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A curated record of international fellowships, innovation labs, and leadership programs
CNN Academy
The CNN Academy Voices of the Global South Climate Storytelling Fellowship is a competitive journalism program designed to support emerging storytellers from the Global South in producing impactful climate narratives through ethical, evidence-based, and human-centered reporting. The fellowship focuses on amplifying local perspectives and ensuring that communities most connected to climate challenges are represented in global climate conversations.
The fellowship began with an intensive online curriculum delivered through the CNN Academy Learning Hub. I successfully completed interactive modules covering journalism ethics, breaking news reporting, digital storytelling, writing for online audiences, social storytelling, field reporting, television scriptwriting, mobile journalism, mobile editing using LumaFusion, Open Source Intelligence (OSINT), artificial intelligence in journalism, health reporting, and newsroom workflows. These courses strengthened my editorial judgment, research and verification skills, interviewing techniques, multimedia production abilities, and capacity to communicate complex issues through engaging storytelling.
For my final pitch, I developed a story exploring how writers and poets in South Sudan and the wider Global South are using creative spaces as platforms for climate advocacy — examining how a new generation of literary voices is using poetry, storytelling, and written expression to raise awareness about climate challenges, encourage environmental responsibility, and inspire communities to take part in climate mitigation efforts. Although my story was not selected for the in-person newsroom simulation in Abu Dhabi, the pitching process strengthened my ability to develop climate-focused narratives and approach storytelling with a deeper understanding of the relationship between people, culture, and the environment. As a CNN Academy Fellow, I now have lifetime access to the CNN Academy Learning Hub.
"The most powerful climate stories are not only about the environment, but about the people using their voices to protect its future."
UNLEASH Global Innovation Lab · Kigali, Rwanda · December 2023
UNLEASH
Selected on a full scholarship as one of approximately 1,000 young innovators from around the world, I participated in the UNLEASH Global Innovation Lab in Kigali, Rwanda — one of the world's most prestigious platforms for youth-led innovation aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Using UNLEASH's internationally recognised design thinking and innovation methodology, participants collaborated in diverse teams to develop scalable, locally grounded solutions to global challenges.
Working alongside teammates from The Gambia, Chile, the United Kingdom, Pakistan, and Cambodia, our team created PappyBags — a sustainable innovation that transforms papyrus reeds growing along the River Nile in South Sudan into biodegradable shopping bags as an alternative to single-use plastics. Our solution advanced to the knockout stage before the finals, demonstrating the viability of using local natural resources to address climate innovation and environmental sustainability challenges.
"Innovation begins by seeing opportunity where everyone else sees ordinary."
Take Action Lab · Tilting Futures · South Africa · 2024
Tilting Futures (formerly Global Citizen Year)
The Take Action Lab is a highly selective international leadership and global citizenship program for young adults aged 17–22. I attended the program on a full scholarship as part of a cohort of 52 young leaders representing 37 countries. Living and learning alongside peers from Nigeria, Ethiopia, Nepal, Bangladesh, Ukraine, Chile, and other parts of the world expanded my understanding of cross-cultural communication, community development, and the role of young people in addressing global challenges.
My apprenticeship journey began with Tshintsha Amakhaya before I joined the Surplus People Project (SPP) as a Multimedia Apprentice. Founded in 1979, SPP is a South African social justice organisation advancing food sovereignty, agroecology, land rights, and human rights for rural communities. During my three months with SPP, I travelled across the Western, Northern, Eastern Cape, and Gauteng provinces documenting grassroots initiatives through photography, videography, graphic design, and strategic communications. My work took me to Mamre, Wolseley, Springbok, Loeriesfontein, Namakwa Vanrhynsdorp, and Boontjiesrivier — where I facilitated a three-day social media training workshop for SAFE Youth (Sovereign Agro-Ecology Food Empowerment).
I also travelled to Gauteng Province, including Johannesburg, to cover the National Indaba Conference on behalf of Tshintsha Amakhaya, and visited Pretoria before returning to Cape Town. I concluded my apprenticeship by travelling to Paarl in the Eastern Cape to document a Food Sovereignty workshop. Through these experiences, I strengthened my skills in multimedia storytelling, campaign communication, video production, graphic design, and digital strategy while learning directly from rural communities working on food systems, environmental sustainability, and social justice.
"The most powerful stories are those told alongside the communities living them."
Accra Fusion · African Leadership University · Accra, Ghana · 2025
African Leadership University — Global Learning Experiences
Accra Fusion is an immersive international learning experience organised by the African Leadership University's Global Learning Experiences Department. Following a competitive selection process, I was selected as one of only two Student Ambassadors responsible for supporting the planning and successful execution of the Ghana immersion — a role that placed me at the intersection of operations, stakeholder engagement, and international program management.
I coordinated communications, planned travel itineraries, arranged accommodation, and provided day-to-day pastoral support while living alongside more than 25 participating students. I also initiated and secured partnerships with eight Ghanaian organisations where students completed externships, while coordinating company visits, networking opportunities, cultural experiences, and operational logistics throughout the program. The experience deepened my skills in international program management, partnership development, cross-cultural communication, and leadership — reinforcing my belief that effective leadership is often invisible, built on preparation and trust.
"Leadership is often invisible. Success is when everything works because of preparation."
U.S. Department of State · USAID · Kenyatta University
The Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) East Africa Regional Leadership Centre is one of the U.S. Department of State's flagship leadership development programs for emerging African leaders, funded by USAID and implemented by Kenyatta University. I participated virtually in the Business and Entrepreneurship Track as part of Cohort 60, joining young innovators from across East Africa to strengthen my entrepreneurial, leadership, and business development skills.
During the program, I developed an AI-powered agricultural venture that analyses crop health through image recognition and provides underserved farmers with disease diagnosis and treatment recommendations — applying innovation and entrepreneurship to address food security challenges across the region. The experience significantly strengthened my understanding of customer-centred design, business modelling, innovation strategy, and leadership. Becoming a YALI alumnus connected me to one of Africa's largest youth leadership networks, opening doors to future opportunities in entrepreneurship, international programs, and community development.
"Every great venture starts with solving one real problem well."