Board Chair - Estahappy Mariki, The Girls Foundation of Tanzania

Estahappy is a medical-Social and gender activist, and a motivational speaker to young people on social-economic and RH rights. Estahappy is dedicated to raise, coach and mentor girls’ advocates in sexual reproductive health for more than twenty years. She served at Kilimanjaro NGO Cluster as Programs Coordinator for years reaching out to youth in schools and out-of-school youths in through youth programs. Estahappy joined The Girls Foundation in Tanzania, TGFT in 2013 as Country Director and eventually the Executive Director, rich in various experiences in supporting young people mostly women and girls, working with various stakeholders and ready to inspire girls to reach their full potential. Estahappy is awarded as an accredited coach under coaches across continents reaching young people and students on SRH and life skills in schools through purposive plays, a Perennial fellow, and a current Creative collaborative fellow.

Estahappy sits on various boards of private and Government local and international organizations including Vice president for AMPLIFY girls East African network of CBOs that are supporting girls, Vice Chairperson for Orkeeswa secondary school in Arusha, Treasurer for the Tanzania board of The Girls Foundations of Tanzania, Vice president for Victorious giving foundation, Secretary for Food water shelter Organization and Member of board of Ganako Government High School.

Board Secretary - Maria Omare, The Action Foundation

Maria Omare is the Founder and Executive Director of The Action Foundation (TAF), an organisation working to improve the education, health, social, and economic outcomes of children, women and girls with disabilities. She is an award-winning disability inclusion advocate, social entrepreneur, and educator committed to inspiring change and hope in under-served communities. She is passionate about social justice and inclusion, youth advocacy and governance, human rights and gender equality.

Among other accolades, she has been awarded the prestigious Cordes Fellowship, Ford Motor Company International Fellowship, Akili Dada Fellowship, Business Daily's Top 40 under 40 and in 2019 she received the US State Department Professional Fellows Program Alumni Impact Award.

Maria sits on the advisory board of Street Business School, a global leader in entrepreneurship training that equips women living in poverty with the knowledge they need to build sustainable businesses. She is the Board Secretary of Amplify Girls, a collective of community-driven organizations collaborating to create a community-based alternative to traditional development scale.

Anande Mirisho, Jifundishe

Born and raised in Tanzania, Anande Miirisho is the Managing Director at Jifundishe, a Tanzanian nonprofit that funds and manages projects for community development by providing free educational opportunities. Jifundishe provides secondary school sponsorships to needy students and runs an independent study program for out-of-school youth that are unable to access formal education in the Arumeru district in Arusha Region Tanzania.

Anande has an advanced diploma in Computer Engineering and put her skills to use as a teacher and working for an internet company before her work with Jifundishe. Anande is a powerful advocate for girls’ education and is the proud mother of a beautiful daughter.

Valentine Mukamuyenzi, Streets Ahead Children’s Center Association

Valentine, is the founder and Executive Director of the Streets Ahead Children Center Association (SACCA). Founded in 2002, SACCA is a community-driven organization based in Rwanda that supports vulnerable children and their families. Valentine has a Bachelor of Arts in Clinical Psychology and Masters of Business Administration and Management (MBA) specifically in Project Management. Valentine is chairs the Kayonza District Council, and stands powerfully for women’s voices in her community, is a member of JAD and board member of Amplify Girls. Valentine is a survivor of the 1994 Rwandan Genocide against the Tutsi and was resilient in the face of many great challenges while raising her 5 siblings and completing her secondary school education. Her experience led her to start SACCA where she continues to care for the most vulnerable children in her community. She is also the Team leader and founder of “Abeza Ladies Family”. An Initiative for women to support each other emotionally, socially and economically aiming to a transformed life in our society; “Together we stand”.

Jean Claude Mwiseneza, Learn Work Develop (LWD) - Rwanda

Jean Claude MWISENEZA is Founder and Executive Director of Learn Work Develop (LWD) and brings 24 years experience working in the Government and non-Governmental institutions, in National and International NGOs promoting the rights for children, youths and women, as well as the people infected and affected by HIV/AIDS, people living with disabilities, Orphans and
other vulnerable children (OVCs).

His background is in Education and Social work with a BA in Psycho-pedagogy, Master’s degree in Education Management and Administration from Kampala University, and a post-graduate certificate in Psychosocial support to People Living with HIV/AIDS from Tulane University. Jean Claude worked at the Ministry of Youth in Rwanda, and in the NGOs like International Rescue Committee (IRC), World Vision, Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO), Rwanda Network of the People living with HIV/AIDS, etc. He is also the Mentor in Global Give Back Circle program of Master card Foundation since January 2021.

Jean Claude is experienced in engagement, partnership, networking and community outreach programs. He is a man committed in Gender equality and women rights protection. He initiated MASENGE MBA HAFI Program meaning approximately “PLEASE AUNT BE CLOSE TO ME” that deals with issues of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), anti-SGBV (Sexual Gender and Based violence) and Child protection for the aim of contributing to reduction of teenage pregnancies in the Rwanda. MASENGE MBA HAFI a responsive model applied also using intersectional lens to facilitate the youths with compounded vulnerabilities to speak-out and share their problems through the safe spaces organized at community level.

Monica Nyiraguhabwa, Co-founder, Girl Up Initiative Uganda (GUIU)

Monica Nyiraguhabwa stands as an extraordinary force in the realm of social entrepreneurship and nonprofit leadership. In 2012, she co-founded the Girl Up Initiative Uganda (GUIU) with a mission to build a vibrant movement of girls and young women through transformative leadership, sexual and reproductive health education, and skills development.

Recognized as a beacon for girls' education advocacy in Uganda, Monica has earned prestigious titles such as Obama Africa Leader, Perennial Fellow, Cordes Fellow, Skoll Fellow, and African Visionary Fellow. Her accolades include being named among the Top Women 40 Under 40 by the esteemed New Vision newspaper in both 2017 and 2019. Monica's leadership has propelled GUIU to international acclaim, notably as part of Michelle Obama's Girls Opportunity Alliance and a featured organization on NBC's The Today Show with Jenna Bush Hager.

Monica's dedication to the cause knows no bounds, envisioning a future where Girl Up Initiative Uganda extends its reach to impact every girl in Uganda and beyond. Her ambitious goal includes not only expanding current programs but also dreaming of establishing a transformative Girls Center of Excellence—a haven for girls offering lifelong education and skills development. This envisioned center would not only be a national asset but also a global hub attracting researchers and partners seeking to adopt best practices in overcoming barriers to girls' quality education.

Monica Nyiraguhabwa, a Commonwealth Scholar with an MA in Education, Gender, and International Development from the University College of London, and a BA in Adult and Community Education from Makerere University, continues to inspire change and progress in the pursuit of empowering women and girls worldwide.

Faith Phiri, Girls Empowerment Network (GENET) - Malawi

Faith Phiri is a distinguished mentor, women’s and girls’ rights activist, and the Executive Director of Girls Empowerment Network (GENET), a leading Malawian local non-profit organization dedicated to advancing the rights of girls and young women.

With more than 15 years of experience in gender equality and empowerment, Faith has designed and led transformative programs that have reached to over one million girls and young women across Malawi. Her expertise spans from gender transformative, movement building, social inclusion, and economic women development. Faith has worked in sectors such as health, education, and humanitarian.

She holds a Master’s in Public Health from College of Medicine now known as Kamuzu University of Health Sciences specializing in adolescent sexual and reproductive health, gender and maternal health. She has received further trainings in women’s leadership, Child Protection, and gender studies. Faith is very passionate advocate of ending child marriages leading advocacy and influencing initiative both at local and national level.

Faith served both as a national coordinator and Chairperson of Girls Not Brides Malawi, a partnership of over 90 civil society organizations focused on ending child marriages for over 10 years. Her leadership also extends to several boards, including Council for Non-Governmental Organization of Malawi-CONGOMA, Tsinde ECO Empower, Foundation for Girls Leadership, Awale Women Company and many others. Faith served as a member of Malawi’s UN Women Civil Society Advisory Group for a period of over six years.

Dumisani Nkhonjera - Country Director at AGE Africa, Malawi

I am the Country Director at AGE Africa: Advancing Girls' Education, a leading organization that works to improve the quality and access of education for girls in Malawi. I have over 10 years of experience in the education management sector, and I hold a master's degree in Education Policy Planning and Leadership from Chancellor College.

In my current role, I leverage my expertise in monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning (MEAL), data analysis, policy development, and GIS application to design, implement, and evaluate effective programs and interventions that support young women to complete secondary school and transition to higher education and careers. I also work with various stakeholders, including donors, partners, schools, and communities, to advocate for and influence policies and practices that promote girls' education and empowerment. My mission is to use evidence-based approaches and innovative solutions to advance the educational outcomes and opportunities for girls in Malawi and beyond.

Stacey Keare, Founder of the Girls Rights Project

Stacey Keare is the current Board Chair at Women Moving Millions. She is an attorney, philanthropist, and public policy analyst who, along with her husband, is the Founder of the Girls Rights Project, an organization dedicated to advancing the rights of girls throughout the world using a combination of research, advocacy, and philanthropy. Stacey has spent the last twenty years finding and supporting innovative grassroots organizations that help girls gain access to education and sports, develop leadership skills, and live lives of safety, hope, and economic opportunity. Stacey studied international relations at Stanford University, has a Master of Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School, and a law degree from UC Law San Francisco. She has also been a Board member of Summit Public Schools and the Legal Aid Society of San Mateo County. She is on the Kennedy School’s Women’s Leadership Board, and Tahirih Justice Center SF Advisory Board and is a founding investor in the Giving List Women. She has three daughters, Haley, Ryan, and Brooke, and lives in Woodside with her husband John Hodge.

Mordecai Odera - Deputy Executive Director Trust for Indigenous Culture and Health (TICAH)

Has over 18 years' experience as a development leader and strategist, during which he has worked on promoting human rights, gender justice, community health, climate justice, and inclusive governance throughout Africa. He has run programmes in a number of countries, obtained substantial funding, established solid partnerships, and backed community-driven solutions that place local leadership at the heart of sustainable change.

Mordecai is enthusiastic regarding trust-based philanthropy and about transferring power to communities. He firmly believes that each individual and community is capable of bringing about real change and of achieving their full potential. Since he is an optimist, he acts on the basis of curiosity, empathy, and the conviction that genuine transformation begins with supporting people's agency, creativity, and dignity.

When he is not at work, he enjoys spending his time in outdoor settings and traveling off the grid. He gets inspiration from remote areas; exploring secret trails, camping under the stars, and sometimes meeting up with people helps to calm his mind.

Flavia Mwangovya - Deputy Regional Director for Movement Engagement and Operations at Amnesty International’s East and Southern Africa.

Flavia Mwangovya is a Pan-African feminist leader and human rights strategist with two decades of professional and activist experience advancing human rights and social justice across Africa and globally. Her career has spanned a broad range of human rights issues and contexts, including conflict and crisis, civic space, gender justice, movement and coalition building, advocacy, and institutional leadership. Within this broader trajectory, she has a significant body of work advancing the rights of women and girls, including on child marriage, female genital mutilation, sexual and reproductive health and rights, and strengthening feminist movements and human rights frameworks across Africa and globally.

Flavia currently serves as Deputy Regional Director for Movement Engagement and Operations at Amnesty International’s East and Southern Africa Regional Office. Throughout her career, she has worked at the intersection of movements and institutions, bringing together diverse actors and perspectives to advance collective action and social change. She brings particular expertise in strategic leadership, coalition and movement building, systems strengthening, partnerships and policy engagement, grounded in feminist and intersectional principles.

Fluent in English, Swahili and French, Flavia is deeply interested in how power, leadership and institutions can be transformed to become more inclusive, responsive and accountable to the people and communities they serve.

Outside her professional work, Flavia is passionate about sustainable living and organic farming and is deeply committed to supporting young people to grow as confident, curious and socially conscious leaders. She joins the AMPLIFY Girls Africa Board with a strong commitment to centering girls’ and young women’s voices, leadership, experiences and agency in the decisions and spaces that shape their lives and futures.