About IYPF

Eddy Orinda - Kenya (currently in Ukraine for studies)
Legal Officer, Executive Team

Eddy has been heavily involved with youth and development work since completing high school. He is a founder of Windows for Young People in Africa (WYPA), which aims to strengthen the voice of youth in Africa and create networks throughout the world. Besides school, he Co-Chairs alongside Prof. Edward Oyugi the Board of Directors of Windows for Young Pepole in Africa (WYPA). Since its establishment, Windows for Young People in Africa (WYPA) has been working towards strengthening international cooperation among young persons with a view to integrating them into the global system. His responsibilities included establishing networks within Africa that would provide an opportunity for young people to discuss and develop consensus on modalities of contribution to society at various levels and also to identify and promote areas and opportunities for multi-stakeholder partnerships for young people's social and economic development.

He has worked for a number of other organizations including Social Development Network (SODNET), African Youth Parliament (AYP 2003), CARE International in Kenya and the German Technical Cooperation (GTZ). Eddy feels a responsibility to make a difference in the lives of the youth throughout the world.

Eddy was elected and served as the President of the Kenyan Community in Ukraine (KCU). KCU's primary purpose is to promote the development and advancement of the Kenyan students in Ukraine. Further, promote positive change in Kenya through charitable efforts in the areas science and technology as may be derived from members' expertise as well as to promote honesty in governance pursuant to Kenyan democratic ideals in order to foster Kenya's economic, political and social growth. In Ukraine, he also sit on the Organizing Committee of the United Nations UNDP for the All Ukrainian Youth Summit of Ukraine.

Currently, he is helping develop the legal unit of the IYPF. The aim of this role is to oversee, encourage and support the development of the legal unit of the International Young Professionals Foundation, by encouraging the involvement of young professionals and law students in IYPF's legal unit. This will involve closely following legal perspectives and the development of global events and activities in the IYPF's focus areas, currently sustainable development and the management of environmental and social issues. Further to this, the role will involve promoting, incorporating and potentially contributing to internal and external legal policy framework.

Earlier within the IYPF, Eddy worked as the Project Coordinator of International Commission for Africa Project. The main role was to stimulate input from African young professionals to the International Commission on Africa. The IYPF initiated this discussion process with its African membership and stakeholders, in recognition that African young professionals and their businesses and organizations will be key actors and partners in the achievement of the Commission's goals.

Irfan Khan - Pakistan (Currently in UK for studies)

Irfan's first NGO experience, where he worked on the Management Information System of the organization, was an opportunity for him to learn at the grass roots level.  Through his interaction with the field staff and the community members, he gained an understanding of the difficulties and problems the poor are facing in Pakistan. 

Through his input to a Forum established to help drought-affected people, Irfan also learnt about assessing the needs of an area and ways to work with the community to fight poverty. 

He is currently working with another NGO, whose vision is a prosperous and enlightened community where people have access to all basic amenities and facilities.  His aim is to strengthen his nation by helping the deprived and marginalized community.

Irfan studied Maths and Statistics at the University of Balochistan Pakistan and also has a diploma in Computer Sciences.  

Choudhary Arif - Pakistan

Choudhary has 12 years of experience in management and is currently working as Executive Secretary to a Managing Director in one of the leading business groups of Pakistan.

Choudhary is married with three kids and loves to work for the community in his spare time.  He joined IYPF to contribute his skills and experience and also to learn through this international platform.

Tadiwa Muradzikwa- Zimbabwe (living in Malaysia)
HIV & AIDS Team
tadiwamuradzikwa [at] iypf [dot] org

Tadiwa has a BA in Psychology and Sociology and a Diploma in Personnel Management.  He has been working for United Nations Children's fund in Zimbabwe as a Human Resources Intern for the past year and believes he is ready for the challenge of working for IYPF.  Tadiwa hopes that his role in IYPF will be an eye opening experience.

Ashish Sharma - India
Executive Team

Ashish is an energetic professional with specific focus in Mind. He believes that important achievement of person is to understand people so that you drive them as get yourself driven for mutual benefit. Business is successfully complete only when both parties have mutual benefit.

In his thrust for knowledge, he has participated in a workshop on sustainable development at NTNU, Norway. Throughout his life, his only only concern is to understand and apply thoughts for mutual benefit. He has done bio-diversity campaign among students of Seoni district in India. He has also learnt the hardway of understanding the Indeginous Technological Knowhow of villagers by doing a Research Journey with an NGO called SRISTI.

He is a university merit scholar and again for mutual benefit, along with his job in a Bank in India, he is part of IYPF. Here also his main focus is to improve the Brand IYPF so that supporters as well as constituents of IYPF can get the better perceived value of working with IYPF.

Cameron Neil - Australia
CEO

Cameron Neil is an energetic and experienced youth and development professional, entrepreneur and animatuer, who has created various organisations, networks and organisations in the social and community sector, and led, supported and delivered youth development services in the government, community and business sectors. He is 29 and lives in Canberra, Australia with his wife Tam.

In his official professional life outside the IYPF, Cameron is passionate about youth enterprise, is one of the Youth Employment Summit International Youth Leaders for Employment Advisory Group members and is also a facilitator of the YES-Australia Country Network. Cameron is also an action partner of the Oxfam International Youth Parliament, having attended the first IYP in Sydney in 2000. At the 2004 OIYP Cameron was one the facilitators of the Labour and Employment group - due in part to his experience and work in the areas of Youth Enterprise and Fair Trade.

At the end of 2003, Cameron became Development Coordinator of the Fair Trade Association of Australia and New Zealand (FTAANZ). In May 2005, Cameron changed roles as the organisation grew, established a new Fairtrade Labelling arm, and employed 4 new staff. He is now the Fairtrade Certification Analyst for Australia and New Zealand. Cameron is very passionate about the ability of fair trade to assist disadvantaged families and communities in the Majority world (i.e. developing countries) gain greater control over the lives, meet their survival and growth needs, and break out of cycles of poverty. Through involvment with the fair trade movement, Cameron has very recently joined a new research centre - the Centre for Governance of Knowledge and Development - located within the Regulatory Institutions Network at the Australian National University. His association with the CGKD reflects a shifting of Cameron's interests from youth enterprise to trade, politics and development.

With the above background and experience, Cameron was a member of the ad hoc international taskforce that wrote the 'Youth and the Millennium Development Goals: Challenges and Opportunities for Implementation' report, and is an advisor to the GYAN/TIG National Youth MDG Campaigns.

You can read more about Cameron here and check out his blog here.

Zengyi Zhao- Australia (for studies, from China
Company Secretary

Before I came to Canberra, Australia in 2003, I lived in China for more than 22 years. Now I am undertaking some intensive courses in the management school after I finished one-year study in engineering faculty in ANU. Next year, I will go back to China and attend several projects as volunteer to support education development in many rural areas in China.

Gabrielle Trenbath - Australia Writer, Communications Team

Gabrielle Trenbath has learnt politics, communications and developmental studies and has a great passion for justice and community development. Having attended IYPS 2004 is a member of United Nations Association of Australia, Executive and Environmental committees. Played a valuable role in sketching the University of Melbourne's Youth Research Centre's report called "Sharing a new story: young people in decision making".

Rassel Chisango - Zimbabwe HIV & AIDS Network Coordinator

I am an inspired and visionary young man driven by a passion to serve with an aim to make a real difference for mankind's sake, primarily young people and the community! I believe in spirited team effort and that with unity of purpose the sky is the limit and believe you me,Passion, focused effort, vision, determination,

ACTION and intelligent planning is all that separates failure and success and that's my guiding philosophy. I am a Project Planner and Manager by Profession. To date, I have managed to set the foundation on which I shall continue to build on until perhaps I retire from active developmental programs and that foundation has its cornerstone from the various youth and community development projects that I have been actively involved in such as (1) establishing the Royal Youth Organization which is a purely youth for youth empowerment for sustainable development Youth Association, (2) working with youth and the community as a Youth Advocate and Youth Advisor within several key developmental players such as National AIDS Council, Zimbabwe AIDS Network and Zimbabwe Youth Council, (3) actively working towards achieving MDG 3 (Gender Equity…) and 6 (HIV and AIDS…) at both national and international levels primarily targeting young people.

Currently I am so much excited for I believe working for IYPF as the Coordinator for IYPHAN gives me the opportunity to make a real difference at Global Level through meaningful and effective contribution towards achieving MDG 6!

Ursula Carrascal - Peru
Network &Program Leader, Latin America & The Caribbean

Ursula is a 27 young professional involved in social and cultural activities since she was 9. Ursula is a lover of life and nature, so she wants do everything needed to protect it. As a journalist she writes and work giving information to people, especially young, and the basic tools to improve their lives and livelihoods. Why fight? For her, everyone has a white book, one that we need write with our actions. She wishes that hers book be full of positive moments that have helped to reduce poverty and the suffering not only of human also nature.

Living in a developing country, she knows the meaning of discrimination, corruption, poverty. Almost, she has not been a poor person; she has been in direct contact with the communities and facing the same problems because system. Being and working with the society, its young people, its children and local leaders she feel each day she grows as human. “To speak about poverty, we need touch it and to feel the hunger, those that fight in name of the problem and don’t know which is its really face, they wouldn’t get the cause of it”, Ursula said.

The contact of Ursula with different leaders around the world, has allowed she can understand better her knowledge about how to work in synergic and thinking globally but acting locally. Thanks her activism in environmental and human rights Ursula has learned to relate the external contexts with the reality of our towns. She can’t denied what important is be volunteer to value each moment we do for a project and cause. We fight because love, because we are dreamers. Almost she won the International Youth Ecology Prize in 2000, Ursula believes she needs do much more in environment. For her, people now are destroying the last chance to keep in the Earth. That is because she is General Secretary of VIDA (a non profit environmental institution), and decided to enjoy IYPF from 2003. Now she is creating her own media association, is the coordinator of the cultural area of a Latin American news agency from Sweden and works as designer for a newsletter called Art & Culture. Ursula has been the national coordinator of YES Peru, where now she is an adviser. She also is the media coordinator of YES in Latin American.

Human capital is great, so she rescues each potential energy given by it. Networking, organizing, creating, innovating Ursula for many years has motivated to many people in Peru and in other countries to put a bit piece of their work in the dream of the better planet. The experience of Ursula is big, but she knows need learn more. Being in different NGOs, international campaigns and projects across the country and abroad, she feels that be part of IYPF is a good decision. She would like be your friend, share her hopes and vision, so please don’t be shy and be in contact with Ursula. She will know from you and she will tell you more about herself. To say good bye, she sends a big Ecology Kiss for you.

Mariana Ballestero - Argentina
Technical Advisor, Latin America & The Caribbean

She is Executive Director of Vientos del Sur Association. Actually she is Technical Coordinator of the national project for prevention of HIV/AIDS with young people, developed by the National Youth Direction of Argentina in stratetigic partner with UNICEF.

Until 2003 she was member of the Program of Companies of Social Economy, in the Class of Honor of Social Management, in the University of Economic Sciences. She has experience in the design, administration, monitoring and evaluation of social projects.

She was granted a scholarship by the University of Buenos Aires (1995-1999) to study their Licentiate in Sociology, and also she was granted a scholarship by the Interamerican Development Bank for their formation in Social Management in the Interamerican Institute for the Social Development. Washington DC (USA), and was selected as Argentinean delegate for the IYPS 2004 (Internarnational Youth Professional Summit, Australia).

She is member and founder of numerous youth organizations and organizations for the development in their country. She developed social projects successfully: in jails, in poor communities, in prevention of VIH/SIDA, in the improvement of the quality of life of young people in situations of social exclusion, with women, etc.

She has received varied distinctions and recognitions to their community leadership, on behalf of organisms like the Interamerican Bank of Development, ECLAC, Presidency of the Nation and the Permanent Assembly for the Woman's Rights, among others. She has been invited as panelist to numerous national and international events to expose their vision and experience in the field of the juvenile social development. She wrote and it published numerous articles and investigations linked to their civic participation and their labor and academic experience.

Kate Plant - Australia (living in Seattle, USA)
Latin American Team Assistant
kateplant [at] iypf [dot] org

All too often people describe their achievements and not who they really are. So, I'm going to start something different. I am a bubbly, effervescent, sensitive, kind, strong person with a strong inner spirit. My husband and I have recently moved to Seattle, USA as a start to 'experiencing the world'.

I am currently working as a project manager for Environmental Impact Statements in the USA, volunteering with People for Puget Sound (P4PS) on the Safe Cosmetics & Other Project & the Governor's 2020 Puget Sound Partnership (Puget Sound is the name of the collective local waterways around here), volunteering for the Duwammish River Clean-Up Project which is currently striving to understand the social, health, environmental effects and industry effects of Businesses situated along and around the Duwammish River.

My GCF team and I organized the inaugural 'Global Change Fiesta - Where Ideas become Actions' (GCF). The GCF was a public event attached to the recent International Young Professionals Summit (IYPS) held from the 29th Nov. to 3rd Dec. 2004. The aim of the GCF was to allow the wider community and various (31) organizations looking at sustainable livelihoods, science and technology - to connect.

My Key Goal: I strive for natural balance, both in our operational structure/lives & within my body.

Amjad Baiazy - Syria
Newsletter Sub Editor, Communications Team

Amjad is the Ideaccess Middle East Associate (www.ideaccess.com); a project dedicated for human rights and social justice to facilitate resources in nine languages. He is also Project Manager in Etana Press; a local NGO that focuses on civic awareness and youth development.

He has been involved in the domain of youth development and research for 4 years now, and has worked on many human rights and development projects with international NGOs in the Middle East.Amjad has three academic degrees in "English Literature", "Law" and "Human Resources Management", and won certificates on "Human Rights", "European Policy", "Media", "Marketing", "Graphic Design and Animation" and "IT Solutions".He has worked as an editor for the English version of Thara electronic magazine (www.thara-sy.com), and translator for many institutions.

Currently he is doing a research on youth and political participation, and his mission is to make difference among youth, even a slight one, and to make them aware of their rights and obligations.

Pochi Tamba - Cameroon
Newsletter Sub Editor, Communications Team

I am Cameroonian, born and resident in Cameroon. I studied in Cameroon from Primary school, through secondary school to the University. I graduate from the University of Buea with a B.Sc (Hons) in Journalism and Mass Communication. I have worked as a journalist and development activists since my graduation in 2003. As a journalist, I have worked in radio stations, magazines, newspapers and printing houses in Cameroon. I actually started working before graduating from the University.

As a development activist (this is a recent love), I have represented my country and continent in two major activities. To the World Youth Congress in Scotland in 2005 and the writing of a development book for young activists in Britain. IN the first case, I represented my country, Cameroon, and in the second, my continent. I also learnt a great deal from both events. I must say they changed my live positively and drastically at the same time.

Concerning my hobbies, I love making friends and knowing more about foreign cultures. I have friends of almost all the nationalities of the world (this is hardly an exaggeration) and love traveling. I also love singing and dancing. I also write a lot: novels, poems and drama. None is published yet, but I am sure to publish a good number of them someday. I could go on and on, but I also believe much of me is known from first contact. So, let me give you some space for that, eventually.

Valentina Lozano - Columbia
Latin American Team + MPA, Implementation Team

Dabal B Bista - Nepal
Web Content Coordinator

Currently, working as a Sr. Analyst/Programmer and Project Manager, Mr. Dabal Bista's immense contribution in Information Technology integrates non-profitably in social sectors and other profitable works globally. Born in Achham, Nepal, he is twenty-nine years old.

In this short span of life, he has worked not only for the society, nation but also for betterment of the world. His role as a Technical Director and board member of Youth Impact International, USA, Web Programming Specialist and Managing Team member of Student World Assembly, USA and an associate consultant of Global Unification approves that he is not working for himself. Furthermore, He is a founder and Vice President of Perfect Nepal, an NGO working non-profitably for IT, Conflict Management, Democracy and Human Rights.

Mr. Bista's impression gets a new sparking touch because of his volunteer involvement in the distinguished international organizations. He has been working voluntarily in UN online Advisory Group, ICT volunteer of Community Empowerment Network, USA, Online experienced webmaster of Lawyers without Boarders and web developer of Portals of Wonder,USA. In addition, he has abundant potentiality in the sense that he has been devotedly working as web site developer of UNV Philippines, web designers and developer of Child Care and Adoption Society, Zambia.

He always strives for the depth of knowledge, innovation and creativity. As an IT professional, he wants to assess, analyze and create his identity in the global context. Beyond that he, as a conscious citizen of the world works for the whole human race. His involvement and work with various organizations of the world have been stimulus for his career. He has a great space to cross and yet he has miles to go before his eternal rest.

Godfrey Mungazi - Zimbabwe
Local Events Team

Since the age of 20, Godfrey Mungazi has been passionate about youth developmental and health issues, having been involved in well over two dozen projects at the local, national and international levels.

Godfrey Mungazi is the founding Program Director of a youth organization, Vision and Hope Foundation, in the field of International Development. He is heavily involved in promoting the full participation of young people in all sectors of the society, and maintains special interests in youth development and HIV and AIDS. Godfrey works with a diversity of organisations to represent young people and their interests, advocate and develop mechanisms for youth participation, and build the capacity of other young people to effectively participate in their communities. Godfrey currently serves as provincial Vice Chair of the Zimbabwe AIDS Network, Youth representative in the Oxfams Gender and HIV and AIDS Program Advisory Board, to name but a few.

Godfrey has authored or co-authored more than 8 papers on Youth development and HIV and AIDS that have been presented to an array of international conferences. He has been invited to serve as an abstract reviewer for AIDS 2006 to be held in Toronto, Canada.

Edna Riechi - Kenya
Local Events Team
ednariechi [at] iypf [dot] org

Edna is currently working as a Programme officer for an NGO called Cities in partnership with Communities (CIPAC) in Nairobi, Kenya, undertaking Youth and Urban Development projects in the major cities of Kenya i.e. Nairobi, Kisumu and Mombasa. This involves running a project "Good Governance for poverty reduction" among the urban dwellers and empowering local communities to be involved in the monitoring and management of local resources provided by the government through civic awareness.  

Edna has worked in development for the last 5 years in various capacities especially running mostly programmes in gender and girl child development. Other projects worked for include, Civic education, youth programmes and Anti-Female genital Mutilation. She has also worked as a high school teacher specializing in languages and is a trainer of trainees with experience in participatory development while encouraging community ownership and empowerment in development.    

She is a member of Ungana Young Friends of Amref, a foundation of young people supporting development in Kenya, affiliated and hosted by Amref, Kenya, and Secretary to the Board of the Big Smash Community Centre, a community based organization specializing in training, advocacy, and awareness on HIV/AIDS through information sharing and youth theatre group. The Centre also supports orphans in the Nairobi especially in school fees provision in collaboration with a local church.  

Edna is 33 years old and a holder of a Bachelor of Arts degree in Government Administration, Political Science and Linguistics from the University of Nairobi, Kenya. She holds another Bachelor's degree in Development Studies from the Development Studies Centre (DSC) Kimmage, in Dublin, Ireland .Other trainings and skills acquired include in Gender, HIV/AIDS and Policy Advocacy from the Danish MS Training Centre for Development Cooperation in Tanzania and other training institutions.

Atanu Garai - India
Executive Team, Strategy
atanugarai [ at ] iypf [dot ] org

Atanu Garai is an information scientist by education and training and currently holds the position of Knowledge Coordinator - ICT in the Knowledge for Development Division of OneWorld South Asia. In his present capacity, Atanu Garai researches and promotes the appropriation of ICT in sustainable human development. He has been engaged in youth advocacy for many years, evaluating ICT implementations at grassroots development contexts.

Chilemwa Nkowane - Australia
Newsletter Editor, Communications Team
chilemwankowane [at ] iypf [dot] org

Born in Zambia, 27 year old Chilemwa Nkowane has a Bachelor's degree in Law and French (Hons) from the University of Surrey, United Kingdom, and a Master of Communications (Journalism) degree from Bond University, Australia. Currently studying towards admission as a Legal Practitioner in Queensland while undertaking relevant professional experience, in her spare time Chilemwa is passionate about raising awareness of HIV/AIDS, poverty eradication and human rights, as well as promoting environmental sustainability and conservation.

Her involvement in the non-profit sector took hold while working as a volunteer for the World Young Women's Christian Association (World YWCA), Switzerland in 1997. After attending the United Nations Commission on Human Rights in 2001 as Advocacy Intern for the World YWCA, this consequently resulted in further volunteer involvement, which in turn enabled her to play a pivotal role as delegate and team leader of the World YWCA to the 2002 Melaka International Youth Dialogue on Action for Youth Employment. An enduring passion for spearheading change led her to join the IYPF in the same year.

In dedicating her journalistic skills to the IYPF, Chilemwa hopes to continue the process of raising awareness of international development and global issues facing current and future generations.

Progress Moyo - Zimbabwe
Web Development Officer, Communications Team
progressmoyo [at] iypf [dot] org

Progress is agraduate holding a honours degree in Computer Science from National University of Science and Technology, Zimbabwe, and lives in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe where he works for the United Nations World Food Programme. He has been involved in positive social and economic development at youth level since 2004.

His key interest areas include bridging the digital divide, peace, education and employment creation among others.

He has been involved in IYPF activities since 2004 and is also a member of Oxfam International Youth Partnerships, African Youth Parliament, Taking IT Global, One People Peace Campaign, African Youth Initiative Network and African Youth Knowledge Network.

Monica Kumwenda - Malawi
Magazine Editor, Communications Team
monicakumwenda [at] iypf [dot] org

I am a professional researcher in health and development at the moment with Soul city Health and Development Communications Institute under Population Services International in Malawi. I hold a Bachelors degree in Arts Humanities from the University of Malawi, Chancellor College. I have also undertaken several e-courses to widen my skills and capacities.

I am writer, I am a poet, I thrive in imagination but I try to strike a compromise between imagination and reality, and that has brought this far. I am vibrant, energetic, self motivated and hardworking. I enjoy traveling, cooking, reading, writing and getting to know new things and meeting new people is a thrilling experience for me. I love life and I respect humanity. I believe that I am here for a purpose, and my purpose is to correct a wrong and make the world a better place. I believe in diversity and in the capacities of young minds in changing the world for the better, and I know together we can strive and make it.

Kim Farrant - Australia
Australian Youth Climate Coalition IYPF Representative
climate [at] iypf [dot] org

My name is Kim Farrant and I attended the 2004 International Young Professionals Summit where I presented a workshop on "Sustainability in the Built Environment". I work as a Structural Engineer in Melbourne, Australia. As a result of my experiences at that 2004 Brisbane conference, and having talked to other IYPF members about the interesting activities that they were involved in, I was motivated to become more actively involved in environmental activism both within and outside my employment.

Whilst I have always had an interest in the environment, shortly after the conference I made the decision to embark on further study in the area of environmental sustainability. In October 2006 I returned from the UK where I completed a one year Master of Science degree in Nature, Society and Environmental Policy, at Oxford University. I studied subjects that included environmental management, corporate social responsibility, climate change and environmental policy. On the back of that experience I am now looking to use the knowledge that I have gained to be able to effect change toward more sustainable practices and I have been selected as a participant for the Victorian 2007 Future Sustainability Leaders Program.

Recently I have relocated to Melbourne (from Adelaide) with the aim of being able to work in the sustainability field, but in the meantime I have been assisting the state office of my employer to assess its environmental impact and find ways in which this impact may be reduced. I look forward to sharing with you the Australian Youth Climate Coalition's progress and the involvement that IYPF takes in the group; as well as discussing the climate change issues that Australia is facing and examining how we as an organization can contribute to addressing those issues.

Constance Walyaro
Executive Assistant to Board
constancewalyaro [at] iypf [dot] org

"...as long as poverty, injustice and gross inequality persist in our world, none of us can truly rest." - Nelson Mandela

Attar-ur-Rehman - Pakistan
Compliance Working Group & Staff
attarurrehman [at] iypf [dot] org

I have done my Post Graduation in Political Science, International Relations and in Library & Information Science from university of Peshawar.

I start my professional career with International Rescue Committee as External Placement Monitor, and served for nearly two years on the same post. In the year 2005 was promoted to Design, Monitoring and Evaluation Officer: I am still working on the same chair.

During my professional career got a variety of trainings dealing with Project management, monitoring and Evaluation, community mobilization/ management etc.

Salwa Mohamed Ahmed AbdelTawab - Egypt
Communications Team

I was born in April 1979. I made my first magazine when I was 7. It was a notebook where I recorded news. When I was 9, I started making wall magazines for the school. Teachers and students liked it. We formed a media group responsible for a monthly wall-magazine, and a weekly morning broadcast. At the age of 14 I developed my baby-journal into a bimonthly magazine. This time I designed a special cover and made special interviews and reports.

I started working since I was 17. I spent four years in the TV, as an assistant director, then director, editor, and a voice-over anchor. This afforded me a resume with four years of experience to submit to any vacancy by the time I graduated. I also the managed a business magazine issued by the German Arab Chamber of Commerce. Currently, I am an economic reporter for Al-Ahram Daily, the oldest print in the Middle East and one of the most popular. Beside that I am corresponding with various prints regionally and internationally.

My voluntary work includes cooperation with the British Council on Media and Society Programmes and Educational Programmes aiming at linking schools and Universities across the UK and Egypt. I also worked with the UNV on producing a virtual and printed directory for active NGOs in Cairo and Alexandria in need for volunteers. I am currently the National Focal Point [NFP] for the Global Youth Coalition on AIDS [GYCA] in Egypt. Personally, I conduct workshops on media illiteracy, stereotyping and social inclusion.

My life experience allowed me to live with different social categories. I learned practically how equality and justice are vital to us all and that there are no big differences between people, for they are all humans. It was all stereotyping and misunderstanding of who is the other, while the other was just another me trying to survive. Understanding the society and how I relate to it became a must to develop. I am devoted to using my volubility in representing the society, and my mental and argumentation fluency in its favour. I am keen on continuously taming and burnishing my talents and skills, in order to quench my eagerness to learn and to add.

Anna McNaughton - Australia
Magazine Editor

Anna has completed a Bachelor of Arts with majors in Political Studies and Modern History, and is currenty enrolled in a Bachelor of Arts / Journalism at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia. Her career aspirations are to be involved in editing and publishing, and to work as a Media and Communications Professionals for Government or NGO. Anna takes great pleasure in informing people. I enjoy bringing the ‘new’ and the ‘important’ to people lives. Anna aspires to be well read, well travelled, and well educated.

Pilar Dafonte
MDGs Project Assistant

I am a young professional involved in social activities since I was a Child, maybe this was the reason that I decided to study Law in order to continue these activities from the professional point of view.

I am currently writing a Master Thesis on Millennium development Goals and Human Rights, focusing on a gender perspective, I am trying to link these three important issues in order to reinforce the MDGs as a strategy to reduce the inequalities around the world. Finally, I am a passionate of the photography in the future I would like to take some of my pictures and to do an exhibition, writing a small story of each one of them.

Lydia Ostertagova
Human Resources

My name is Lydia Ostertagova and I am from Slovakia. For the first time I experienced the attraction of the voluntary work as a volunteer for UNICEF. I realized, how much is one person able to do for “making this world a better place” and until now I am still trying to continue in this purpose.

As a student of international relations I learn a lot about the other cultures, politics and internal problems of many countries and I really feel that there is a lot of to do for helping “the others”. That is also the reason why I am trying to be active in the field of youth policy. I already participated in some European events (as for instance European Youth week, European Youth event, etc.) and trainings (e.g. Projecto Mayonnaise).

Because information plays a very important role by being involved I also currently work for Youth Council Slovakia where, as a virtual redactor, inform Slovak youths about all the ways to activate (current events, training curses, etc.).

I had an opportunity to work for IBM where I took care about a vacation database of around 1200 employees as well as helped with the recruiting process and other Human Resources agenda. There I get a lot of very valuable experience in the field of Human resources and I would like to use these skills and experience as a Voluntary Human Resources Intern for IYPF.

Sarah-Jo Dawson - England
IYPS Project Manager

Sarah-Jo has been a member of IYPF since attending the first International Young Professionals Summit in 2001. She was a Director of IYPF in 2006/2007 and President in 2007.

Having studied Chemical Engineering with Environmental Management, Sarah-Jo worked as a process engineer and operations manager in industry before moving into the Safety and Environment area. She is now the UK Safety Health and Environment manager for a major petrochemicals company. Her belief is that change can often come from the inside and she has enjoyed being able to work on many environmental and Corporate Social Responsibility projects within her job.

Outside work, SJ is a keen conservationist and activist. She does charity work with Lions International and supports the Women's Environment Network and British Trust for Conservation Volunteers.

Sarah-Jo's biggest current challenge is volunteering as Project Manager to organise the 3rd International Young Professionals Summit: IYPS08 (www.iyps.org).

Christina L. Christian - United States
Newsletter Staff - Writer

Christina L. Christian currently works in the United States an assistant account executive for a public relations agency in Cleveland, Ohio. Her professional experiences include media relations, event coordination, marketing and promotions. She recently returned from studying in Australia and while there worked for Pulse Communications, an Ogilvy PR Worldwide Company, in Sydney.

In her free time she enjoys traveling, walking her dog and volunteering – in addition to the occasional swing in the backyard hammock on a nice day.

Christian has a bachelor of arts degree in public relations from Otterbein College in Westerville, Ohio, U.S.A. and was active in the school’s chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America. She also was a staff writer for the Tan & Cardinal, Otterbein’s student newspaper.

Sienna So - United States
Newsletter - Editor/Writer

Currently works as an Account Manager overseeing and managing content partnerships for a new media network. Worked as a writer, editor and producer in corporate communications, advertising and marketing for years and is now highly interested in transitioning into a communications career that focuses on global warming and the environment.