In honor of International Youth Day, an observance recognized by The United Nations and celebrated annually on August 12, GYAN's Innovation Collaboratory allows global youth to expand their networks, build strategic partnerships, discuss ways to achieve success, and share their positive contributions to their communities and nations.
The virtual Innovation Collaboratory included six panels (each consisting of a youth group coordinator, one MSU faculty member acting as an expert, and youth presenters) and a space devoted for networking. We were pleased to hear from a total of 16 youth participants from 11 different countries and nations.
Group Youth Coordinator: Wilson Amoah (Ghana)
Expert: Krista McCallum Beatty, director of the Office for International Students and Scholars (OISS)
Youth Presenter | Title |
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Benson Abila (Kenya) | M-taka: Leveraging Technology and Social Incentives to Increase Recycling Culture |
Cherno Gaye (Gambia) | The Hunter Who Could Never Bring His Kill Home (Climate Change) |
Johnmary Kavuma (Uganda) | Upcycle Africa: Empowering Youth to Tackle the Waste Crisis |
Youth Group Coordinator: Zigwai Tagwai (Nigeria)
Expert: Debra Thornton-Fitzpatrick, Associate Director of University Advising
Youth Presenter | Title |
---|---|
Djamira Zorom (Burkina Faso) | Peace Begins With Me |
Lilian Sambu (Tanzania) | Inclusive Digital Training to Off Grid Areas & Agregation Services for Rural Women & Youth Economic Empowerment |
Thabang Nyatlo (South Africa) | Skills in Sustainable Agriculture for a Sustainable World? |
Youth Group Coordinator: Taiwo Olawehinmi (Nigeria)
Expert: Mike Lindhout, Senior Director of International Advancement
Youth Presenter | Title |
---|---|
Patrick Kabanda (Zambia) | Community Based Disaster Risk Reduction for Community Resilience |
David Kor (Nigeria) | Empowering Nigerian Young People with High-Demand Digital Skills for 21st-Century Jobs |
Umar Abdullahi (Nigeria) | Harnessing Digital Transformation to Empower Youth Through Digitally Enabled Jobs |
Youth Group Coordinator: Oluwatosin Oyetayo (Nigeria)
Expert: Volodymyr V. Tarabara, Director of the Center for European, Russian and Eurasian Studies
Youth Presenter | Title |
---|---|
Jemimah David-Makeri (Nigeria) | Preserving the Simplicity of Childhood |
Raymond Musiima (Uganda) | Incentivising Safe Classrooms for Improved Education Outcomes |
Calvin Manika (Zimbabwe) | Children’s Centred News and Solutions Journalism in the Marginalised Communities |
Youth Group Coordinator: Lois Ezebuiro (Nigeria)
Expert: Isaac Kalumbu, Assistant Director for Outreach, African Studies Center
Youth Presenter | Title |
---|---|
Olabode Ekerin (Nigeria) | Creating a Path to Inclusive Healthcare: LGBTQ Health Education for Health Profession Students in Nigeria |
Vincent Jemovo (Kenya) | Developing Antigen-specific Rapid Diagnostic Test Kit Using Monoclonal Antibodies for Detection of Theileiria Parva |
Youth Group Coordinator: Fridah Okomo (Kenya)
Expert: Angela Boldrey, Financial Services Coordinator, Education Abroad
Youth Presenter | Title |
---|---|
Vanessa Angela Sugianto (Indonesia) | Students’ Knowledge Application, Hard-Skills, and Soft-Skills Improvement with an International Camaraderie Competition (IC2) |
Olaniyi Ajayi (Nigeria) | The Safety of Youths in a Decent Clime to Achieve Sustainable Development Goals |
Welcome & Opening remarks:
- Dean Steven Hanson, Vice Provost and Dean for International Studies and Programs
Closing Remarks:
- Opal Leeman Bartzis Ed.D., Executive Director of Education Abroad & GYAN Interim Director