Human Rights & Civil Liberties

Fernanda Cassiano is a seasoned professional in humanitarian and development operations with a distinguished career that spans across continents and focuses on refugee protection, program development, and donor relations. Fernanda holds an MSc (Merit) in Social Policy and Development from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), where she specialised in food security, social protection, and multi-dimensional poverty, supported by the prestigious Chevening Scholarship. She serves as the Head of Programme at NRC, overseeing a comprehensive range of technical areas, including Food Security and Livelihoods, Cash and Voucher Assistance, Education and Youth, Legal Protection, Protection from Violence, WASH and Shelter. Fernanda has been instrumental in leading strategic initiatives, managing partnerships, and steering the development of technical strategies aligned with NRC regional and global priorities, including gender equality, disability inclusion, and durable solutions. Prior to her current role, Fernanda demonstrated her expertise in various capacities, including as Programme Development Manager with Save the Children International in Africa, where she supported strategy alignment and managed donor relationships. Her experience also extends to regional business development and awards management with Save the Children International in LAC, highlighting her ability to foster partnerships and secure funding for programmes aimed at the most marginalised and vulnerable groups. Fernanda’s career is driven by a passion for addressing social issues such as refugee protection and social inclusion. Her work reflects a deep commitment to humanitarian principles and a strategic approach to programme management, and advocacy, ensuring impactful interventions in complex and challenging environments.

Lisa Graham is a medical doctor with over a decade of professional experience working in healthcare systems across several countries on the African continent. She earned her Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBCh) from the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. She is currently working at Partners in Health Sierra Leone as the District Advisor for the Quality Essential Health Services and Systems Support Project, a $60 million project funded by the World Bank which aims to increase utilization and improve quality of maternal and child health services in rural and hard to reach areas in five districts in Sierra Leone. Her focus has been in health systems strengthening, reproductive health, including maternal and child health, breast and cervical cancer programs, aviation and emergency medicine, and clinical health education. She is passionate about the delivery of accessible, affordable, sustainable healthcare in Africa and the development of effective health systems and programmes. Lisa has served on national technical working groups drafting national cancer policies and on the roll-out of the HPV vaccine. She is also a supervisory board member and Trustee of the AdAmi project a UK-registered charity organization based in Sierra Leone that empowers expectant and young mothers to return to education or employment.

Marta Skierkowska is a psychologist and a dedicated manager committed to developing outreach programs. With over 15 years of involvement in aiding children who have suffered from violence or sexual abuse, she co-manages one of Poland’s largest NGOs, the Empowering Children Foundation, affiliated with ECPAT International in the country. Since 2022, Marta has extended her efforts to humanitarian work, supporting the Ukrainian community seeking refuge in Poland, collaborating with organizations such as UNICEF and UNHCR. Having ascended through the ranks of the organization from assistant to board member, Marta is the architect of numerous child abuse prevention programs. Collaborating with her teams, she focuses on scaling these solutions and integrating them into Poland’s systemic activities, encompassing direct interventions, research, education, and advocacy. Marta recognizes the importance of addressing both child abuse and the well-being of staff who confront child trauma daily. She fosters personal development among her team members, ensuring they find roles that resonate with them, and cultivates a supportive environment that mitigates professional burnout. For Marta, combating child abuse is a calling—an honor she pursues with unwavering dedication, believing that well-executed actions can save countless children’s lives. It is this commitment that drives her to refine and standardize her management practices, drawing inspiration from others and striving for continuous improvement in her service to the cause.

Renée Roodhuizen is firmly convinced that the implementation and safeguarding of the Convention on the Rights of the Child can make the world a better place. As such, she informs and persuades politicians on various topics, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing children’s interests in the drafting of legislation and regulations. Renée has extensive expertise in children’s rights, with a special focus on sexual exploitation and issues related to asylum and migration, both nationally and internationally. Her profound knowledge was developed during her time as a policy advisor for a Member of Parliament in the Justice and Safety Department and as a Public Affairs Advisor at Defence for Children – ECPAT, a leading international organization dedicated to protecting children’s rights for over 40 years. A diligent team player, Renée excels at bringing together diverse groups of people. She studied political science at Leiden University and hails from a small village in the Dutch countryside. Renée is passionately committed to advocating for and safeguarding the rights and well-being of children worldwide.

Mónica Llaguno, an accomplished program evaluation and research practitioner from Ecuador, brings over eight years of experience in international children and youth-focused programming. Serving as the Associate Vice-President of Research, Evaluation, and Learning at Covenant House International (Casa Alianza) she has spearheaded the development of a regional monitoring and evaluation framework in Latin America, impacting over 7,000 children annually. Mónica oversees the outcomes of programs addressing diverse socioeconomic issues, including homelessness, food insecurity, human trafficking, and gender-based violence. Fluent in Spanish, she has played a pivotal role in facilitating efficient communication strategies and knowledge management efforts, fostering a shared understanding of effective program models. Beyond Covenant House (Casa Alianza), Mónica has contributed to global initiatives at the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA), influenced legislation as a Public Policy Consultant for a former New York City Council, and secured funding to expand a school feeding program in Ethiopia. Mónica holds a Master’s Degree in International Affairs from The New School and a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from Augustana University, both with notable scholarships.

Alicia Caraballo is a development professional with ten years of experience in fundraising for social service non-profit organizations. Alicia earned her Bachelor’s Degree in English with a specialization in Professional Writing from Barry University in Miami, FL, where she was born. From there, she moved to New York City to study at New York University, where she earned her master’s degree in Fundraising and Grantmaking, and began her career as a fundraiser. In 2020, Alicia joined the movement to end youth homelessness and human trafficking at Covenant House, where she serves as the Associate Vice President of Institutional Funding. Alicia is passionate about strengthening vulnerable communities in Latin America, specifically children and youth, and raises critical funding to support Covenant House’s sites in Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico. By building relationships with funders, Alicia has secured multiple six- and seven-figure grants for Covenant House in Latin America from institutions such as the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, the Maestro Cares Foundation, and the US Department of State’s Office to Monitor and Combat Human Trafficking. Prior to joining Covenant House, Alicia raised institutional funding for social service organizations Jumpstart for Young Children, Inc., Selfhelp Community Services, and the UJA-Federation of New York. Alicia is 37 years old and currently lives in Washington, DC.

Juliana Franca Celestino is an experienced Marketing & Communications Strategist that is passionate about social impact and currently leading as Brand and Integrated Communications Manager at Women for Women International. Juliana’s career trajectory is a testament to her innovative spirit and unwavering commitment to fostering societal change. With a foundation in qualitative research and social trend analysis, she has developed forward-thinking strategies for renowned clients such as GM and Nike. Her expertise further extends to her role as a brand strategist, where she has crafted impactful narratives for global entities, including UNICEF, MasterCard, Nestlé, and Kimberly Clark, throughout Latin America. Her exceptional work has placed her on the Cannes Lions Shortlist and earned her prestigious accolades, such as the Gold Effie LATAM and Silver Effie Brazil. In a significant career pivot in 2020, Juliana embraced the nonprofit world, channeling her vast experience and insights into strategic communication plans aimed at effecting tangible social change. Her journey reflects a profound dedication to leveraging marketing and communication as powerful tools for good, positioning her as an influential leader in the social impact sector.

Malek has more than six years of experience in the nonprofit sector in North Africa and earned a Master’s degree in Applied Sciences and Technologies from the University of Science of Carthage. For the previous four years, Malek has been managing operations of projects in Libya, Tunisia, and Morocco, making sure all projects meet their intended scope, budget, and timeline. Most of these projects aimed to assess the needs and living conditions of vulnerable groups, such as migrants and refugees, children, and communities affected by war. The output of these projects provided precise information and granular data on the humanitarian situation that more than thirty-six aid response agencies and decision-makers across the region used to know when, where, how, and what humanitarian assistance to provide to those in need. As an Operations Manager, Malek has also overseen talent acquisition, training, and integration of local staff. Prior to project operations management, Malek worked as a Senior Project Officer for six months overseeing the implementation of migration-related assessment on the border between Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya. Malek and the team of data collectors he was managing, collected more than four hundred surveys with migrants and refugees to understand their needs and integration process within the community. The output of this study was used by community stakeholders to integrate more than 20% of the refugees and migrants into the labor force of the area and by UNHCR for the resettlement of more than seventy profiles in acute need among them children and women. Malek’s main areas of interest are peacebuilding, child rights, and migration. His mindset of getting things done combined with his problem-solving abilities and teamwork skills are his main roadmap for tackling and positively contributing to these social issues.

Host Organization: CARE

Role at Host Organization: As a Supply Chain Fellow, Malek will support CARE’s supply chain transformation project and help drive key milestones. As one of the core team members, Malek will work with corporate partners and the senior team to review the organization’s supply chain to assess gaps, plan development, and prioritize needs. The Fellow will also support the implementation of supply chain policies and trainings across the organization’s different country offices.

Sharifah is a monitoring and evaluation practitioner with over ten years of experience in implementing and managing emergency response, developmental and social impact programs while working with non-profit, international, and private sector organizations in and outside Uganda. She has an Economics and Statistics degree from Kyambogo University, a Postgraduate Diploma in Monitoring and Evaluation and pursuing a Master of Arts in International Relations at Liverpool John Moores University in the United Kingdom. Recently worked with ChildFund International’s Global operations unit as Lead Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Advisor under the Come Play with Me Project implemented in Brazil, Honduras, Ethiopia, and Uganda aimed promoting playful parenting and COVID-19 practices amongst caregivers of children 0-8years. Over 60% of caregivers had increased playful practices and understood their role in children’s development, with higher recorded frequencies in playing with toys/games, reading a book or story book, sing songs with their child compared to the baseline period. 98% of caregivers could identify more than three practices to lessen the severity of COVID-19. While working with War Child Canada, she worked closely with Curriculum Development Centre during the development of the Accelerated Education Program curriculum for Lower secondary and piloted a roll-out project targeting out-of-school dropouts and refugees (16-35+yrs) youth in Adjumani district, Uganda. 83% of the 3,500 enrolled learners successfully graduated with the necessary competencies and scores to join the formal education program, 56% of the youth had been trained in life skills and vocational livelihood ventures and with 20% of them operating their small-scale enterprises.

Host Organization: Global Fairness Initiative

Role at Host Organization: As a Project Management Fellow, Sharifah will support GFI’s work to improve the working and economic condition of workers in the informal sector in multiple counties in Africa. The Fellow will support the Tunisia-based Regional Director and the US-based Program Manager to manage program activities and grant management of 2 separate initiatives in 6 counties. The Fellow will walk away with technical grant and management skills, including budget tracking and
project reporting, partner management, performance and project monitoring, and foundational knowledge on issues related to livelihood development and decent work for working poor communities in the informal economy.

Lame is a Social Impact Communications Consultant with six years of experience in the nonprofit sector, and earned an honors degree in Professional Design (Visual Communication), and a diploma in Graphic design from Limkokwing University of Creative Technology, in Botswana. Most recently, Lame worked with Our Solid Roots Association, as a communications consultant, managing the nonprofits internal creative projects including its branding, illustrations and publications. In 2019, he worked with (LEGABIBO) Lesbians Gays and Bisexuals of Botswana as a communications specialist, and designed the Visual brand identity, and the marketing materials for an LGBTQI+ advocacy campaign dubbed “beyond the rainbow.” The campaign was a first of its kind in the country, and its events lead to the government’s decision to decriminalize same sex relationships in Botswana. As the Founder of (WAW) “Who Are We Organization”, a youth arts and sports nonprofit, he developed and led an adolescent-youth sexual, and reproductive health rights workshop to bridge the gap between parent –child communication on issues of Sex and Sexual reproductive health which led to the setup of a youth friendly clinic, improving access to Sexual Reproductive Health services for youth in the community. Lame is passionate about using visual storytelling to advocate and create visibility for marginalized communities, and also hosts an indigenous language promotion podcast called “Ipelele Ngwao”, which focuses on preserving the diverse intangible heritage in Botswana. Through these experiences, Lame has gained strong project planning, storytelling, and campaign management skills.

Host Organization: Open Contracting Partnership

Role at Host Organization: As a Digital Strategist and Content Fellow, Lame will leverage all digital channels—social media, the website, newsletters and email campaigns—to engage existing and new audiences. Lame will also write, edit, and produce original OCP content that is compelling, smart, and clear. The Fellow will also manage OCP’s website and coordinate the day-to-day communication stream including social media. Lastly, Lame will help educate editors and journalists around the world as to why the trillion-dollar world of contracting and procurement matters so much for public integrity, markets, and development.

Giovana is originally from São José dos Campos, Brazil. Giovana earned a Bachelor’s degree in Translation from Sao Paulo State University – UNESP in 2014. Five years later, she earned a Master’s degree in International Marketing from the Brazilian Association of Consultancy and Advisory in Foreign Trade. In 2023, she earned a postgraduate degree in Sustainability and Environmental Studies from Getulio Vargas Foundation – FGV. Now, Giovana has accumulated extensive experience in operations and content creation. For two years, she worked at BOOMI, an online marketplace for eco-friendly brands supporting daily operations, developing new sustainable products, and creating some of the digital marketing strategies. Previously, Giovana worked for three years at AliExpress, an international B2C e-commerce platform, developing the content strategy and content localization for the Brazilian market as well as leading a team of 9 international writers. She also had the chance to develop customer-oriented skills during her one-year experience as a Customer Service Specialist at a 5-star hotel working with different departments to anticipate the needs of VIP customers. Giovana also learned about different subjects and fields while working for around nine years as a freelancer Portuguese, English, and French translator. Giovana is interested in sustainability, climate change and social impact; she is committed to regenerative development, social responsibility, and advocates for climate action. She has been an active member of the Climate Fresk Organization, facilitating workshops for the local community. Giovana was also a member of CISV (Children International Summer Village) for many years.

Host Organization: Generation

Role at Host Organization: As a Global Learner Engagement (LE) Programs Fellow, Giovana will support the operations of Generation’s newly launching GYE Direct (fully remote) programs in Ghana, Colombia and 1-2 additional countries by 2024. Giovana will work alongside dedicated project teams and Global LE team members to design offerings, develop supporting tools, support the hiring and training of operations staff, support program launches and monitor / troubleshoot outcomes for learner mobilization, onboarding and mentorship support. The Fellow will also manage global alumni engagement (for GYE Direct alumni) and serve as the primary point of contact for learner engagement topics for GYE Direct Programs.

Abie is a humanitarian worker whose work focuses on migrant protection and supporting the sexual and gender minority community around the world. In 2019, he founded BRANI, a virtual safe space for Indonesians that encourages discussion and provides information on SOGIESC-related issues. Abie has previously worked with diverse organizations, such as Amnesty International, Project Hope 4 Kids, and International Organization for Migration. He has experience in program management and providing direct assistance to vulnerable groups such as asylum seekers, refugees, and victims of human trafficking both in Indonesia and abroad. Abie earned a Master’s degree in Theology from Uppsala University in Sweden and a Master’s degree in International Humanitarian Action from the University of Groningen in the Netherlands. Abie holds a Bachelor’s degree in Law from Universitas Gadjah Mada. Abie aims to bolster BRANI by learning about effective online campaigns and how to reach those without Internet access. He also wants to gain insight into the unintended negative consequences of outreach campaigns, including backlash, confusion, and desensitization. Abie now focuses on acquiring skills in organizational management, leadership, fundraising and grant-writing, marketing and communications, and strategic planning.

Host Organization: Princeton in Asia

Role at Host Organization: As a Programs Fellow, Abie will develop relationships with host countries and organizations; improve tools for evaluating new and renewing partnerships for Princeton in Asia; and implement equitable, inclusive best practices in recruitment, application, review, and fellow support in partnership with PiA staff and Board of Trustees committees.