Edwin Nganji serves as the Board Chair of We Care International, a Canadian-accredited charity committed to alleviating poverty both locally and globally. In his role as Board Chair, Edwin provides strategic leadership, presides over board meetings, ensures effective governance, and fosters collaboration between board members and the organization’s leadership. He also oversees the development of policies, ensures accountability to stakeholders, and supports fundraising and advocacy efforts to advance the charity’s mission.
With over a decade of experience in the nonprofit sector, Edwin has cultivated expertise in organizational development, community engagement, and project oversight. His leadership is grounded in a passion for empowering underserved communities and driving sustainable impact through innovative programs and strategic partnerships.
Edwin’s ability to inspire and mobilize diverse stakeholders is complemented by his dedication to fostering inclusivity and equity within the organization’s initiatives. Under his guidance, We Care International has strengthened its reach and effectiveness, delivering programs that create lasting change for individuals and families worldwide.
Committed to excellence in nonprofit governance, Edwin is a tireless advocate for collaboration, transparency, and impactful action. His leadership reflects a deep commitment to the core values of compassion, integrity, and service.
Joy Ferdinand is a dedicated advocate for criminal justice reform and social reintegration. She will start her PhD in Criminal Justice at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in August 2024. With a robust academic and professional background, Joy’s work focuses on supporting formerly incarcerated individuals and advancing sustainable development goals. Joy holds an M.A. in Criminal Justice from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, where her thesis explored gendered differences in the impact of social support on the reintegration of previously incarcerated men and women.
She also earned a B.Sc. in Criminology and Security Studies and a Diploma in Law from the University of Jos, Nigeria. As a Graduate Assistant at UA-Little Rock, Joy assists professors with administrative tasks, grading, and fieldwork research. She also co-authors research papers, contributing significantly to the academic community. Her research interests include the reintegration of formerly incarcerated individuals, the imperative for correctional officers to wear body cameras, and the impact of rehabilitation centers on drug addicts.
Professionally, Joy has volunteered with the City of Little Rock Reentry Program, providing essential resources to justice-impacted individuals. She has also served as a Global Youth Ambassador for Their world, advocating for children’s education to reduce future incarceration risks. Her previous roles include internships with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, where she conducted correctional training surveys, and the Nigeria Correctional Service, where she studied prison congestion and its threats to national security.
Joy’s leadership skills were honed during her tenure as Vice President of the National Association of Criminology and Security Studies at the University of Jos. She has been recognized for her creativity and dedication with awards such as the Correctional Leadership Challenge Scholarship and the Rob Williams Memorial Scholarship. Joy participates in international forums, including the United Nations High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development and the World Bank Group Youth Summit.
Her commitment to justice and reintegration aligns with Sustainable Development Goal 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions), and she strives to create a more inclusive and equitable society. Joy Ferdinand’s journey is marked by a blend of academic excellence, professional dedication, and a deep commitment to social justice, making her a formidable advocate for change in the criminal justice system.
Veronica is an expert in climate change management and development finance. She specializes in climate finance, Greenhouse Gas (GHG) inventory reporting in the Waste sector, carbon footprint development, and sustainability. Her expertise spans environmental and natural resources management, sustainable development programming, and gender mainstreaming, strongly emphasizing public policy, programming, and monitoring and evaluation.
With a demonstrated history of success, Veronica has played a key role in establishing the Climate Change Management Department and leading the Infrastructure Development Bank of Zimbabwe (IDBZ) to attain accreditation from the Green Climate Fund. She was also instrumental in founding the Climate Finance Facility and strengthening IDBZ's monitoring and evaluation tools, gender framework, and regional climate financing capacities.
Veronica also led the creation of the Climate Finance Department and the Sub-Saharan Carbon Markets Aggregation Platform at the Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund (AECF), where she formulated key climate policies, strategies, and management systems. She has supported numerous initiatives, including those investing women in renewable energy and the blue economy. Her expertise includes conducting climate risk assessments and GHG emissions assessments and developing innovative climate-smart strategies for both investees and national governments.
Known for her experience in training on gender-responsive climate financing and adhering to World Bank/IFC standards, Veronica’s work has profoundly impacted the enhancement of environmental and social safeguards and the advancement of monitoring and evaluation in both public and private entities.
Sandrine Marchand holds a master’s degree in Neurosciences from Université de Montréal. She worked as a researcher on neuromuscular aging as well as neurodegenerative diseases like Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) throughout her studies. During her time at Université de Montréal, she contributed to student leadership initiatives to help students of different backgrounds develop public speaking skills as well as offering platforms for young researchers to present their work. Indeed, she participated in the organization of several conferences and symposiums such as the 2020 edition of the NeuroSymposium, a conference organized for students of all Quebec to present their research and discuss advancement in neurosciences.
Sandrine then transitioned to making research more accessible and easier to understand for the public by becoming the Prevention and Health Promotion Coordinator for the Quebec Breast Cancer Foundation (QBCF). There, she oversaw the education initiatives of the QBCF to raise awareness of the disease as well as to teach people about its risk factors and its prevention through talks, content creation, fundraising opportunities, and various other endeavors.
Finally, Sandrine has always been passionate about teaching and education and therefore became a biology professor in cégep in Quebec to help raise the next generations of passionate young scientists and health care providers. Sandrine joined the NGO Coalition for Social Development to help advocate for human rights and social justice, especially in the field of health care and education.
Osei Sarfo Sekyere is a highly motivated and skilled IT professional with a strong foundation in Information Technology. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Information Technology, providing him with a comprehensive understanding of computer science principles, software development methodologies, and the intricacies of information systems.
Osei possesses a diverse skillset that encompasses:
Graphics Design: Proficient in creating visually appealing and effective designs for various media, including digital and print materials. He has a keen eye for aesthetics and understands the importance of visual communication.
Web Development: Skilled in developing and maintaining functional and user-friendly websites. He possesses expertise in both front-end and back-end development, enabling him to create dynamic and engaging web experiences.
Software Development: Osei has a strong foundation in software development principles and practices. He is proficient in programming languages and possesses the ability to design, develop, and test software applications that meet specific requirements.
Osei is a highly motivated individual with a strong interest in emerging technologies, particularly Artificial Intelligence (AI). He is passionate about exploring the potential of AI and its applications across various domains, including but not limited to:
AI-powered automation: Developing and implementing AI-driven solutions to automate tasks and improve efficiency.
Machine learning: Applying machine learning algorithms to analyze data, make predictions, and gain valuable insights.
AI-driven innovation: Exploring and developing innovative applications of AI in various fields, such as healthcare, finance, and education.
Osei is a proactive and results-oriented individual who is eager to contribute his skills and knowledge to a challenging and rewarding role. He is a quick learner, adaptable, and possesses excellent problem-solving and analytical skills.
Emmanuel Muliisa is a growing environmental economist, with a key focus on Clean Energy Solutions for Clean Cooking in Uganda and Sub-Saharan Africa. Emmanuel Muliisa contributes in the National Climate Mitigation working group for Uganda and takes part in developing recommendations that boost the country’s climate mitigation efforts across all sectors. He is also a Climate Negotiator for Uganda in UNFCCC processes following mainly matters of Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.
Emmanuel Muliisa has been the Coordinator of Programs and Partnerships for the National Youth Council of Uganda, a statutory body established by an Act of Parliament (National Youth Council Act Cap 319) as an umbrella organization of all Youth in Uganda and is mandated to organize, mobilize and engage youth in development activities as well as protect them from any kind of manipulation. Through this work, he has built meaningful collaborations and partnerships for the Council to attain Program and Project support.
He has also mobilized and coordinated the district youth council leaders to understand and engage in government programs for youth and as well participate in programs organized by the Council secretariat and partners from civil society and NGOs especially capacity buildings on various areas of leadership and community empowerment.
Emmanuel Muliisa also led efforts to establish the Climate Action Youth Program at the National Youth Council which has further culminated into the establishment of the Youth Climate Council (YCC) of Uganda with a current membership of 164 legally registered Youth-led and Youth-focused grassroots organizations spread across the different sub-regions of Uganda. The purpose is to synergize climate change advocacy and awareness work and equally strengthen resource mobilization efforts with different partners. The National Youth Council partnered with Green Africa Youth Organisation (GAYO) to establish the YCC.
Line Renée ANABA, Journalist, Head of Environment and Sustainable Development Service at Cameroon Radio Television (CRTV)
Expert in environmental communication, with a professional Master's degree in health and environmental communication.
President of the Cameroon association of science journalists and communicators, Science for Life (SciLife).
Vice-President of the African Media Network for the Promotion of Health and the Environment (REMAPSEN)
Rekiatu Musa Jingi is an award-winning journalist with over 10 years of experience as an investigative journalist and human rights advocate. She currently works for Cameroons State broadcaster- CRTV, where she documents under-reported stories of minority groups, notably refugees and migrants as well as women. Her focus is on women's sexual reproductive health. She won the 2020 Labour Migration Media Award Gender Category. Gender-Based Migration.
In 2022, she won the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Global Media Award on Labour Migration. She was selected the same year to take part in the United Nations Reham al-Farra Memorial Journalism Fellowship as well as the Mandela Washington Fellowship. Rekiatu holds a BSc in journalism and mass communication. She founded Go-Getters Women Africa, a non-governmental organization, and is the CEO of Roukys Delice, a restaurant that trains girls, women, and refugees on culinary art while exploring the redistribution of cooked food and fresh groceries to help the needy.
She founded Go-Getters Women Africa, an empowerment association that sets out to empower women and girls through social and economic empowerment programs. The goal is to guarantee financial independence for women as they look forward to what the future holds in a peaceful society. If developed and properly tapped, every woman can exercise great potential.
Through Go-Getters Women Africa, Rekiatu is looking towards rescuing as many women and girls as possible from poverty into the halls of financial independence and fame. Rekiatu is a graduate of the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration, Syracuse University Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs New York, and Drexel University of Philadelphia, where she obtained certificates in leadership and public policy management.
Rekiatu Musa Jingi is the holder of a BSc in Journalism and Mass Communication from the Advanced School of Mass Communication Yaoundé, Cameroon. She enjoys reading, creative writing, cooking, and watching documentaries. Rekiatu speaks English, French, and Hausa (mother tongue).
Juliette Jan is a registered lawyer with the Montreal bar since 2020. She is specialized in immigration law, and she sits on PEP (People empowering people) Africa’s board of directors: a youth led non-profit social and development organization established in over 45 countries and accredited with the UN ECOSOC, UNEP, and UNFCCC.
In November 2023, Juliette was awarded the prize of “Lawyer of the Year” by the Young Bar of Montreal for her leadership, social work, and pro bono involvement within her community. She has worked as an immigration lawyer for two years (2022-2024) for the Montreal Legal Aid office where she has specialized in asylum claims processes.
Juliette has also been working with different Canadian local organizations such as PRAIDA (Regional Program for the Settlement and Integration of Asylum Seekers), Justice Pro Bono Québec, Head and Hands legal clinic, the LGBTQ+ Center of Montreal, and Lawyers without Borders Canada to improve people’s access to Justice.
Juliette is driven by her altruism and by her strong wish for a better world. She is currently completing her Masters of Laws at McGill University and wants her academic research to focus on immigration law and social development issues.
Originally from Los Angeles, Andrea Carstensen is a young American peacebuilder, invisible disability advocate, and human rights activist dedicated to promoting increased inclusivity and meaningful youth engagement in policymaking and decision-making processes. She speaks English and French but is working to acquire Spanish and Mandarin Chinese.
She has served as a youth delegate and session co-lead in United Nations high-level forums and was even invited to speak at the high-level 25th anniversary event on a Culture of Peace by the UN Office of the President of the General Assembly following her work in the Youth Peace and Security (YPS) Agenda, Summit of the Future, and SDG16+ with Major Group for Children and Youth (MGCY).
Additionally, Andrea sits on the Executive Board of Sustainable Development Africa INC (SDA) and is a YPS Officer at Youth Transforming Narratives (YTN). At the community level, she also sits on University College London (UCL)’s PsychUP for Wellbeing Student Advisory Board to inform best practices on student mental health in the context of ethnic minority and international student experiences and is part of the UNA LASER Policy Committee and UN Reform Working Group. She recently became a Sunflower Friend for Hidden Disabilities Sunflower as well.
Andrea holds a First Class Bachelor’s degree in International Social and Political Studies from University College London, specializing in International Relations, French, and Mandarin with a focus on democratic backsliding, political violence, non-state armed violence, state-sponsored terrorism, and conflict prevention. She will graduate from the London School of Economics-University of Toronto Double Master of Public Administration (LSE) and Master of Global Affairs (Munk School) in 2026.
As an early career researcher, she has cultivated her policy analysis skills through her work experiences with NGOs, charities, student collectives, and national government agencies, including USAID, where she was involved in promoting mental health treatment for torture survivors. The UNDP Solevaka platform has also published two of her articles on advancing LGBTQI+ rights in Pacific Islands Countries. Her work spans grassroots civil society, national organizations, and international platforms, emphasizing marginalized community engagement, equitable and accountable governance, and safeguarding human rights around the world.
