan

India

Saif (he/him) works with vulnerable children and youth in India by using his Rugby organization to rehabilitate and transform them to become young, active leaders in their communities. He wants to create a ripple of change through his organization across the country. Saif’s intervention has provided people with access to a growing support system that gives them a space to grow whilst offering a clear pathway to stay physically and mentally fit through Rugby.

Samar Khalid Abushama, Kofi Annan Changemaker, 2022

Samar Khalid Abushama

Sudan

Samar (she/her) and her organization, Adeela, promote the participation of youth in driving social change through art and culture. Samar wants to contribute to dismantling systems that make social injustices possible through building youth spaces and art-driven solutions. Adeela is present in over 11 states in Sudan and has supported 500+ grassroots youth bodies working on tribal conflict, violence against women and the participation of youth in local governance.

Mohammad Hamzeh Shehadat, Kofi Annan Changemaker, 2022

Mohammad Hamzeh Shehadat

Syria & Jordan

Mohammad (he/him) is the founder of the ‘Youth for Peace Initiative’ (YPI). YPI helps accelerate the achievement of the SDGs by promoting the values of peacebuilding activities between Jordanian and Syrian refugees. Through his organisation, Mohammad offers youth access to educational opportunities and resources to gain skills to become influential leaders and peacebuilders in their communities.

Stacy Dina Adhiambo Owino, Kofi Annan Changemaker, 2022

Stacy Dina Adhiambo Owino

Kenya

Stacy (she/her) helps young women and girls in Kenya to escape FGM (Female Genital Mutilation) while also educating the public on its effects. She aims to influence the government through the Ministry of Gender and Health to enforce policies against FGM in the future. Stacy created a mobile app, iCut, that enables girls/users to report cases of FGM (Female Genital Mutilation) before it happens so that users can contact rescue centres or hospitals closest to them.

Kofi Annan Changemakers 2021
Abdul Gafaru Dasana Amin, Kofi Annan Changemaker, 2021

Abdul Gafaru

Ghana

Abdul empowers women in rural areas of Ghana who work in the production of Shea and its processing. He aims to raise women above the poverty line and to make the production of Shea more sustainable for the planet.

Chmba Ellen Chilemba, Kofi Annan Changemaker, 2021

Chmba Ellen Chilemba

Malawi

Chmba helps create young leaders who will transform their communities, break toxic cultures and make Malawi, Africa and the world a better place. Co-founder of Tiwale, Chmba creates safe spaces for young women, girls, and members of the LGBTQ+ community to flourish.

Irene Nagudi, Kofi Annan Changemaker, 2021

Irene Nagudi

Uganda

Through her organization Kichini Gardeners Initiative, Irene teaches, and connects children and youth to environmental conservation through sustainable gardening practices. Her goal is to empower children and young people to become drivers and agents of change.

Sebastian Pedraza Paez, Kofi Annan Changemaker, 2021

Jean Sebastián Pedraza Paez

Colombia

Sebastián seeks to empower rural youth to develop their communities, specifically through the transformation of food systems. He believes that rural youth can transform agriculture and develop their rural territories at the same time.

Junbert Pabon, Kofi Annan Changemaker, 2021

Junbert T. Pabon

The Philippines

Junbert helps to rehabilitate young offenders, known as Children in Conflict with the Law (CICL). Using a holistic development program implemented by the World Organization of the Scout Movement, he seeks to transform lawbreakers into peacemakers across the Philippines.

Lakshwin Muruga, Kofi Annan Changemaker, 2021

Lakshwin Murugamoorthy

Malaysia

As chief operating officer at Women of Will (WOW) Lakshwin empowers women through community development programmes. These programmes provide women entrepreneurs in rural areas with essential training in business management while also giving them micro-credit to kickstart their work.

Leon Gojani, Kofi Annan Changemaker, 2021

Leon Gojani

Kosovo

As Director of the Young Leaders Program at MCW Global, Leon creates opportunities for discussion between young leaders and equips them with the skills necessary to create change within their communities.

Lourence Balatbat, Kofi Annan Changemaker, 2021

Lourence Balatbat

The Philippines

Lourence is the Founder and CEO of Beyond Three Billion (B3B), a non-partisan youth-led organization that develops context-based programs to end the marginalization of young people in elective and appointive decision-making spaces across all levels of governance.

Sharon Matongo, Kofi Annan Changemaker, 2021

Sharon Matongo

Zimbabwe

As co-founder of Charity Drive Zimbabwe, Sharon works to improve rural education and teach about the right to education. She aims to put human rights in the national curriculum and give all children in Zimbabwe equal access to education regardless of their gender or socioeconomic background.

Sophiyat Sadiq, Kofi Annan Changemaker, 2021

Sophiyat Sadiq

Nigeria

Sophiyat works with girls in Lagos to build their capacity in STEM subjects and digital technology. Through her organization, Auxillium, she runs multiple workshops for girls on various STEM subjects. She hopes to create a world where young girls can fully participate in the digital economy, regardless of their socioeconomic background and gender.

Zeinorin Angkang, Kofi Annan Changemaker, 2021

Zeinorin Stephen Angkang

India

Zeinorin works with indigenous farmers from the Tangkhul Naga community in Manipur, India. Focusing on indigenous heirloom seeds, Zeinorin aims to ensure food security and reduce poverty through sustainable farming practices.

At a Glance

Young leaders chosen every year to be part of the Kofi Annan Changemakers initiative.

Young leaders and growing! Each year we expand our network of incredible Changemakers.   

Different countries are represented in our growing network of Changemakers, and we continue to expand our reach with each cohort!

Partners

Jenö Staehelin’s Foundation

The Dr. Jenö Staehelin Foundation is committed to igniting global understanding and fostering peace through their support of university initiatives, conflict resolution projects, and humanitarian efforts. They focus on projects that resonate with the UN’s Millennium Development Goals, particularly prioritising the support of students from developing countries studying international humanitarian law and human rights.

↗ Learn more about Jenö Staehelin’s Foundation

The CAGI is devoted to easing the transition and fostering the administrative, social, and cultural assimilation of international residents in Geneva and their families. They provide guidance and support to NGOs, working in tandem with pertinent authorities to streamline the establishment processes for NGOs aiming to set up in the Lake Geneva area. Furthermore, CAGI is committed to facilitating the lodging of delegates from developing countries, ensuring a comfortable stay during their involvement in conferences, training sessions, or work meetings.

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ITU is dedicated to ensuring global connectivity, advocating for the universal right to communication for all individuals, irrespective of location or resources. As the United Nations’ specialized entity for information and communication technologies (ICTs), ITU comprises 193 Member States and over a thousand entities spanning companies, universities, and various organizations. With its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, and regional offices worldwide, ITU holds the distinction of being the UN’s most longstanding agency, pioneering global connections since the telegraph era in 1865.

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The Geneva Graduate Institute stands at the forefront of higher education, specialising in the scrutiny of global affairs. Their endeavours encompass academic research, education, expertise sharing, and hosting forums, all aimed at generating and disseminating insights on international relations, development, global challenges, and governance. Nestled in the epicentre of International Geneva, synonymous with global governance, they leverage scientific rigour and cross-disciplinary approaches to nurture critical and inventive thought on contemporary global issues.

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Kofi Annan Changemakers visiting the Palais des Nations in Geneva

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