Corruption has been a pervasive issue in Africa, depriving Africans opportunities for growth and development. Despite these setbacks, young people are raising their voices for social justice and accountability. This virtual program features inspiring individuals from Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, and the Democratic Republic of Congo to share their experiences, motivations, and strategies in the fight against corruption. This event is being hosted by the Institute of World Affairs at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and the Institute for Global Studies at the University of Minnesota in conjunction with a teacher institute focused on Global Perspectives in Civics. This program will serve as a catalyst for change and a platform for fostering dialogues and building networks among educators and individuals dedicated to eradicating corruption. Together we can amplify their voices and work towards a just and accountable world.
You can access the recording below.
GUEST SPEAKERS
DAMARIS ASWA, Kenya, East Africa
Damaris is an accountapreneur and community integrity building champion with huge interest in the transparency and accountability space. Her experience working as CSP International Fellow at Chicago Votes USA led her to establish Youth Center for Integrity Building CBO in Kenya. She is currently serving on the Democracy Moves Advisory Committee Board and a nominated board member in the Anticorruption Center. She is a developer who has supported the development of à mobile application called SemaNasi to help avert vernacular hate speech and PamodziChild Africa that enhances access to education for vulnerable children. She is also an active mentor in the Akili Dada mentorship program and a member of Rotaract Club of Kilifi.
Contact Information: damarisaswa12@gmail.com
BRIGHT SOWU, Ghana, West Africa
Bright Sowu has 9 years specific anti-corruption experience. He is the Head of Programs for the Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC), a hybrid entity comprising public, private and civil society organizations with a focus on promoting good governance and fighting corruption.
Bright works part-time for the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) Coalition in Vienna as the Regional Coordinator for Sub-Saharan Africa. He also works for Project Expedite Justice (PEJ) office in Sudan as Senior Legal Consultant for their anti-corruption project.
Bright is a 2017 alumnus of the Mandela Washington Fellowship in the U.S. He holds an MPhil in Development Studies from the University of Cambridge, U.K.
Contact Information: brightsowu@gmail.com
MRS ARINOLA SURURAH BELLO, Nigeria, West Africa
Arinola is the Programme Coordinator of the NGO, Pan African Strategic & Policy Research Group (PANAFSTRAG) where she implements projects mostly centered on critical policy issues affecting Africans in Africa and the diaspora. She started off her career with PANAFSTRAG where she was a key account manager for several projects funded by the Ford Foundation and Oxfam GB. After stints in academia and software development, she returned to PANAFSTRAG.
Mrs Bello has been the Administrative Secretary of Abdulkabir Aliu Foundation Scholarship since inception in 2014 and is currently working with fourteen (14) Federal Universities across the country, while also assisting with the management of a Remedial School for Science students in Ede. She is a youth mentor and academic coach who is collaborating with others to build a network of young graduates with a minimum degree of Second Class for current and future job opportunities.
Arinola holds an MSc degree in Economics from the University of Lagos. She is married to a lovely man and is a proud mother of three (3) boys, aged between 19 years and 10 years.
Contact Information: arinolasbello@gmail.com
GÉRARD SALEH BITENDELO, Democratic Republic of Congo, Central Africa
Gérard Saleh Bitendelo works towards the achievement of the SDGs 5, 10 and 16. He is currently working as a CEO at Disability Inclusion Group.
After graduating in rural economics from Université Catholique de Bukavu in 2016, Gérard quickly joined different CSOs and local NGOs as a volunteer where he earned experiences working with national and international partners such as Integrity Action, Accountability Lab, and many others. This got him to develop strong skills and competencies in the fields of gender, social inclusion, and anti-corruption on which he focuses to advance good governance. He conducted GESI analysis and helped mainstream gender equality and social inclusion in many NGOs and School Integrity Clubs.
Contact Information: gerardsaleh70@gmail.com
DEVESHNEE MARIAH, South Africa, Southern Africa
Deveshnee Mariah has over two decades of Business Risk, Planning and Development, Civic Engagement, Corporate Social Investment and Enterprise Development Experience. She has worked as a Business Banker, Mentor, Business Development Consultant and Facilitator. She has a passion and determination to contribute to the building of the Economy. She is the CEO of the South African Business Council, The Director, and Founder of The Working Exec., She also is the Founder and Chair of The Mariah Foundation. She serves on the Boards of several NGOs both locally and internationally.
Contact Information: tmfdeveshnee@gmail.com
JOSEPH DENNIS N. QUARCOO [Moderator]
Mr. Quarcoo is a research practitioner with a passion for Africa – its cities and youth. He has dynamic experience in academia, civil society management & youth engagement, marketing communication, and urban planning. Joseph is the founder of the Nkosuo Initiative and the pan-African youth movement, Voice1Africa; a self-starter with exceptional interpersonal skills – a people person. He is an Applied Social Psychologist and a Social Justice Advocate. He is licensed by the Ghana Psychology Council (GPC), a member of the Ghana Urbanization Think Tank, and the Ghana Institute of Planners (GIP).
De Joe Quarcoo as he is popularly known is a singer-songwriter. His music speaks to contemporary issues including faith, urbanization and climate change and it is aimed at the deployment of youth potential and talents.
De Joe is a Mandela and MasterCard Scholar, and a YALI Fellow. He holds two postgraduate degrees, one in Social Psychology from the University of Ghana and the most recent in Urban Studies (Southern Urbanism) from the University of Cape Town, South Africa.
Contact Information: dejoequarcoo@gmail.com, voice1frica@gmail.com
Access recording here:
Programs Manager
Nicole Palasz
Palasz@uwm.edu