Bolatito has over five years of experience in the nonprofit sector in four Sub-Saharan African countries as a Population Health Specialist. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Nutrition and a Master of Public Health degree from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. While working as a Research, M&E Officer with Family Health International on a PEPFAR/USAID-funded program, Bolatito was involved in the implementation and documentation of high quality research including the HIV/STI Surveillance Surveys in Nigeria. Previously, she served as an Intern of the West African Health Organization with Helen Keller International, Niger, where she worked on a community-based child survival/nutrition program. Bolatito has volunteered in different capacities, including for a Most-at-Risk-Population program and UNICEF Total Goiter Rate Survey. Over the years, Bolatito has accrued technical competencies in the planning, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation of HIV/AIDS and nutrition programs, particularly in resource-constrained settings. Her research interests include maternal and child health/nutrition. She is a recipient of various awards including the Nigerian National Youth Service Corps recommendation as an outstanding corps member.

Host: Population Action International

Cristina has over four years of professional experience in the corporate and nonprofit sectors. In 2008, she graduated from the Academy of Economic Studies of Moldova with a Master’s degree in Finance, specializing in Financial Banking Administration. Cristina is an alumna of the Fund for American Studies (AIPES) and the Freedom Support Act Programs. While working as a Program Assistant within the Media Program at the Soros Foundation-Moldova, Cristina was responsible for the overall financial management of grant and operational projects starting from budget allocation to project closing, drafting and monitoring budgets, overseeing project implementation, organizing trainings, network meetings and other events, reviewing beneficiaries' financial reports, drafting agreements, and processing payments. Prior to this role, Cristina worked at Top Consulting LLC, a consulting firm specialized in quality management consulting, where she gained practical experience in project management by drafting documentation and assisting national companies in the implementation of international quality standards. Her work with the USAID Local Government Reform pilot project, in which she trained five accountants from Rezenu village city hall to use a computerized accounting program, further spurred her interest in nonprofits. Since 2002, Cristina has been involved in various civic initiatives: volunteering with the American Councils, engaging in the Bridges Between US project as an intern; participating in the Academy for Young Social Entrepreneurs in Poland; teaching at the Association for Young Managers of Moldova’s English summer camp; and assisting Mimi Chakarova's long-term project on human trafficking in Eastern Europe which culminated in a full-length documentary.

Host: Points of Light Institute

Demetrio has four years of experience in the nonprofit sector in Spain, Madagascar, and Cambodia. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Physical Therapy issued by the UCAM University of Murcia and a Master’s degree in Management and Direction of NGO’s issued by the Esade University of Madrid. In Madagascar, he worked as the technical coordinator for a program to fight against child malnutrition with the NGO Bel Avenir in partnership with the French NGO, Enfants du Monde. This program served more than 4,000 children in southern Madagascar. Demetrio also managed the international volunteer program for the same NGO in Madagascar for 2 years, returning to his home country to continue this work in the local counterpart, Fundacion Agua de Coco. In his time with the foundation, he worked as technical coordinator in areas of awareness, communication, and volunteerism, managing more than one hundred volunteers throughout Spain. His strides in organization, management, fundraising, graphic design and communication, such as establishing a presence in the world of social media, have made him a very versatile contributor to the nonprofit sector.

Host: Habitat for Humanity

Diana has over three years of experience in the nonprofit sector. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in English Teaching and Translation from the Latin American University of Science and Technology-Laureate International Universities and a Master of Arts degree in Peace Education from the UN-Mandated University for Peace. With a keen interest in disaster risk reduction and human rights education, Diana has interned with Teachers Without Borders, an international NGO focused on professional development for teachers, where she developed a module on emergency education for teachers around the globe. She collaborated with the Academy for Peace in Costa Rica as a facilitator of its unique BePeace course based on non-violent communication and heart-math techniques. In this capacity, she trained students of the UN-Mandated University for Peace in collaboration with members of the National Peace Academy (USA). Diana serves as a board member of the Rasur Foundation, where she proposed policies and oversaw the transition of the BePeace program into the Costa Rican Ministry of Justice and Peace. Most recently, Diana has volunteered for numerous projects related to education and social development. She developed an art therapy program for over 130 vulnerable elementary public school students with the Asociacion Artistica para Niños (ASART). She also helped facilitate a field-workshop on sustainable development for Boruca indigenous children in the southern region of Costa Rica. Diana has participated in various events such as the Fourth Summit of the Global Alliance for Ministries and Departments of Peace (2009), Religions for Peace (2009), and "Habilidades para el Siglo XXI un Reto Educativo" (2007).

Host: Youth Service America

Esther has over eight years of experience working on sexuality and environmental issues. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry from the University of Calabar. Esther is a climate change policy expert and trainer with extensive experience in creating, facilitating and managing youth-led projects. Esther has represented Nigeria and Africa at over ten high-level global governance meetings on sustainable development and has served as the African coordinator of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development (UNCSD) Youth and Children Major Group. In 2009, Esther co-founded the Nigerian Youth Climate Coalition, the biggest youth climate movement in Nigeria. Esther also serves as a volunteer support staff member with the White Ribbon Alliance Nigeria and convened the first Youth E-consultation on Maternal New Born and Child Health (MNCH). She was selected as 'Women Deliver 100 Young Leaders' for her strong interest in women’s issues and was invited to attend the "Women Deliver" Global Conference in DC in June 2010. Esther is the recipient of the 2010 LEAP Africa Annual Nigerian Youth Leadership Award and is a Dekeyser & Friends Foundation Fellow and Commonwealth Youth Climate Fellow.

Host: Population Action International

Eva has over five years of experience in the nonprofit sector. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Tourism from Makerere University in Uganda and holds Certificates in Fundraising Database Management (Blackbaud, UK) and Monitoring and Evaluation and Project Management from Makerere University Training Institute. Eva most recently served as the Program Officer of Fundraising and Resource Mobilization at the Uganda Society for Disabled Children (USDC), a local non-governmental organization involved in the medical and social rehabilitation of children with disabilities and their families. USDC is currently implementing development projects ranging from advocacy and lobbying to capacity-building, social-economic empowerment, education, and health in twenty-four districts of Uganda. As the Fundraising Program Officer at USDC, Eva directed the organization’s public relations and media and communications campaigns, which included the development and production of the organization's print media products and online communications. Prior to this role, Eva served as a hospitality and events manager in several capacities before finding her true calling in the development sector, where she has found a heightened sense of fulfillment in her work.

Host: Ashoka

Gastón has eight years of experience in the nonprofit sector. He has degrees in Law and Economics from University of Buenos Aires and University of Alcala and has worked for various development agencies and international organizations in programmatic and managerial positions. Gastón worked as the Director of the Research Center in Law and Development, called Center OMG (COMG). He has also worked with the UNDP, RedCross, and USAID. Gastón has implemented over fifty different development, strategic planning, training, and consulting programs in Argentina, the Dominican Republic, Haiti and Spain. He is also a founding member of Ceritoycruz.org, a youth education advocacy group in the Dominican Republic. Gastón possesses strong skills in project management and advises on various legal, social, and development issues. He has significant experience in social research, assessment and evaluation, and a strong background in organizing and conducting seminars, conferences, and workshops.

Hina has five years of experience in nonprofit organizations. She did her Bachelor’s in Computer Science from National University of Comp. and Emerging Sciences and is pursuing her Executive MBA from the National University of Science and Technology - Islamabad. After completing her Bachelor’s, she joined a Software House KALSOFT as an Engagement Executive where she started her research work on e-health systems for rural areas of Pakistan. Hina is an expert on the use of ICT (Information Communication Technology) to address global health. She worked as a Research Assistant at SEECS-NUST to monitor and evaluate the project "Jaroka: Capacity-Building of Lady Health Workers" in rural Mardan through the use of ICT-based telemedicine (in collaboration with Stanford University, APPNA USA, and HEC/USAID Pak). She also had an opportunity to work with ITU UN Headquarters in Geneva where she conducted research on the national ICT strategies and e-health policies for a number of countries. In 2009, she won the ITU Cyber Security and ICT Competition, which was open to contestants from all over the world. For the competition, she covered the topic 'Mobiles for Development: Enabling Low-Cost E-Applications for Rural and Remote Areas (E-Health)" and presented on how this idea could be practically executed. For two years, she has worked closely with the USAID-funded Pakistan Initiative for Mothers and Newborns (PAIMAN) Project on a voluntary basis. She was selected as a Technical Director to develop a massive web portal (www.heartofasia.pk). Through this, she tried to project a softer and favorable image of Pakistan in the international community by creating a fully functional web portal that contains general information repositories about Pakistan as well as links to useful websites.

Host: Public Health Institute

Hira has more than four years of experience in the nonprofit sector. Hira holds two postgraduate degrees in Mass Communication and English Language and Literature from the National University of Modern Language in Pakistan. Her areas of expertise are advocacy, development communication, monitoring and evaluation, capacity building, reporting and research. Since March 2010, she has worked with the Oxfam GB Pakistan Programme as a Communications and Monitoring and Evaluation Officer with the emergency response team. Previously, Hira worked with the Red Cross as a Program Officer where she was responsible for improving the quality of health, disaster risk reduction, and capacity-building programs by undertaking effective monitoring. Hira has also worked for UNDP Pakistan, where she streamlined knowledge management and developed a strategy to serve as a roadmap for knowledge sharing. She ensured efficient utilization of knowledge-sharing tools and produced key research focusing on poverty, gender, environment, governance and crises prevention issues to serve as policy support for the government. She has also participated in UNICEF relief efforts for children affected by the earthquake in Pakistan.

Host: Service for Peace

Ibrahim has over six years of experience in the nonprofit sector. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management, along with professional certificates in Crisis Management and Sustainable Development. He is a youth ambassador for the Arab Thought Foundation and the youngest member of its advisory committee. He started writing at the age of 12, has been published in three languages and is currently finalizing a book on Arab youth and identity. He is well known for his efforts in youth empowerment and advocating for sustainable development and human rights issues. He successfully launched many projects and implemented several advocacy programs in local communities around Yemen. He gained considerable experience from working and volunteering with many national and international organizations including UNESCO, Oxfam, British Council Global Changemakers, and many others. In 2010, he was selected to become the youngest member of the Arab Thought Foundation Advisory Committee, which is comprised of a group of distinguished business and academic intellectuals from the Arab world. In this capacity, he provides the foundation with guidance on its operation and a range of critical matters.

Host: MobileActive.org

Ihsan Karayazi has seven years of experience in the nonprofit sector. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in English Language and Literature from Kafkas University and a Master’s degree in Cultural Management from Istanbul Bilgi University. Ihsan has worked for both public and civil society areas with a particular focus on conflict resolution alongside the border with South Caucasus. From 2005-2009, Ihsan was employed by the Municipality of Kars as an officer in charge of external relations and project coordination. In 2009, he joined UNDP Turkey as the site manager of UN Joint Program Alliances for Culture Tourism in Eastern Anatolia, which uses tourism to generate income and eliminate poverty. Ihsan has worked as an advisor to many national and international organizations including the International Institute of Urban Development (IIUD), International Alert of London, TESEV (Turkish Economic and Social Studies Foundation) of Istanbul, Anadolu Kultur of Istanbul, City Research Center of Gyumri, Armenia and Barents Secreteriat of Kirkenes, Norway. Ihsan has participated in training programs including the Emerging Young Leaders program offered by US State Department, the summer university program of the Central European University (CEU-Budapest) on Public Management of Urban Challenges in Transitional Cities, and a European Diploma program in Cultural Project Management.

Host: Hasna

Jane has over seven years of experience in the nonprofit sector and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology, Language and Communications from the University of Nairobi and a Diploma in Information Science from the Kenya School of Professional Studies. As a Programme Officer at the Foundation for Kenya Pastoralist Women (FKPW), she was in charge of facilitating processes and initiatives that enhanced the participation of pastoralist women in socio-economic, political, and cultural development. Prior to joining FKPW, Jane worked for Transparency International Kenya as a Deputy Programme Officer in charge of the Resource Center. She was part of the Advocacy and Communication Programme that was mandated to advocate for transparent and accountable institutions of governance in Kenya whilst building alliances with civil society, public institutions, schools, and media outlets. Jane has also set up fully- functional libraries for Save the Children Sweden and Water Service Trust Fund. Jane has worked as a Presiding Officer in the Starehe by-elections and the referendum that saw the enactment of Kenya’s new constitution. Through her experiences, Jane has gained a deep understanding of development issues and valuable skills in research management and administration.

Host: InsideNGO

Jonathas has more than five years of experience in the nonprofit sector promoting sustainability and social entrepreneurship within the Brazilian private and nonprofit sector in roles such as consultant, manager, and professor. He holds a degree in Business Administration from the Federal University of Juiz de Fora, and has completed specialization courses on Nonprofit Management. Jonathas has worked in various sectors, from starting economic development projects to teaching low-income university students in Brazil. He served as the financial manager for Pangea bilingual school for impoverished youth, where he significantly increased the student enrollment rate, started a social enterprise for unemployed parents and implemented a business model for incorporating paying students to make the school self-sustainable. He played a key role for over two years in the most strategic partnership for Ashoka, where he, in collaboration with McKinsey consultants, implemented a Scaling Up Program for fellows to increase their impact and conceived Ashoka’s first monitoring and evaluation system for fellow performance in Brazil. Most recently, Jonathas acted as an Associate Consultant at LUME sustainability consulting, where he advised leading Brazilian companies on sustainable business practices to achieve the triple bottom line of profits and social and environmental outcomes. He is a co-founding member of AIESEC in Juiz de Fora and a WYSE youth fellow.

Host: Points of Light Institute

Kay has two years of experience in the nonprofit sector, and earned a Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry from Northwestern University in IL, USA. She has served as a volunteer at NGOs such as Habitat for Humanity, Rotary International and Clinton Global Initiative, in countries including the Philippines, Belize, and Hong Kong, mainly focusing on HIV/AIDS education and awareness. Recently, Kay finished a six-month internship with South Africa’s leading HIV/AIDS activist organization, Treatment Action Campaign. During her tenure within the M&E unit of TAC, Kay wrote researched articles about tuberculosis for an online website, organized public service ads, and co-edited its first book publication. Prior to launching a career in the nonprofit sector, Kay worked in Hong Kong as an equity capital markets financial research manager responsible for covering and liaising with top-banking clients within the Asia-Pacific region. Kay is passionate about working in the fields of human rights, health, and education and wishes to utilize her research, reporting, and communications skills to achieve her goals. Outside of professional interests, she enjoys backpacking, reading memoirs, and playing the violin and piano.

Host: Service for Peace

Mohammed has over three years of experience in the nonprofit sector, and earned a Bachelor’s degree in Medicine and Surgery from the University of Khartoum and a Master’s degree in Public Health from the University of Medical Sciences and Technology. Mohammed was the National Officer on Research Exchange and President of the Medical Students International Network (MedSIN--Sudan), an NGO that represents the future physicians of Sudan worldwide. After joining graduate school, Mohammed and his colleagues founded the Rebuilding Reproductive and Child Health Systems in Post Conflict Settings Initiative (ReReCHI), which is an official partner of the WHO Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research. During that time, he also worked in post-conflict southern Sudan and was the head of Training and Capacity Building for the ReReCHI. Throughout the year, he conducted research that supported evidence-based health systems decisions and policies for health sector planners, analysts, policymakers, program designers, and other stakeholders. He also trained people ranging from illiterate women to PhD students in post-conflict southern Sudan. Due to great success of the initiative, the University of Medical Sciences and Technology formed the Reproductive and Child Health Research Unit, which is the first of its kind in Sudan. Mohammed also worked on projects for UNICEF and the EU mission in Sudan.

Host: Susan G. Komen for the Cure

Oladele has more than three years of experience in the nonprofit and community health services sector in Nigeria as a medical doctor. He graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Medicine from the University of Ilorin, Nigeria in 2005. He obtained a Master’s degree in Public Health from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland in 2010. Oladele’s professional interests are in the areas of reproductive health, HIV/AIDS treatment and community health services. He has acquired intensive trainings and certificates in these subject areas in Nigeria, South Africa and the United Kingdom. In 2007, he pioneered community health awareness campaigns as a volunteer with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). These campaigns focused on dissemination of information and strategies to prevent the spread of malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS in northern Nigeria. He was appointed as a consultant on HIV/AIDS treatment by the International Centre for AIDS Care and Treatment Programs (ICAP) in 2008. During this time, he developed strategies that contributed to improvements in the quality of care of HIV-infected persons. In 2011, he joined the Centre for Integrated Health Programs (CIHP), an indigenous non-governmental organization that delivers integrated services on malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS control and prevention. In his position as a "senior clinical associate", he provided technical assistance and capacity-building services for staff at CIHP project centres.

Host: GBCHealth

Patrick has six years of experience in the nonprofit sector. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in History from the Mindanao State University in 2004. Patrick participated in the VSO and British Council’s Global Xchange Program in 2006 for a year of cultural exchange and volunteering in Mindanao and the United Kingdom under the theme "Peace and Development." Together with other youth volunteers of the team, he was awarded the "Millennium Volunteer Award of Excellence" by the UK Secretary of State for Education and Skills. Prior to this experience, Patrick was an Oxfam International Youth Partnerships Action Partner from 2004-2007, where he received capacity-building training, online peer mentoring, and support for his community project. In 2003, he received the national "13 UNEP-Bayer Young Environmental Envoy Award" for his community project on reforestation. Currently, he is the Provincial Education Officer in Mindanao for World Vision Philippines’ Child Labor Education Project, an initiative that uses education and policy advocacy to strengthen social structures and alternative livelihood as a means to combat child labor in the Philippines. He also volunteers as coordinator for the Mindanao Young Leaders Parliament, a network of youth social activists from Mindanao, and as an "Oxfam Youth Mentor and Motivator" for the new participants of the 2010-2013 Oxfam Action Partners cohort. Patrick belongs to the Bukidnons, one of the indigenous tribes of Mindanao.

Host: International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children

Renata has five years of experience in the nonprofit sector, with a particular focus on entrepreneurship development. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Law from the University of São Paulo and in Business Administration from Fundação Getulio Vargas in Brazil. Renata has always been involved in social change organizations and has spent the past three years at Endeavor, where she has developed a new social business for entrepreneurship education and supported small and medium-sized entrepreneurial initiatives to grow sustainably. Previously she worked for international NGOs including CEJIL, an international human rights law organization, and AIESEC, an international youth leadership development organization. Through these experiences, she developed strong entrepreneurial, interpersonal, and project coordination skills. Renata is very passionate about education, entrepreneurship, and economic development and seeks to advance those areas in order to promote positive change in the world.

Host: Ashoka U

Aubrey has seven years of nonprofit experience. She earned her Masters Degree in Social Work from the University of Michigan with a focus on Community Organizations and Community and Social Systems. For the past three years, she held a leadership role with a nationally-recognized organization focused on affordable and supportive housing and on ending homelessness in my community. Prior to that, she was a homeless outreach worker for persons experiencing homelessness and who were struggling with severe and persistent mental illness and/or co-occurring disorders. She has extensive experience working with the mental health population and advocating for disability rights. Her focus areas include disability and human rights. Her past experience includes work with the Housing Support Services (HSS) as a Team Leader, the Downtown Emergency Service Center (DESC) on the Homeless Outreach Stabilization and Transition Team (HOST) - Intensive Case Manager, and the Michigan Neighborhood Partnership as an Individual Development Account Program Assistant.

Host: Heart for Change

Benjamin has more than two years of experience in the nonprofit sector. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations from Boston University’s College of Communications and a Masters in International Affairs from the Elliott School of International Affairs at George Washington University. He participated in the civil society development process as an intern for the Council for a Community of Democracies, applying his skills in written and oral communication. Later, he interned for the German Marshall Fund of the United Status. This experience allowed him to engage with civil society leaders, understand current events, and their impact on government and civil society, and analyze and disseminate information effectively and concisely.

Host: Fundación Capital

Elisa has four years of experience in the nonprofit sector with a student-run organization called Pemon Health. She started as a participant then transitioned to Program Coordinator and is now Director. She holds a Bacholor of Arts in Sociology and Education with a minor in Latin American studies from Swarthmore College. Elisa helped promote preventative health initiatives in rural Venezuela. Her work with Pemon Health has been enriched through the use of critical perspectives related to social action endeavors. Elisa wrote her senior thesis on the complexities that college groups attempting such an endeavor face. She proudly embraces her Mexican and Colombian heritage and her hometown of Jackson Heights, NY.

Host: Fundación Alejandrito Corazón

Isabel has six years of experience in the nonprofit sector. She holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts in Statecraft and International Affairs. She worked for a national nonprofit and played a key role in the strategic planning through her role as liaison to the Board. Later, she gained experience in communications through work with the executive, communications, and research grants departments. She also worked as the Development Officer producing the best results in her performance. Her passion is to help people who are less fortunate than her. His dream is to give the poverty stricken the voice, the strength, and resources to improve their lives.

Host: Fundación Niños de los Andes

Andrés has four years of experience working with nonprofit social organizations. He holds a Postgraduate Degree in Conflict Resolution from Javeriana University and a Master of Arts in Gender and Peacebuilding from the United Nations-mandated University for Peace in Costa Rica. Andrés has participated extensively in movements advocating international disarmament, disability rights, and nonviolent action and peacebuilding. In particular, his work addresses the differential needs and circumstances of women, men, girls and boys during conflict, war, and humanitarian crises. Andrés is a certified psychologist and has provided psycho-social rehabilitation services for over 400 landmine survivors and other victims of violence. Additionally, he has worked in victim assistance for internally displaced persons and facilitated conflict resolution workshops for the reintegration of ex-combatants. Andres is particularly interested in conflict resolution, landmine removal, internal displacement, and the prevention of gender-based violence.

Host: International Peace and Security Institute

Anna has five years of experience in the non-profit sector in Russia and abroad. In 2008, she obtained a Specialist's Degree in Social Psychology and a Master's Degree in English Translation. In 2010, Anna graduated from the International Studies Master programme of Saint-Petersburg State University with a focus on European Societies. During her studies at the university, Anna helped promote and conduct research for NGO social projects dealing with HIV/AIDS issues, as well as alcohol and drug abuse. This year, Anna interned with an Italian NGO where she provided psychological expertise and psychotherapy for child victims of commercial sexual exploitation. The Centre for German and European Studies has recently published Anna’s comparative analysis from her intern experience, which details the formation of social policy against commercial sexual exploitation in Russia and Italy.

Host: International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children

Becky has seven years of experience in the nonprofit sector and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Sciences, along with professional certificates in HIV/AIDS, Reproductive Health Rights, and Child Sexual Abuse. She is in the process of completing an online course in Human Development and Social Therapy from the East Side Institute in New York. As a project officer for the African Medical and Research Foundation, she coordinated and executed projects to train local communities on HIV/AIDS and SRH. Becky worked with youth, women, and sex workers to pioneer a community advocacy group for people infected with or affected by HIV/AIDS. Becky has also worked with GOAL Uganda as a program assistant. In this capacity, she trained youth in reproductive health and educated communities on child sexual abuse. Additionally, Becky volunteered as a National Focal Person with UNICEF/Rural Voices of Youth, where she trained youth in Uganda on leadership skills and sexual health rights. Through these experiences, Becky has gained in-depth knowledge on HIV/AIDS advocacy and the development, implementation, and evaluation of health and development projects.

Blanca has five years of nonprofit experience promoting corporate social responsibility in Latin America. She has held a wide range of positions in this field, including international project coordinator, consultant, professor, and researcher. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from the Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey (ITESM), and a Master’s Degree in Corporate Responsibility from ESERP Business School in Barcelona. Blanca has previously worked as Manager of the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program at ITESM where she trained executives from around the world and collaborated with a multicultural team of colleagues to create the CSR strategy for an environmental organization in Spain. Blanca has also worked on educational projects to promote capacity-building for the disabled in order to provide social integration, and became the POETA Program Coordinator at Monterrey Tech in 2007. As an active member in disability and social integration associations, Blanca learned sign language and became an interpreter to the hearing-impaired. She has been a regular lecturer for companies concerning strategies to better integrate the disbaled into the workforce. During her career, Blanca has been chosen by several international organizations, including the Inter-American Development Bank and the UN Global Compact, to participate in conferences related to Corporate Social Responsibility.

Host: CentroNia

Carolina has over six years of experience in the nonprofit sector. She studied Systems Administration at the National University of Colombia where she focused on management development negotiation tools based on the Harvard Negotiation Method. Since 2006, Carolina has been a volunteer with Partners of the Americas, where she has worked in the business training program for young entrepreneurs of Colombia and led projects to develop competitiveness and leadership in the region. Through this work, Carolina has trained hundreds of young people in entrepreneurship, business creation, and business strategy. She believes that entrepreneurship is an essential instrument in the fight against unemployment and socioeconomic and gender inequality. Carolina has more than six years of work experience promoting ParqueSoft, a nonprofit organization that supports implementation of business acceleration models through its board and committee of entrepreneurship. ParqueSoft has been responsible for the birth of 32 companies led by 100 city youth, including Carolina's own company, SIES Soluciones. Carolina has also served as a spokeswoman for Colombia at the Forum of the OAS Civil Society.

Daniela has over four years of experience in the nonprofit sector working on the administration of social development projects at the local level. With a Bachelor's Degree in International Relations, she has led a variety of projects throughout Mexico to improve the efficiency and management of local government. Her research has helped promote public policies that ensure the adequate distribution of resources, and has assisted in identifying areas of poverty in rural and urban communities. As a result of her findings, Daniela has created projects aimed at correcting the distribution of resources and providing access to basic services to those in severe need. She currently works for the municipality of El Marqués, where she organizes fundraising to support local activities and promote equal opportunities for women. Additionally, Daniela has worked to decentralize services and policies by implementing projects from the federal to local level and promoting the social development of poor towns through national programs. She has also helped to start a new nonprofit organization called "Drink a Dream," which supports heath, education and social development projects.

Host: Susan G. Komen for the Cure

Foluke has four years of experience in the nonprofit sector, and earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Microbiology from the University of Ibadan in Nigeria. While working as a Community Services Specialist with Management Sciences for Health in Nigeria under the USAID-funded HIV/AIDS program, she helped improve the health of rural dwellers living with HIV/AIDS in northern Nigeria. Previously, Foluke worked with a community-based organization to advance health education and promote adolescent reproductive health awareness. Foluke has volunteered as a peer educator on adolescent reproductive health for several groups, including UNICEF and the Center for HIV/AIDS in Nigeria. Through these experiences, she developed strong project coordination and implementation skills. Foluke enjoys focusing on the topics of maternal and child health, and has a strong passion for youth empowerment.

Host: Population Action International

Gbenga has ten years of experience in the nonprofit sector, where he has focused primarily on development. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in History and International Relations from Lagos State University. Gbenga is the founder of Landmark Internship International, an organization promoting volunteerism and entrepreneurship in Nigeria. Gbenga utilized Web 2.0, a form of social media, to advance enterprise development across the country. Through the Come to Africa Campaign, he has mobilized worldwide talents in Africa's for-profit and non-profit organizations to achieve global competitiveness. In 2007, he won the Global Young Social Entrepreneur's Competition in recognition of his efforts with the campaign. Gbenga has spoken at the Social Enterprise World Forum as well as the Global Peace Convention. He has been a consultant to the UN's Development Information Center Lagos Project, and has been a member of several social enterprise advisory boards.

Host: Atlas Corps

Innocent has four years of experience in the nonprofit sector. He holds a Bachelors degree in Agricultural Economics from Ahmadu Bello University in Nigeria, and a Masters of Science in Agriculture and Resource Management from the University of Bonn in Germany. Innocent has worked in various fields, ranging from humanitarian and disaster relief with the Nigerian and German Red Cross to rural development with Programme of Action for Health and Rural Development (PAHRD-Abuja). He also served as the Associate Impact Specialist for the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture-Sustainable Tree Crops Program (IITA-STCP) in Nigeria. Innocent has professional experience in natural resource management, food policy analysis, and environmental and energy efficiency. He has participated in numerous Model United Nations conferences such as the Committee on Sustainable Development (BIMUN-Bonn, Germany) and the Economic and Social Council (OxIMUN-Oxford, UK), from which he has acquired key international diplomatic skills. Innocent also served as Head of the European Student Delegation to the 2009 International Student Energy Summit (ISES-Calgary, Canada) and recently led a group of young energy entreprenuers in Nigeria. Innocent aims to positively impact lives by tackling energy poverty, food insecurity, and the effect of climate change on livelihoods in developing countries. He is a member of the International Association for Energy Economics (IAEE) and aspires to become a successful development expert.

Host: UN Foundation

May has over four years of experience in the nonprofit sector and has worked in various capacities as fundraising consultant, grant proposal writer, trainer, and translator for a diverse list of organizations, including Da'am for Information Technology, Etijah, United Group Attorneys at Law & Human Rights Advocates, and several human rights agencies. May graduated from Ain Shams University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting and received diplomas in Written Translation and NGO Institutions from the American University in Cairo. May has represented Egyptian youth in the U.S. on many occasions and has met with international officials including Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. As part of a Freedom House and USAID fellowship program in Spring 2009, she delivered a speech at the International Solidarity Committee and was featured on the Voice of Americas website. May previously volunteered at Al Waref Institute in Washington, D.C. as the Egypt Coordinator. As a human rights activist and freelance writer, she writes about youth activism for changing behaviors and social norms.

Host: National Conference on Citizenship

Mirette has over five years of non-profit sector experience working in the field of community development in Egypt. She graduated from Cairo University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and is pursuing her Master's Degree in Professional Development at the American University in Cairo. Mirette started her career as a banker at HSBC bank in Egypt. In her spare time, Mirette devoted herself to community-based social work. She volunteered at an orphanage where she employed games and experiments to teach English and science using an interactive approach. Mirette later volunteered as a facilitator with ILO-Cairo on the SCREAM project, which supports child rights through education, arts, and the media. Mirett’s enriching experience with this project led to a life-changing decision to devote her career to community development. Mirette is currently working as a non-formal education coordinator  and youth educator at Alwan Wa Awtar NGO, an arts-for-development organization situated in rural Cairo.

Host: Civic Enterprises

Sally has ten years of experience in the nonprofit sector in the area of non-formal education and development. She graduated from Ain Shams University with a BA in English Literature & Language and completed a diploma in Human Resource Management from the American University in Egypt. For the past five years, she has worked with adults and young people on issues ranging from youth participation, volunteering, intercultural learning, and human rights education. Sally has also been contracted by both local and international NGOs, including EuroMed Youth Programme, Council of Europe, and Nahdet El Mahrousa, to design and conduct specialized training courses. She is the author of a publication on international volunteering between Europe and the Arab Mediterranean for the Support and Advanced Learning and Training Opportunities Resource Centre (SALTO). Sally feels blessed to be doing what she is passionate about: working with people, exploring different cultures, and advancing development.

Host: Grameen Foundation

Sudeshna has over five years of experience in the nonprofit sector, working across such organizations as Oxfam India, the Resource Alliance, the Make-A-Wish Foundation of India, and GIVE India. Sudeshna received a Master's degree in Social Work from Tata Institute of Social Sciences in Mumbai in 2005. In addition, she is a Post-Graduate in the Certified Fundraising program, conducted by the Resource Alliance and S.P. Jain Institute of Management and Research, where she stood first in academic ranking. Sudeshna began her career in program management at GIVE India and gradually transitioned to implementing effective fundraising and donor stewardship strategies for corporations, news media, and high net-worth individuals. In her last assignment with Oxfam India, Sudeshna focused on new business development, retention of existing corporate donors, and ethical evaluation of companies prior to public association. This position gave Sudeshna insight on Oxfam affiliates and international policy-making in different countries. In 2008, Sudeshna received recognition for her work with the Pareto Bursary and attended the 8th International Workshop on Resource Mobilization in Kuala Lumpur. In her free time, Sudeshna volunteers as a country ambassador for Showcase of Fundraising Innovation and Inspiration (SOFII) in India, where she educates others on the state of fundraising in India.

Host: Global Giving

Takawira has seven years of experience in the nonprofit sector. He has earned several degrees, including a Postgraduate Diploma in Project Planning and Management, and a Master of Science in Rural and Urban Planning from the University of Zimbabwe. As a university student, Takawira was an active member of the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace Zimbabwe and a representative to the Students Representative Council for his faculty. He also interned with Development Associates Consultants and has worked for the Jesuit Refugee Service as a Project Officer. Most recently, Takawira worked as an Associate Researcher with Gender and Rural Development Consultants (GERUDE), where he provided consultancy services to many NGOs and development agencies. At GERUDE he gained vast experience in project planning and management, monitoring and evaluation, and report writing. He is currently the vice president of the Proudly Zimbabwean Trust Zimbabwe Chapter.

Host: Refugees International

Yaw has four years of experience in the nonprofit sector and graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Computer Science from the Catholic University of Ghana and is pursuing his Master’s Degree in Governance and Sustainable Development at the University of Cape Coast. In 2006, Yaw worked at the Ghana Education Service, where he trained personnel in educational software applications and managed a database of 2,000 students. Additionally, Yaw managed skills training programs in basic computing and auto-diagnostics at Suame Magazine, an industrial cluster of 200,000 artisans engaged in vehicle repair, metal casting, welding and fabrication in Kumasi, while facilitating strategic collaborations among the private sector, academia, and government to strengthen skills and business development initiatives. As SpanAfrica’s Regional Director for Ghana, Yaw coordinates programs to achieve the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDG’s). Yaw is a member of the Pan-African Competitiveness Forum (PACF), which works to strengthen the competitiveness of African countries through shared best practices and efficient cluster management.

Host: CentroNia

Melat has seven years of experience in the nonprofit sector and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting from Addis Ababa University. As Executive Director of the Young Women Christian Association (YWCA) of Ethiopia, she has developed new programs in the areas of economic empowerment, girls' education, reproductive health (including HIV/AIDS), and youth leadership development. Under Melat's leadership, the YWCA has greatly expanded, doubling in staff and opening two branch offices in Oromiya and Amhara regional states. Through her representation of the YWCA in official forums and conferences, Melat has also enabled the establishment of new local, regional, and international partnerships. Melat expresses a passion for women's empowerment and seeks to work in an organization that improves the lives of society’s most vulnerable members.

Host: Global Kids

Windy has over three years of experience in the nonprofit sector and graduated from the State University of Haiti. He taught for five years as an ESL professor at Saint Francois Xavier Community School and other education centers. Windy also volunteered as a mentor for the U.S. Embassy's English Language Program and the College Horizons Outreach Program. Additionally, he has actively participated in community service in his hometown of Cap-Haitian. In 2009, Windy founded a nonprofit organization called "Youth Education Seekers" (Y.E.S.), which helps to provide education for children and young people in the community who cannot afford it. Through Y.E.S., Windy has directed efforts to reduce hunger and poverty and fight against child abuse. This year, he was chosen by the U.S. Embassy in Haiti to speak as a panelist about volunteerism on Martin Luther King Day. Windy is also a radio broadcaster at Radio Nirvana 97.3, the largest radio station in the region.

Host: American Jewish World Service

Consuelo has more than three years of experience in the nonprofit sector. She holds a degree in Business Administration issued by the Universidad de Leon in Spain and is particularly interested in NGO management, strategic leadership, and international cooperation. She has worked with several NGOs including the Spanish Red Cross (Cruz Roja), the Assembly of Cooperation for Peace (Asamblea de Cooperaci¢n por la Paz, ACPP) and the Federation of Disabled People of the Spanish region of Madrid (FAMMA COCEMFE). In addition, she has fieldwork experience in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Morocco. Presently Consuelo works at Fundación Lealtad, where she gives advice to social action enterprises and organizes events and workshops for NGO’s. She is working towards a Master’s Degree in Tourism Development and has founded an NGO called Turismo & Desarrollo (Tourism and Development). The main objective of this NGO is to promote the sustainable economic and social development of the South through participative and autonomous initiatives using both tourism and the involvement of the Northern countries’ economic and social agents.

Host: Fundación Social

Phillip Mlanda has three years of experience in the nonprofit sector. Having worked in various community development projects, Phillip built his professional experience through volunteer work. He holds a Bachelors of Science Degree in Computer Science & Statistics from the University of Zimbabwe. Utilizing his innovative computer science skills, Phillip developed technical solutions to improve communication skills. Most recently he worked as the Systems Analyst for a software company called Spectrum IT Solutions. He developed Interactive CD's for Waternet Zimbabwe's projects, a perfect tool for information dissemination. He co-led a 2-year project that helped disabled people to empower themselves through entrepreneurial projects. Working with Leonard Cheshire Zimbabwe Trust, a nonprofit organization that shares his vision to empower children and youth with disabilities, Phillip developed their website and continues to provide technical support. He has worked on promotional material for the African Youth Charter, as well as developing the program’s IT and e-marketing, and statistically assessing its market position in the country. As part of a seven-person team, Phillip represented Zimbabwe in Singapore where they showcased three different entrepreneurial projects. Phillip received a Service Leadership Award and a Medal of Honor from SIFE International.

Host: Global Peace Service Alliance

Sherzodbek Sharipov has 5 years of experience with international projects and organizations in the fields of legal trainings, youth education, and social justice. He is skilled in research analysis, programming and project implementation in specialized fields of legal education and legal trainings. Sherzodbek has volunteered and worked and volunteered with international organizations and projects in Uzbekistan and abroad. Most recently, Sherzodbek was a Junior Policy and Advocacy Officer at the Mental Disability Advocacy Center (MDAC) in Budapest. He contributed to MDAC’s domestic and international advocacy programming, as well as legal research for international projects on monitoring psychiatric institutions. In addition, Sherzodbek served as a National Consultant for the United Nations Development Program (UNDP Uzbekistan) on the Free Legal Aid and Legal Clinics project and he has been assisting in establishing Legal Clinics in Uzbekistan. He obtained his Bachelors Degree in International Relations from Tashkent State Institute of Oriental Studies in Uzbekistan and he completed a Masters in Human Rights from Central European University, Hungary, in 2008.

Host: U.S. International Council on Disabilities

Varun has more than five years of experience in consulting and nonprofit management. He has a Master in Commerce degree with specialization in Banking and Finance from the University of Mumbai and a certification in Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) management from Indian Institute of Management – Ahmedabad (IIM-A). Upon graduation, he worked in the Ernst & Young advisory team in India. After, he did a short internship with SKS NGO (Ultra Poor Program) in Narayankhed (Andhra Pradesh), the pilot project center of SKS microfinance. Varun’s upbringing in a small rural town and his subsequent experiences in a large metropolis, as well as his travels around the country and the world, brought to light the dichotomy that exists between rural and urban setups. The urge to find a solution to the urban-rural divide in India led to the creation of Vishwa Ashraya Sansthan (VAS) in Palampur, his hometown. Now Varun’s focus is to promote the organization’s vision to create a successful sustainable social enterprise that will achieve both financial viability and social impact in the long term. Since its inception, VAS has developed networks with various local education institutions with a total outreach to 1,500-1,600 students. The intention is to inform these students about higher education opportunities, and provide scholarships for the deserving candidates through various international education institutions present in India.

Host: Global Peace Service Alliance

Lacey has worked in both the nonprofit and public sectors, with a particular focus on workforce development. As a Senior Account Manager for the City of New York, she works with local businesses in to design, implement and evaluate training programs that lead to transferrable skills and wage gains for their low-income workers. Prior to this, she conducted an assessment of a rehabilitation and microenterprise program for survivors of human trafficking in India run by the International Organization for Migration and several Indian nonprofits. As part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Outstanding Scholars program from 2003 to 2005, Lacey organized rule of law reform programs in the Caucasus and Central Asia, and managed cross-unit initiatives including a conference on international legal standards with the United Nations. Lacey received a B.A. magna cum laude from Barnard College, and holds dual Masters Degrees in Public Administration and International Relations from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. While at Maxwell, Lacey also obtained her Certificate in Conflict Management and worked as a Graduate Assistant researching and writing case studies on leadership, public diplomacy and international affairs. Lacey has lived abroad in Chile, Argentina and Switzerland, and has held internships at Human Rights Watch, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, and the Argentinean nonprofit Fundación Poder Ciudadano.

Host: World Wildlife Fund, Colombia