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Building Tomorrow’s Leaders: Strengthening Youth Capacities for Global Humanitarian Response through Digital and Inclusive Learning

Thank you to everyone who joined to our UN Summit of the Future Action Days virtual side event. The recording is now available

The HLA was pleased to host this virtual side event in connection to the Summit of the Future Action Days which brought together representatives from Member States, civil society, private sector, academia, local and regional authorities, youth, and many more. The Action Days provided an opportunity for broad engagement and inclusion.

We are grateful to everyone who joined and participated in the session as well as our speakers. We discussed challenges and barriers to digital learning among young people and how organisations and individuals have or can overcome them. Speakers also provided valuable insight on inclusive learning, things to consider when building digital learning and opportunities in technology and AI.

Speakers

Lucy Hall, Data and Evidence Specialist HLA

Lucy Hall is a data and evidence specialist with over 8 years of experience in the humanitarian sector. Her focus is on making data and evidence more accessible, easier to understand and on encouraging the use of diverse analyses for decision making and innovation. 

Lucy is passionate about inclusive practices in humanitarian programming and in the workforce, enabling true locally led action, and how data and technology can be an enabler in reducing the power inequities that exist in the humanitarian sphere.

Matey Nikolov, Regional Youth Programme Lead at ActionAid for Ukraine and neighboring countries

Matey Nikolov is the Regional Youth Programme Lead at ActionAid for Ukraine and neighboring countries, specialising in capacity sharing and fostering youth-led activism and learning. With expertise in technology for human rights, an intersectional feminist lens for the digital era, and peer-to-peer learning, Matey supports young people’s leadership through reflection-action and digital learning tools, accompanying them through their humanitarian journeys.

Previously, Matey contributed to the Technology for Democracy working group at the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and supported activists across East and West Africa, as well as Southeast Asia, leveraging digital tools to share capacity and strengthen youth-led activism. As ActionAid’s first Youth Leadership in Humanitarian Action Advisor, he led the rollout of the Global Platform model during the Ukraine humanitarian crisis, using this globally tested approach to support young humanitarian leaders in protecting human rights.

Passionate about the intersection of technology and social justice, Matey is committed to supporting the next generation of humanitarian leaders through innovative solutions.

Hisham Dirani, CEO violet Syria

Hicham Dirani is a passionate advocate for localization in Syria. Since 2020, he has served as the CEO of Violet for Relief and Development, a leading Syrian NGO focused on education and healthcare, guiding a network of 2,000 volunteers and workers delivering critical aid throughout the country. As a National Expert on the National Experts Board, Mr. Dirani helps shape safeguarding policies and best practices across the region. His dedication to ethical and effective humanitarian action exemplifies his unwavering commitment to the people of Syria.

Anastasia Donska, PhD, Head of Program Teach For Ukraine

Anastasiia Donska, PhD is an expert in education in emergencies, Head of the Catch-Up Programme by Teach For Ukraine, and project manager of the Tech-Enabled tutoring project, implemented in cooperation with the World Bank. She has 15 years of experience in managing educational projects in Ukraine. 

Neba Ambe, Commonwealth Scholar

Kasia Fesnak, Association of Ukrainians in Poland,

Kasia Fesnak is an Ashoka Young Leader and Volunteers Community Coordinator.

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