Poverty, lack of access to sanitation, malnutrition, and inadequate healthcare infrastructure, are just some of the major challenges that prevent people in Africa from attaining good health and well-being. These five inspiring One Young World Ambassadors are tackling these difficulties, working tirelessly to improve the lives of Africans.
Crystal Asige, Senator, Parliament of Kenya
Senator Crystal Asige is smashing disability stereotypes and championing inclusivity in Kenya, Africa, and the world.
Crystal was diagnosed with glaucoma in high school and gradually lost her eyesight. Rather than be perturbed by her unexpected visual impairment, she adapted to it, and became an advocate for people with disabilities who are so often overlooked.
In her role as Senator in the 13th Parliament of the Republic of Kenya, Crystal focuses specifically on SDG 10, Reduced Inequalities, and 11, Sustainable Cities and Communities. She consults on a local and international level on universal design and accessibility best practices, driving inclusive development in Africa.
Outside of her work as a Senator, Crystal is an award-winning musician, diversity equity and inclusion consultant, public speaker, and disability advocate. When speaking at the One Young World Summit in Belfast, she shared with the audience a powerful message: “if all you see is what you see, then you don’t see all there is to be seen.”
Connect with Crystal to stay up to date with her inspiring political career.
Jaha Dukureh, Founder, Safe Hands for Girls
Over 230 million girls and women across 30 countries have undergone female genital mutilation (FGM). Jaha Dukureh is fighting to end the practice and all forms of violence against women.
After finding out that she had undergone FGM as an infant, Jaha began advocating to end the practice. She founded her organisation, Safe Hands for Girls, in 2014 to raise awareness of FGM and other forms of violence against girls and women through education, advocacy and youth-led campaigns. In just one year, her work led to FGM and child marriage being banned in The Gambia. Now, she is fighting tirelessly to end FGM and forced child marriage worldwide by 2030.
For her influential work in women's rights, Jaha was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, was UN Women's first Goodwill Ambassador for Africa, and was amongst Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People.
Her recently published book, I Will Scream to the World: My Story. My Fight. My Hope for Girls Everywhere is a powerful memoir that has been reviewed as “a must-read for all men and women who want to elevate women," by Betty Hines, founder of Women Elevating Women.
Connect with Jaha to stay up to date with her recent work.
Hauwa Ojeifo, Founder and Executive Director, She Writes Woman
Hauwa Ojeifo is starting a mental health revolution in Nigeria.
One in four Nigerians experience a mental illness, yet it remains a taboo topic, surrounded by stigma, which has led to mental healthcare being hugely inaccessible. Shockingly, there are only 250 psychiatrists for the entire Nigerian population of 200 million.
After being diagnosed with bipolar and PTSD, Hauwa founded She Writes Woman, an award-winning movement fighting to destigmatise mental health in Nigeria by empowering people with lived experiences to share their stories.
To help those affected by mental illness, Hauwa has established a 24/7 Toll-free Helpline that anyone in Nigeria can call to speak to a trained counsellor. Alongside this, she has established an online community of over 2,000 mental health advocates and people living with mental illnesses. Members can connect, share their experiences, and receive accurate knowledge and information about mental health.
Hauwa is ensuring that mental health continues to be normalised by educating the next generation. Through advocacy workshops, she teaches children strategic advocacy skills and practical knowledge in international human rights treaties and conventions, equipping them with the tools to make systemic change in Nigeria’s mental health space.
In 2024, Hauwa was selected by Melinda French Gates as one of twelve leaders who received a $20 million fund to support charitable organisations that are doing impactful work to improve women’s health and well-being. In response, Hauwa said, "I look forward to... the serious task of ensuring that charitable organisations advancing women’s rights around the world are well funded to address recent pushbacks and setbacks.”
Connect with Hauwa to join her in this mental health revolution.
Dickel Dia, Founder AFPHY
Dickel Dia is fighting to eliminate gender-based violence in Mauritania through her organisation AFPHY.
10% of women aged 15-49 in Mauritania have experienced physical violence and 6% have suffered sexual violence. After experiencing sexual assault herself, Dickel founded AFPHY to champion gender equality and empower women to become financially independent.
Since founding AFPHY in 2017, Dickel has directly impacted over 14,000 people through projects that aim to challenge gender stereotypes and create income-generating activities for women and girls. These programmes include WIRA, a social enterprise for women working on artisanal handicraft pottery, WAJE, which has employed over 100 women in the ecological farming industry, and the Fight Co-Vi Initiative, where survivors of domestic abuse can learn how to produce and sell soap.
Connect with Dickel to stay up to date with her latest work.
Ruth Wacuka, Care Reform Advocate
Having experienced the harsh realities of growing up in care, Ruth Wacuka is fighting to reform the care system in Africa by putting children with lived experiences in decision making spaces.
Ruth is the Director of the Association for Care Leavers Networks in Africa (ACNA), a youth-led initiative giving young care leavers the opportunity to advocate for their rights by engaging with local and national governments. Currently, there are 11 African countries with ACNA hubs with over 6,000 members.
Recently Ruth, as director of ACNA, joined 19 non-governmental organisations in signing an inter-agency statement welcoming a global care reform campaign, launched by UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy.
Connect with Ruth to join her in the fight for the rights of children in care.