We’re so excited to introduce the speakers for this important event.
Susan Towett
Youth Engagement Officer
HCDExchange
Susan Towett is an HCD practitioner who is now working as the Youth Engagement Officer at the HCDExchange. Prior to joining HCDExchange, she worked with Grassroots Soccer (GRS) as a HCD consultant and successfully launched a Youth Advisory Committee that acts as a platform for young people to participate in and inform GRS thought leadership and activities. Susan has also worked with Ark Africa and LVCT Kenya among others on AYSRHR projects where she used the design thinking process to research, derive key insights, ideate and iterate on solutions. Susan has a Masters in Human-Centered Design from City University of London, England.
Jariatu Rugiatu Sillah
Youth Panelist
Takura Program, Purposeful
Jariatu is a youth and child activist based in Sierra Leone. She is currently working as a youth panelist for the Takura Initiative, a participatory grant-making pilot that puts children and youth at the center, launched by Purposeful and the Fund for Global Human Rights. She is one of 10 young people who defined the terms for this new funding approach and allocated small grants to community-based initiatives in Sierra Leone mainly focused on increasing entrepreneurship opportunities for youth. She has previously attended the Pan African Youth Program in the United States in 2017, and has served as the National President for the Girl Child Network, and the president of Future Hope. Jariatu is now a final year student pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Development Studies at the University of Makeni.
Yashi Jain
Team Lead
10to19 Dasra Adolescent Collaborative
Yashi is part of the dynamic and high impact 10 to19 Dasra Adolescents Collaborative team at Dasra India where she works closely with young people to build their capacities and engage them through various campaigns and programs. More recently, Yashi has been closely involved in strategy development, on-ground programming & building a robust Monitoring and Evaluation framework as well as developing innovative mechanisms for meaningful engagement with young people and convening a Youth Advisory Group for the collaborative. Yashi graduated with a Masters in Communication and Development Studies from the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Christabel Netondo
Fellowship Coordinator
Billion Girls CoLab, IDEO.org
Christabel is the Fellowship Coordinator for IDEO.org’s Billion Girls CoLab in Kenya, where she works directly with the fellows from recruitment to providing mentorship and training–she acts as the liaison between them, grassroots partners, and design teams. Prior to IDEO.org, Christabel worked as the Learning and Knowledge Management Coordinator at KPMG East Africa where she supported market intelligence for donor-funded accounts, supported the first implementation of sexual and reproductive health gaming intervention at HCDExchange in 2020. She has worked extensively as a youth implementer, trainer, and programmer of positive youth development agenda for programs working towards education, sustainability, and adolescent health globally. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Education from Moi University in Kenya and is currently enrolled in a Masters of Arts in Development and Diplomacy at Daystar University in Kenya.
