Rising Minds - Fondation Botnar

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A generation of rising minds

This is Rising Minds, the radio show that gives voice to young people and their efforts to shape the conversation around issues that impact their wellbeing.

Join us to dive into the opportunities and obstacles facing today’s youth and spotlight the inspiring solutions and stories of those who are leading the charge.

You can tune into the show here, or join us in person at our pop-up radio booth at the Women Deliver Conference 2023.

We’ll be exploring:

Digital Rights

Over 70% of young people have reported experiencing cyberbullying. Young people have to navigate many challenges in the online world, from protecting online privacy to upholding freedom of expression.

Join us as we explore the solutions for creating a safer, more equitable online space where young people can thrive and fully participate in the digital age.

Mental Health

Did you know 1 in 5 children and adolescents worldwide experience a mental health challenge? There is an urgent need for action.

Tune in to explore some of the key issues and questions surrounding the mental health of young people. What are the most common challenges? How can we promote mental wellness and support for those who are struggling? What can we do to create a mentally healthier future around the world?

Adolescent Health & Wellbeing

This generation of young people are the largest in history! There are over 1.8 billion adolescents in the world. It’s really important that we work together to make sure that young people have everything that’s needed to thrive in secure and healthy relationships, and to reach their full potential and rights.

As young people, your voices are so important and should be heard when it comes to decisions that impact your health and well-being, resilience, education and skills, and connection with people and the planet.

Tune in to discover what young people want and need to thrive in today’s world.

Meet our #RisingMinds

Deepshikha Ghosh

DJ Sharifu Pinda

DJ Sharifu talks about how being visually impaired has not stopped him from becoming a celebrated figure in media, music and advocacy.

Roshni Anwar

In this episode, Roshni looks at the digital divide in Pakistan. Recorded at the Women Deliver 2023 conference.

Raashi Saxena

Tune in to hear Raashi discuss the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) and the opportunities and challenges it presents.

Owe Marri Berizo

Emily Sullivan

In this episode, Emily, Faith & Gabi address how to do philanthropy differently and put youth at the centre. Recorded at the Women Deliver 2023 conference.

Lucy Nyakio Nyoro

Lucy & Vee share their work on promoting sexual reproductive health and rights, mental health and addressing systemic issues of sexual violence among adolescent girls and young women from rural and peri-urban areas in Kenya. Recorded at the Women Deliver 2023 conference.

Jeffrey Adusei Opoku

Jeffrey, a young sustainable development practitioner, dedicated to empowering youth in Sub-Saharan Africa to drive economic development and environmental sustainability, shares his journey.

Amanda Banura

In Amanda's episode, she speaks out against gender-based violence. Recorded at the Women Deliver 2023 conference.

Oliva Nalwadda

Tune in to hear the inspiring stories of Helena and Oliva and how they became advocates for adolescent health and wellbeing. Recorded at the Women Deliver 2023 conference.

Tanyaradzwa Emily Ngundu

In this episode, Yanta performs her spoken word piece "Look Up". Recorded at the Women Deliver 2023 conference.

Sharon Koki

Tune in to hear about the Y-ACT Youth in Action programme and how the team is working to promote meaningful youth engagement in cities across Africa. Recorded at the Women Deliver 2023 conference.

Lillibet Namakula

Lillibet & Nakalema discuss the challenges young girls face in accessing menstrual health products and what their organisations are doing to improve the situation. Recorded at the Women Deliver 2023 conference.

Maria Malomalo

Condolizza Akumawah

Emmanuel Nii-Boye Quarshie

Emmanuel Nii-Boye Quarshie (Nii) on adolescent mental health research and advocacy in Ghana

Listen to Nii's reflections on researching and using data to advocate for the decriminalisation of attempted suicide in Ghana and mental health care for adolescents and young people.

Trigger warning: The content of this episode addresses sensitive topics including suicide and death.

Faith S. Kaoma

Gabrielle Bailey

Nakalema Shamira

Venoranda Rebecca Kuboka

Helena Branco

Onward Gibson

Aditi Sivakumar

Naledi Katsande

Simon Gallow

Lilian Maria Wambui

Shirlyne Ingolo

Steve Kagia

Billi Now Now

Girls Globe

Gary Layn

Gary Layn on mental health and storytelling

In Gary's episode, he reflects on the power of storytelling as a tool for mental health advocacy. Recorded at the Women Deliver 2023 conference.

Imani Henrick

Award-winning digital content creator

Imani Henrick is an award-winning digital content creator, recognized for her inspiring youth and being the best female TV presenter. She is also the only African winner of the Youth Peace Challenge (YPC) organized by the Korean Government. With a bachelor's degree in journalism and over 5 years of experience, she is a digital rights advocate, experienced in broadcasting and media production, digital rights advocacy (including youth and women inclusion), media management, communication, podcasting, and project management.

Over the past 5 years, she has been advocating for digital rights and the inclusion of women and youth in cyberspace, providing education and capacity-building to the younger Tanzanian generation through event planning, radio sessions, social media advocacy, and leadership. She has worked with multiple organizations, both national and international, in the areas of communications, team building, and implementing projects that focus on human rights and digital rights.

Imani is a Thomson Reuters Changemaker and mentee under the Digital Rights as Human Rights Project. She is also the founder of the podcast Dig It with Imani, which raises awareness about digital rights and inclusion, digital opportunities, online gender-based violence for women, youth, people with disabilities, and other marginalized groups.

Currently, Imani works as the station manager for Kings FM Radio in Njombe, Tanzania.

Dorcas Zoogah

Womens rights organiser

Dorcas Zoogah Yingura has over 5 years of experience in Civic engagement and advocacy specifically focusing on women empowerment as well as climate resilience and sustainability. Currently, Dorcas is the national chairperson for Young Urban Women's Movement where she directs and organizes advocacy activities and trainings for individuals to discuss, strategize, plan, evaluate and carry out various forms of youth led activisms which strengthens women's legal status and rights, and expands their economic opportunities. Dorcas holds a Bachelor's degree in Agricultural Technology from University for Development Studies where her research focused on the ""influence of gender stereotypes of individual choice of women in Agriculture"". Dorcas is driven by her commitment to social justice (gender equity) and greater livelihood security for women, especially in rural areas and the vulnerable ones. Dorcas plans to take advantage of her networks and knowledge thought to improve her advocacy and engagements in gender and sexual reproductive health and rights in order to increase women's opportunities and resources, their sense of worth and ensure their voice, inclusion and participation in decision making agendas.

She is passionate about empowering women and young people to contribute to improving lives in her community. She has been instrumental in leading other young in advocating for just opportunities and creating spaces for women and young people to make their voices heard.

Dorcas is also the youngest General Assembly member for actionaid Ghana.

Dorcas is also known as an entrepreneur. Currently she is doing her mandatory national services for her country Ghana.

Jihad Bnimoussa

Psychologist and CEO

Jihad is a Moroccan American Psychologist and founder of InspireCorp, a mental health social enterprise in the MENA region specialized in building high impact mental health prevention programs using a resilience approach. Her work reaches thousands of teachers and social workers, and 8 million youth in Morocco. She is a Youth Advisor for Being-Grand Challenges Canada, a Stanford AMENDS Fellow and an Atlantic Dialogues Emerging Leader, has presented her work in UK Parliament, MISK Global Forum, TEDxYouth, and other international forums. Her work has been featured through various press outlets including BBC radio, Women in Leadership Magazine, Medi1TV, Morocco World News and Hespress.

Muskan Lamba

Lived experience and neurodiversity advocate

Muskan Lamba (she/her) is a lived experience and neurodiversity advocate, actively contributing to climate change and mental health initiatives focusing on youth in low- and middle-income countries, emphasizing the intersectionality of these pressing issues. Muskan likes to explore multidisciplinary approaches to community well-being through conversations, stories, art, and music. Her commitment to collaboration, creativity, and personal narratives drives her mission to foster positive change.

Marian Abukayo Murunga

Tech for health expert

Marian Abukayo Murunga is passionate about young people and their effective participation in development processes. She has over five years of work experience in the youth space shaping policies at the local, national and international level.

Marian Abukayo Murunga has been part of the first cohort of the European Union (EU) Youth Sounding Board where together with 24young people drawn from across the globe she has played a key role in championing for youth policies’ at the global level. One of her most outstanding accomplishments is contributing to the development of the Global Youth Action Plan that was recently launched and adopted by the European Commission.

She equally represents Sub-Saharan Africa In Young Experts Tech For Health (YET4H); a global digital health ecosystem that meaningfully engages young people, catering to their unique needs and challenges, recognizing them as equal stakeholders and partners in achieving Universal Health Coverage. Here, she plays a key role in spearheading conversations around digital health among young people and advocating for digital health policies at all levels. Her greatest achievement has been to provide technical support to youth-led organizations working on issues around Digital Health in Africa and beyond.

She recently was appointed to sit in the Gender and Digital Health Advisory group in Transform Health where she will play a key role in providing strategic advice and guidance around the development of gender and digital health advocacy plans

She is currently working for Africa CDC under ‘African Union COVID-19 Vaccination Bingwa Initiative' as part of the Africa CDC’s Programme of Saving Lives and Livelihoods. Here she plays a major role in promoting and enhancing the uptake of Covid-19 vaccination through capacity building programs and community sensitization initiatives at the grassroots level.

Noor Azaiez

Clinical psychologist, Interlinks

Chayma Guallaoui

Clinical psychologist, Interlinks

Nour ElHouda Ben Romdhane

Psychologist, Interlinks

Layth Zouaghi

Psychologist, Interlinks

Eya Hariz

Clinical neuropsychologist and cognitive psychopathologist, Interlinks

Chepkoech Rotich

Advocate

Chepkoech Rotich is an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya with a keen interest in the intersection between emerging technologies and human rights. As an advocate, Chepkoech endeavours to leverage public interest litigation to strengthen digital rights in Kenya.

She is also a seasoned researcher with intrinsic experience in analysing contemporary digital rights issues and has most recently authored a country-level report on digital authoritarianism published by Global Voices. Chep is equally a strong digital campaigner who was an integral part of a youth-led public awareness campaign on data privacy dubbed Linda Data, where she designed a scoring methodology to gauge Kenyan digital lenders adherence to the country’s privacy laws.

In her free time, Chep loves to get lost in the worlds within books and films, currently she is reading ‘Travelling while Black’ by Nanjala Nyabola and is watching ‘Black Mirror season 6’.

Sumaiyah Omar

Advocate

Sumaiyah is an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya and a Data Protection Officer. She is a founding partner at Hussein & Omar Advocates, a bespoke law firm that majors on litigation and technology law. She is also the founder and lead Data Governance at Ideate Tech Policy Africa (ITPA), a premier tech policy consulting and social enterprise firm.

She is one of the youngest Certified Professional Mediators (CPM) with the Mediation Institute East Africa and an Associate at the Chartered institute of Arbitrators Kenya. She is also a licensed patent agent and currently undertaking her Company Secretary Certification.

She is passionate about activism and is the lead researcher at Linda Data Campaign by Foundation Botna, Amnesty International and Amnesty Kenya. She is also part of a global Activist led Advisory group that influences Amnesty International Work.

She has over 5 years experience in Data Governance, Technology Policy & Digital Rights, Start-up Advisory, Digital campaigns, Intellectual Property and Alternative Dispute Resolution. Sumaiyah is ardent about travel, coffee, comedy and is an avid meme collector.

Nii Noi Kofi Omaboe

Organiser and program analyst

Nii Noi Omaboe is experienced in youth governance and participation in local and international issues of human rights and global sustainable development processes.

He has organized for international movements like Amnesty International, 350, Young Reporters for the Environment, Fridays for Future, StopEcocideCampaign, ActionAid Global Climate Justice Collective, UN-Habitat’s Youth 2030 Cities Project and YOUNGO, the constituency of the UNFCCC.

He is currently a Program Analyst at Impact Hub Accra for their Net Zero Accra Initiative At Impact Hub he works with a community of impact-driven entrepreneurs, creators, innovators and intrapreneurs, ensuring there’s equitable access to technology.

Nii was selected top 100 Youth out of 1265 from 80 Cities for the Local Pathway Fellowship. He is also a Youth Transport Fellow with UMI & Clean Mobility Collective.

Amina Umuhoza

Entrepreneur and adolescents sexual and reproductive health activist

Amina Umuhoza is an entrepreneur, menstruation activist and champion of adolescents sexual and reproductive health in Rwanda. She is the CEO of SAYE company /dukataze – a social enterprise that designs creative tools to promote sexual and reproductive health and rights for adolescents. Together with My Period is Awesome, SAYE has opened the Kigali Menstruation Station – a safe space for adolescents to learn more about sexual and reproductive health without stigma.

Anushka Koumayeb

Sustainable Development and Mental Health Advocate

Koumayeb Anushka is a young female Cameroonian who is passionate about Sustainable Development, addressing Mental Health issues in the community, and working with children and young people, with over two years of experience in working with youths towards attaining self actualization through quality education and mentorship.

Anushka graduated from high school in 2021, and concurrently joined Open Dreams through the Summer Academy, a college access program for high-achieving but low income students.

Since she joined Open Dreams, her language has moved from just academics to a lot more in terms of extracurriculars. She is currently an alumna of YALI RLC Accra with vast knowledge in Public Policy and Management, Goodwill Fellow 2022 where her leadership skills were fine-tuned, the project coordinator at DeWise Foundation - an NGO which empowers displaced persons, war victims and refugees for peace, social cohesion and nation building. Anushka is equally the Vice-president of KET Academy, project coordinator at Give It a Meaning Again (GIMA) - which advocates for youths mental health in Cameroon. She is also recently involved in the 1.8 Billion Young People for Change Campaign in Cameroon under the canopy of DESERVE.

Anushka enjoys writing - she is the author of a blog (Voice of the Different Child), and a book on interpersonal relationships which is yet to be published. She also enjoys cooking, listening to music and meditation.

Agha-Nwi Fru

Executive Director at SEMBE

Agha-Nwi Fru is a certified trauma healing specialist currently serving as Founder and Executive Director at SEMBE a female led civil society organization in Cameroon working on mental health promotion, youth and women issues. Agha holds a Masters in Project management from the Social Change School in Madrid, Spain and another Masters in Corporate Communications from the University of Douala in Cameroon. Prior to SEMBE, she enjoyed a rich career in Journalism and Communications, working with various national media houses and International oganisations including the United Nations. When she’s not working, Agha is doting wife and mother of two toddlers who loves cooking, eating good food and sharing a good old laugh with family and friends.

Natálie Terčová

Digital skills research specialist

PhD candidate and research specialist focusing on the digital skills of youth. As a Generation Connect Youth Envoy, Natalie popularizes science while focusing on connecting academia and policymakers.

Salew P Kadena

Advocate for digital and mental health rights in conflict areas

Alika Health

Alika Health on young people's mental health

Alika Health

Alika Health on young people's mental health

The Alika Health team shares how we can work together to improve the mental health of young people.

Felogene Anumo

In this Girls Globe Takeover, Marylize & Felogene reflect on mental health, self-care and collective care among young people. Recorded at the Women Deliver 2023 conference.

Oriana Ortiz Parrao, YMCA

YMCA's Oriana Ortiz Parrao on mental health

Oriana Ortiz Parrao, YMCA

YMCA's Oriana Ortiz Parrao on mental health

Tune in to hear Oriana's journey with the YMCA and what led the organisation and her to mental health advocacy.

Teenergizer

Teenergizer on mental health in conflict

Tune in to hear what this community of brave and strong people is doing to help Ukrainian teens and young adults overcome mental health challenges.

Trigger warning: The content of this episode addresses sensitive topics including war in the context of mental health.

Issac Olufadewa

Issac Olufadewa on mental health interventions and collaboration

Tune in to hear Issac share his experience of co-creating mental health interventions with young people.

Andreea Barbu

Journalist and technical trainer

Andreea Barbu works as a journalist for several newspapers and as a technical trainer for the start-up FintechOS. She is part of the ITU Generation Connect Youth Group, Mission Group of the European Youth for Change - GEYC,a Romanian youth organization founded in 2010, and the Armenian Union of Romania.

Manvi Tiwari

Lived experience expert and activist

Manvi Tiwari is a lived experience (LE) expert and activist, with LE of OCD and anxiety. Manvi sits on several advisory boards and councils including Generation Unlimited India’s Young People’s Action Team at UNICEF, Country Leadership Committee at the Global Mental Health Peer Network (GMHPN), Grand Challenges Canada’s Youth Advisory Board at the Being Initiative, Wellcome and Economist’s Common Metrics in Mental Health Programme (CMMHP). Manvi was also one of the youngest speakers at the World Health Summit 2022 in Berlin.

Manvi is a strong advocate for, and works to introduce intersectionality and lived experience frameworks in global approaches to mental health and wellbeing.

Nadia Tjahja

PHD fellow and youth co-ordinator

Nadia Tjahja is a PhD Fellow and Co-Coordinator of the Digital Governance Cluster at the United Nations University Institute on Comparative Regional Integration Studies (UNU-CRIS) and the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) working on Global and Regional Multistakeholder Institutions (GREMLIN project), where she is researching the legitimacy of multistakeholderism in Internet Governance. She is a member of the EuroDIG Secretariat as the youth coordinator of the Youth Dialogue on Internet Governance (YOUthDIG) since 2022, and was member of the YOUthDIG Organising Team and Lead Facilitator of the YOUthDIG messages since 2019, having attended YOUthDIG herself in 2018. She is also the Global Internet Governance Academic Network (GigaNet) Communications Chair, youth advisory board member of EURid (the registry manager of the .eu domain name) and a member of the UN IGF Youth Track Multistakeholder Working Group. Nadia regularly participates in consultations and advisory panels on Internet Governance topics for the European Commission and the Council of Europe.