FOUNDERS PANEL
Our history is a canvas of who we’ve been, who we are, and paints a picture of who we aspire to be. We’re honoured to introduce you to our Founding Members, the brilliant minds who contributed to the conceptualization and establishment of Y-ACT during its inception in 2017.
Evalin Karijo
The Maverick
Evalin Karijo
The Maverick
Evalin Karijo is a multi-faceted, award-winning global health specialist, team leader extraordinaire and mountaineer who enjoys living on the edge. Evalin is passionate about youth leadership in Africa and seeks to shift the narrative and ensure that African youth are acknowledged for their ingenuity and capabilities, despite their age. One of her greatest achievements so far is the exemplary leadership she offered to the Y-ACT team. It is therefore no surprise that she is a #Top35Under35 Awardee. Evalin served as the first Director of Y-ACT Youth in Action from 2017-2021.
Gloria Nyanja
The Idealist
Gloria Nyanja
The Idealist
Gloria Nyanja is a public health specialist who is passionate about bridging the health equity gap, especially for underserved people and groups through the provision of linkages to quality and affordable health services. Gloria is also a planner by all standards! Catch her with a notebook and pen jotting down tasks and ticking them off as she goes along. When she is not busy strengthening the capacity of youth advocates she spends her down time channelling her creative side with event planning and has a knack for gorgeous décor and the prettiest of trinkets that add a special touch to intimate gatherings. Gloria has served as the Project Assistant and Content & Remote Training Lead (2019 to date) at Y-ACT.
Peter Ngure
The Multi-Hyphenate
Peter Ngure
The Multi-Hyphenate
Peter Ngure is an accomplished leader with a demonstrated record of accomplishment in Primary Health Care (PHC), Sexual Reproductive Health governance and advocacy: with skills in capacity building, advocacy strategy development, implementation and milestone reporting. His passion for Data Driven Decision Making and meaningful engagement led him to Establish Pathways Policy Institute (PPI), a Community Based Policy Think Tank. Peter Ngure served as the First Deputy Director at Y-ACT (2017 – 2019).
Sylvia Wamugi Obaga
The Guru
Sylvia Wamugi Obaga
The Guru
Sylvia Obaga is a transformational advocacy communications strategist, creative storyteller and communications specialist with over 15 years of progressive work experience in the non-profit sector. A creative at heart, she led several regional digital advocacy initiatives including Amref’s Y-ACT Movement, UNFPA’s YouthPowerHub, and the ICPD+25 Global Online Caravan, no doubt breaking ground in how young people are engaged in the digital space. Sylvia served as the Advocacy Communications Manager (2017 -2019) & Deputy Director – Advocacy Communications and Strategic Partnerships (2019-2021) during her time at Y-ACT.
Rachel Wilson
The Ideator
Rachel Wilson
The Ideator
Rachel engaged youth across the continent to inform the conceptualization and start-up of Y-ACT in 2017 and has provided strategy and advocacy support since its inception. With over two decades of experience in public health research, communications, policy, and advocacy, Rachel is a highly regarded leader in country-led advocacy. She is currently the Principal at Catalysts for Change, and is a master-facilitator, lover of nature, and passionate about pursuing transformational change through advocacy and accountability.
