Yali Network Radio

Nkem Okocha's experience working in banking helped her learn how to devise a system in which she would provide loans to women as a way to help them jumpstart plans for businesses they didn't have the means to start on their own. Find the transcript at: https://yali.state.gov/yali-voices-podcast-nkem-okochas-mamamoni-finances-womens-entrepreneurship-in-nigeria/

Jacquline Bayowa, A 2017 Mandela Washington Fellowship Alumnae, Owns and operates a restaurant called Hot Seven in Arua, she’s committed to inspiring girls in Uganda to succeed through business and entrepreneurship. Find more: https://yali.state.gov/yali-voices-podcast-jackline-bayoa-inspiring-girls-uganda/

Neema Kiswaga of Tanzania is creating a permanent solution that guides and mentor youth to realize and achieve their goals. Read more at yali.state.gov/yali-voices-podcast-neema-kiswaga-creates-ladder-leadership-youth

Although she was born with a disability, Rigbe Gebrehawariat realized that changing her attitude has opened doors to opportunity. Learn more: yali.state.gov/yali-voices-rigbe-gebrehawariat-empowering-people-with-disabilities

Sharifu Kiragga Tusuubira understands the challenges and stigma surrounding sickle cell disease, having been born with sickle cell and facing discrimination throughout his life. Now, as the executive director of the Uganda Sickle Cell Rescue Foundation, Sharifu brings hope as he works in communities across Uganda to reduce the stigma regarding sickle cell disease. Read more and find the transcript: https://goo.gl/Whjs9p

Kingdom Uchenna Nwanyanwu, the founder and president of DEHAT Ability Support Initiative (DASI), is an advocate that aims to reduce violence and stigma and train educators in sign language so that they may teach the deaf and hearing-impaired community. Read more: yali.state.gov/yali-voices-kingdom-u-nwanyanwu-education-advocacy-hearing-impaired

Meet two energetic and committed young leaders who are working on the front lines of youth leadership and community engagement. Find more at: yali.state.gov/yali-voices-podcast-ugandas-elizabeth-kasujja-talks-bakary-fatty-mental-health-healing

Abubakar sees his role as a physician and as an advocate for his patients and his community. Read more about his work in maternal and child healthcare. Read more at: https://goo.gl/xwcwdj

Israel Bimpe is the first African president of the International Pharmaceutical Students' Federation and helps designs community public health campaigns to get people to think of health from a holistic standpoint. Learn more about his work: yali.state.gov/yali-voices-podcast-israel-bimpe-takes-a-holistic-approach-to-health-care

Ntsali Khesa is making great strides in helping reduce the stigma and discrimination around HIV/AIDS in Lesotho. Having worked as a counselor for almost 10 years, she now focuses many of her efforts on outreach and helping individuals access treatment, prevention education and therapeutic resources needed to live their best lives. Read more: https://yali.state.gov/yali-voices-raise-awareness-hivaids-lesotho/

Meera Shah’s 10 years in the public health sector have reinforced the old saying that “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” As a medical health officer in Mombasa, Kenya, Shah works to promote good health with preventive measures like immunizing children and stopping the spread of HIV. “It’s a lot to do with education and creating that awareness so that you are creating the demand for good health.” Read more at: yali.state.gov/yali-voices-meera-shah-better-health-care-kenyan-communities

How can data help with volunteering efforts? Melusi Mngomezulu from Swaziland shares his advice in this YALIVoices podcast.

Tina Musuya is the Executive Director Uganda’s Center for Domestic Violence Prevention (CEDOVIP) and a tireless advocate for ending gender-based violence. CEDOVIP works with communities, institutions, civil society, and the Government of Uganda to promote the rights of women and girls in order to create safer, healthier, happier, relationships, homes, and communities. Their work aims to create change in the attitudes, behavior, and practices that perpetuate violence against women and girls in Uganda. Read more at https://yalibeta.state.gov/yali-voices-preventing-domestic-violence/

YALIVoices Podcast: Sylvia Kakyo on Keeping Girls in School by YALI Network Radio

Originally on a path to become a medical doctor, Orondaam Otto passionately redefined his career path to pursue human capital development and social entrepreneurship after witnessing a serious need for helping disadvantaged children access quality education and opportunities in his community in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. He shares many of the practices that helped make him successful, as well as lessons learned in his early journey to founding the organization: https://goo.gl/jDXjYP

When he was in high school, Emmanuel Agumah was diagnosed with Buruli ulcer. Categorized as a neglected tropical disease, or “NTD,” it kept him hospitalized for approximately three years and bedridden for about a year and a half. The disease, which he could have chosen to view as a disability, has instead given him a cause for which he fights. Agumah founded the Buruli Ulcer Victims Aid (BUVA) Foundation, which focuses on socio-economic support for former Buruli ulcer patients and those with disabilities. Read more: https://goo.gl/xu88yf

Fatma Abdalla is a product of community action. Growing up, her mother would fundraise to pay her tuition. “The community stood by me so that I could gain my degree,” the business school graduate tells YALI Voices. “I feel that it’s my time now to pay back to the community.” Read more: yali.state.gov/yalivoices-education-key-change-professional

Do you see opportunities or obstacles? Listen to Selina Nkoile talk about how she saved the school she attended as a girl and how she promotes education. Read more at: yali.state.gov/yali-voices-selina-nkoile-saves-her-school

At a young age, Nobel Peace Prize nominee Victor Ochen says, “my choice remains peace and will always be peace,” in this YALI Voices podcast. Read more: https://yali.state.gov/yali-voices-victor-ochen-audio

Fombah Kanneh grew up in a makeshift house in the slums of Monrovia, Liberia, during the country’s civil war. As in many other cities, slum life in Monrovia is notoriously hard — plagued by drugs, poverty, hunger and peer pressure to engage in destructive behavior. Learn more: https://yali.state.gov/yali-voices-podcast-education-changed-his-life-now-hes-giving-back/