What is the NewNow?
The NewNow is a One Young World programme supported by Virgin Unite, empowering the boldest emerging young leaders to shift the paradigm for how leaders worldwide drive change through systems-thinking and collective action.
Our world grows more complex by the day and needs a new generation of leadership to tackle the global and local challenges we face. By bringing together brave new thinkers and doers from diverse backgrounds and experiences, we can start to develop a new way of thinking about these challenges and their solutions.
Our Mission
Over half the world's population is under 30 with the power to make change happen. Through our collective strength, shared learning, and with insights and mentorship from leaders before us, we can rewrite the future of our generation and the generations to come.
We amplify and support the voices of trusted young leaders taking bold strides toward global transformation.
We challenge the status quo through collective action and strategic collaboration.
We share knowledge, insights, and approaches to foster systems-thinking among young leaders and their enterprises and initiatives.
Our special interest is in systems thinking, with a special focus on the Global South.
The NewNow Young Leaders 2025
Janet Aguti
Executive Director, Totya Platform
Janet Aguti
Executive Director, Totya Platform
Janet Aguti is a Ugandan activist and founder of Totya Platform, dedicated to fighting against sexual violence. A survivor herself and a mother, she empowers victims through medical, psychosocial, and legal support while advocating for policy reforms, law enforcement accountability, and cultural shifts to end impunity and stigma. Hence being part of organisations fighting for systems change.
Vishal Tolambia
Founder, Humanity Centred Designs
Vishal Tolambia
Founder, Humanity Centred Designs
Vishal Tolambia is a multi-award-winning, Forbes 30 Under 30 entrepreneur and social advocate for sustainable development. He is the founder of Humanity Centred Designs, an 11 international award-winning organisation dedicated to empowering Indian artisans and promoting ethical, handcrafted products.
Hadiqa Bashir
Executive Director, Girls United for Human Right
Hadiqa Bashir
Executive Director, Girls United for Human Right
Hadiqa Bashir is a passionate human rights activist and feminist from Swat, Pakistan. As the Executive Director of Girls United for Human Rights and a survivor of early and forced marriage, she leads transformative efforts to end child marriage, expand access to STEM education, and champion sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR), climate action, and legal aid for vulnerable communities.
May Asagba
Founder, CAIN Educational Foundation
May Asagba
Founder, CAIN Educational Foundation
May Asagba is a trailblazing leader driving educational equity in Africa.
As Founder/CEO of CAIN Educational Foundation, she built a free state-of-the-art educational center in Nigeria, providing quality education, digital skills, and mentorship to underserved youth, transforming 10,000+ lives and earning global recognition from BBC and UNESCO.
Foday Kamara
Founder, Ecovironment
Foday Kamara
Founder, Ecovironment
Foday David Kamara is a Sierra Leonean social entrepreneur and environmental champion. He is the founder of Ecovironment, a systems-driven enterprise transforming plastic waste into sustainable construction materials, creating green jobs and advancing climate resilience across Sierra Leone.
Foday is reshaping how Africa tackles pollution, poverty and sustainability.
Lilan Dayananda
CEO of Elzian Agro
Lilan Dayananda
CEO of Elzian Agro
Lilan Dayananda, a renowned Sri Lankan social-tech entrepreneur and CEO of Elzian Agro, is celebrated for his innovative contributions to agriculture and sustainability.
He actively empowers marginalised farming communities worldwide, helping them enhance crop yields and maximise resource efficiency through digital inclusion and cutting-edge solutions.
Renata Alvarenga
Founder, EmpoderaClima
Renata Alvarenga
Founder, EmpoderaClima
A Harvard graduate and Forbes Under 30 lister, Renata is an award-winning Brazilian leader for gender equality, climate action, and disaster resilience.
As a social entrepreneur, she is the Founder and Executive Director of EmpoderaClima, a youth-led Brazil-based organisation implementing education and advocacy programs in Latin America for gender-just climate solutions.
Abobakar Miakhel
Co-Founder, AILEM
Abobakar Miakhel
Co-Founder, AILEM
Abobakar is a young Afghan refugee, who, inspired by his journey, co-founded AILEM, the award-winning language learning and integration organisation created by refugees for refugees.
Abobakar utilises innovation for social good, and advocates for Afghans and refugees from the UN and the European Parliament to the GFMD and more.
Yasmina Benslimane
Founder, Politics4Her and Climate Sirens
Yasmina Benslimane
Founder, Politics4Her and Climate Sirens
Yasmina Benslimane is a multi-award-winning feminist activist, consultant, and coach amplifying young women's leadership worldwide. As the founder of Politics4Her and Climate Sirens, she advocates for gender equality, political participation, and climate justice.
Through her work, she has impacted over 100,000 young women globally, championing intersectional, decolonial, and sustainable solutions.
Memory Banda
Founder, Foundation for Girls Leadership
Memory Banda
Founder, Foundation for Girls Leadership
Memory Banda is a Child Rights Activist. She is the founder of Foundation for Girls Leadership (F4GL), an organization that dares adolescents and young people to be bold for change.
Through her foundation she has led child-and youth led innovative human centered designs initiatives which has exposed 10,000 young people since its inception in 2019 promoting and defending children rights and their self-urgency as advocates for social change.