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 five panels (each consisting of a youth moderator, one or two MSU faculty members acting as discussants, and youth presenters) and a space devoted for networking. We were pleased to hear from a total of 19 youth participants from 16 different countries and nations.
Youth Moderator: Atiqah Raduan (Brunei)
Discussant: Anjam Chaudhary, ISP DEI Program Coordinator
Youth Presenter | Title |
---|---|
Tanya Marwaha (UK) | Positive Mental Health During Challenging Times |
Olaniyi Fatalade (Nigeria) | Youth's Restiveness in COVID-19 Era: Recovery Plan for SDG's Actualisation in Nigeria |
Emily Williams (Jamaica) | Extending Culture Amidst a COVID-19 Pandemic |
Asha Jaffar (Kenya) | Organizing During COVID Lockdown |
Youth Moderator: Maria Antonia Deziderio (Brazil)
Discussants:
- Emily Holley, Associate Director of the Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies
- Rebekah Gordon, Interim Program Coordinator for American Semester Program and Exchanges
Youth Presenter | Title |
---|---|
James Ntakiruti Gihoma (Uganda) | COVID-19 Resilience and Recovery in Refugee Settlement in Uganda |
Joel Saboi Mvula (Zambia) | How to Steer Emancipation Through Capacity Building? A Case of Masambilo Research and Sustainability Action |
Ralycia Andrews (St. Vincent and the Grenadines) | The Garifuna University Without Walls: Cultural Sustainability, Education and Innovation at Your Fingertips |
Youth Moderator: Benson Abila (Kenya)
Discussant: Felix Kwame Yeboah, Director of the Tanzania Partnership Program
Youth Presenter | Title |
---|---|
Abraham Kalonga (Tanzania) | Mushroom Farming for Food and Nutrition Security, Employment Opportunities, Climate Change Mitigation and Poverty Alleviation |
Johnmary Kavuma (Uganda) | Empowering Communities to Construct Homes from Plastic Waste |
Michael Diala (Nigeria) | Youth-led Climate Citizenship in Port Harcourt |
Engule Bern (Uganda) | Enabling Reliable Connections Between Most Remote Small Scale Farmers and Engaged Urban Food Retailers |
Youth Moderator: Hibah Siddiqui (USA)
Discussants:
- Lina Qu, Assistant Professor of Linguistics Languages and Cultures
- Rajalakshmi Nadadur, Assistant Director of the Center for Gender in Global Context
Youth Presenter | Title |
---|---|
Mwesigwa Jonah (Uganda) | Supporting Women & Sustainable Development |
Ibrahim Kakinda (Uganda) | Ending Child Marriage and Early Unions |
Elizabeth Adikah (Ghana) | Reducing Unemployment Among Women in Rural Communities |
Ngwa Patrick Shu (Cameroon) | Give Her a Chance |
Youth Moderator: Alberto Acosta (Mexico)
Discussant: Dànielle Nicole DeVoss, Interim Chairperson for the Department of Writing, Rhetoric, and American Cultures, William J. Beal Distinguished Professor
Youth Presenter | Title |
---|---|
Kiggundu Samuel (Uganda) | Bridging Intergenerational Gaps Through Village Savings and Loans Associations |
Hsu (Myanmar/Burma) | Resistance Through Promoting Livelihoods of Civil Disobedience Movement Advocates |
Christopher Omowa (Nigeria) | Performance & Visual Art: A Tool for Social Change |
Zouina Sarfraz (Pakistan) | Will COVID-19 Plunge Us From the Fourth Industrial Revolution (Industry 4.0) to the Fifth (Society 5.0)? |
Welcome & Opening remarks:
- Dean Steven Hanson, Associate Provost and Dean for International Studies and Programs
- Opal Leeman Bartzis Ed.D., Executive Director of Education Abroad & GYAN Interim Director
Closing Remarks:
- Dr. Chinwe Effiong, Chief Program Officer at GlobalGiving and former GYAN Assistant Dean