Panelist

At the AISA-GISS 2013 conference, we will have two expert panel sessions. During each session, students will choose a panel and then be able to hear the opinions of three experts in that field. Experts will come from the United Nations, NGOs and various other organizations in and around Nairobi.

Topics/Sessions

Day 1: 11:45-12:45 Peace & Reconciliation / Conflict Resolution:

This session will explore the issues facing communities in which conflict is present. It will offer a look at both theoretical and practical tools used to help communities mitigate conflict and build better relationships.
Fred Vitteveen,Kenya Director World Renew Fred Witteveen is  Kenya Country Director of World Renew, an international relief and development organization. He has lived and work in Kenya since May, 2008. In addition to being an organizational leader, he  is an technical expert in building capacity of   groups  to manage in complex  and conflicted environments.
Mary Oyath-Peace & Justice Activist Nakuru  Mary Achien’g Oyath has a degree in project planning and management and a diploma in Political Science and Public Relations.  Peace and Conflict Analysis training by the Catholic University of Eastern Africa and United States Institute of Peace. Working with Justice and Peace Commission since 2001; operating in Nakuru and Baringo Counties.  Major areas of work involved Peace-building and Conflict Resolution mostly related Election violence, and Human Rights Empowerment programmes for marginalized groups in the target area.Major milestones – worked with communities to establish sustainable Peace Structures including community connector projects in the areas vulnerable to violent conflicts in the region.
Dr. Mumbi Ngugi Mumbi Ngugi is a PhD Fellow in Governance and Policy Analysis at the Maastricht Graduate School of Governance in the Netherlands. Her research is on electoral violence in the Kenyan general elections of 2002 and 2007, in which she is seeking to explain the reason(s) for the sharply contrasting levels of violence in the two elections. Her key hypotheses are that firstly, the contrast can be explained by the extent to which political/ethnic leaders were able to agree on power-sharing. A further explanatory variable is that political elites were able to manipulate ethnicity either to gain or retain power.

Day 1: 11:45-12:45   Art for Social Awareness:

This session will explore the many different ways art can be used to address the various social, economic and environmental challenges faced by communities.
Gakunju Kaigwa Gakunju Kaigwa is a Kenyan Sculptor with a Master’s degree in public art from the University of Dundee in Scotland. Although he began his career painting, Kaigwa discovered his real passion in the early 80’s as a sculptor. He works with wood, glass, steel, resin, bronze and many other materials using each medium to express different ideas and forms. Most of Kaigwa sculptures are figurative and envision the human body. Kaigwa’s work may be found installed in a number of public spaces both around Kenya and internationally. Kaigwa has his studio at the Kuona Trust Art Center, Nairobi.
Boniface Mwangi Boniface Mwangi is an award-winning Kenyan photojournalist and describes himself as a photo-activist and idealist. He is known for documenting images from Kenya’s post-election violence in 2007-2008 and is the founder of Picha Mtaani, a youth-led peace initiative that primarily seeks to create space for young people to reconcile and become agents of reconciliation to their respective communities.
Ann McCreath of KikoRomeo After completing fashion design studies in Rome, followed by years working as a designer in Barcelona, Scottish born Ann McCreath took a three-month break doing aid work in Kenya and decided to stay. In 1996 she launched her own fashion house under the name KikoRomeo, with a desire to help create jobs in rural areas, make unique, high quality products for retail, and generate pride in African-inspired contemporary fashion. In 2008 Ann founded the Festival of African Fashion & Arts (FAFA), together with other arts and media professionals. Kenyan and Pan-African designers came together for the “Fashion for Peace” event in the Nairobi National Park. This has developed into an annual event and recognized platform for designers from Africa and the African diaspora
George Gachara George Gachara is a youth worker an author, and a facilitator at the NEST Arts Company. George has led numerous initiatives for the United Nations Development Programme, the World Bank and the British Council.George is the recipient of the International Association of Conflict Resolution’s Outstanding Leadership Award 2011 and a Global fellow of the International Youth Foundation.

Day 1: 11:45-12:45 Grass Roots Solutions:

This session will explore the unique and diverse ways people come together in communities to tackle the challenges of poverty and unemployment.
Pat Mbuga of Amaani ya Juu Amani ya Juu (meaning “higher peace” in Swahili) is a sewing & marketing training project for marginalized women in Africa.  The women involved in the project are learning to work together through faith in God who provides a higher peace that transcends all ethnic differences. The purpose of the project is two-fold: first, Amanigives African women the opportunity to make an income, by improving or teaching the women how to sew and learn skills in purchasing, bookkeeping, skill training, quality control, management and design, second, Amaniaims to sow seeds of peace in the hearts of the women as they grow in community and in their faith together.  As the women learn practical skills to improve their quality of life, they also experience God’s healing, moving them beyond their traumatic and difficult pasts.
Justus Mwendwa, Joseph Gachira—Associate Directors of Free The Children development projects in Kenya (Me to We) Justus Mwedwa  & Joseph Gachira are Associate Directors of Free The Children development projects in Kenya and are well-versed in grassroots approaches to development.  Free the Children engages in education, water and sanitation, health, alternative income and agriculture & food security projects. 
Jack Nyawanga of Victorious Youth Group, Kibera Jack is the co-founder of Victorious Youth Group, an organization that offers leadership and skills training in artisan and craft work to youth. Jack, who is the 7thout of 9 children, knows first hand what it is like to be homeless on the streets of Nairobi, when he dropped out of school in 2000 and boarded a bus to Nairobi to find employment.  His organization, which began in 2006, is currently shipping ornaments to countries beyond Kenya.
Titus Kuria Titus Kuria is one of the founding leaders of CMETrust – an organization whose mission is to advance education in Kenya and to raise awareness in Canada about education and poverty in urban Kenya.  Tito, as he is known, grew up in the Mathare Valley and has a good understanding of what life is like in the slum. Tito also sits on the board of Mathare Roots Youth Group, a Community Based Organization that exists to create and connect the youth with emerging empowerment opportunities. He recently joined JUMP! Foundation as a facilitator – an organization that envisions a world where young people fulfill their true potential as individuals, community leaders, and global citizens.

Day 2: 11:10 – 12:00   Digital Divide:

This session will investigate how people are using their skills and interests to bring technological tools and training to those who have limited access.
Jay Larson 

 

 

 

 

 

 Jay Larson is an entrepreneur and former teacher with a passion for digital technology, education, new experiences and travel.  From teaching in international schools to developing the technology and business behind the a solar-energy invention, Jay has come to Nairobi to pursue his true long-term interests: software development and education.  His current education-related project, codenamed “Kupanda” which means “to grow” or “to plant” in Swahili, focuses on bringing some of the new inspiring online learning tools, such as Coursera and The Khan Academy, to people who don’t have access to technology-focused teachers. Jay believes there are at least two Digital Divides – one between those who have access to technology and those who don’t, and one between those who use technology to develop themselves and those who use it to distract themselves. He hopes to see both Divides close.
Morris Thuku, Tennessee Institute of Information Technology Morris is the Program Coordinator at the Tennessee Institute of Information Technology in Elburgon, Kenya. For 10 years, TIIT has been providing Kenyans from poor backgrounds with free computer education. TIIT targets Kenya’s year 8 students and helps build their skills and literacy levels.
Dan Otedo of Advanced Educational Training & Management Dan Otedoworks with Advanced Educational Training and Management, a program dedicated to improvingteacher effectiveness by helping teachers integrate technology into their lessons and promote students’ problem-solving, critical thinking, and collaboration skills. More information can be accessed athttp://teacherprofessionaldevelopment.kbo.co.ke/ 
Nivi Mukherjee of eLimu Nivi Mukherjee is the founder and CEO of eLimu (www.e-Limu.org). As a social entrepreneur, technophile and community volunteer, she is passionate about empowering youth and engaging in community initiatives that foster development and fun. eLimu is an EdTech startup that has been highlighted internationally (CNN, Al Jazeera, The Economist) as a revolutionary technology using low-cost tablets and incorporating videos, animations, music, quizzes and games into traditional textbook content, the eLimu tablet has shown to improve learning outcomes by encouraging students to engage and interact more with the learning content.
Johan Beckmann Johan Beckmann grew up in Belgium, Sweden and Kenya. Johan worked a decade at IBM improving the “lives” of multinational corporations with modern Information and Communications Technology (ICT). Traveling frequently to Kenya he realized how access to modern ICT could change the lives of African people. The mobile revolution has been a starting point for this change, but a major hinder still remains: access to electricity for the ICT. That is why Johan started Sunny People, to provide electricity to rural African people so they can benefit from modern ICT.

Day 2: 11:10 – 12:00   Conservation / Environment:

This session will explore a range of issues and practices related to environmental concerns.
Dr. Julie Fischer, USAID Dr. Julie Fischer, based in Nairobi, is the Climate Change and Environment Team Leader in USAID/East Africa’s Regional Economic Growth and Integration Office. A geographer by training, she has worked for over 20 years on issues related to the environment, governance, and development in developing countries. For most of her career she has worked with communities and other local stakeholders in West Africa focused on identifying solutions to rural land rights and access problems and developing and implementing programs aimed at collaborative natural resource management. Dr. Fischer is from Wisconsin, USA originally and has two high school aged children who attend ISK.
Mark Goss, Mara North Conservancy Born and raised in Kenya, Marc Goss is currently Manager of the Mara North Conservancy. With a degree in Political Ecology from Evergreen University, Oregon, USA, Marc continues to work in anti-poaching, heading up a quick response team, in building community projects and managing human-elephant conflicts while overseeing the Mara North Conservancy area adjacent to Maasai Mara wildlife park. He has recently been part of a BBC documentary on Save the Elephants and continues to cooperate in renewable energy efforts in addition to his work in the Mara.
Teddy Kinyanjui, Cookswell Jikos, Woodlands Trust Teddy Kinyanjui has been an outdoors person since he was a toddler, following his father’s footsteps in tree planting, energy conservation, and Jiko constructions. He has planted trees in private and public lands all over Kenya and currently is the head of Cookswell Jikos and a member of Woodlands Trust.
Rachel Kivoya, Teacher Rachel has been a teacher at Muhaka Secondary School in Kenya’s Coast Provence since 2009. Noticing the problem of girls missing school due to insufficient funds to purchase sanitary pads for their monthly periods, Rachel started an initiative known as Goods for Girls with help from Camps International and Camp Kenya.  Girls are trained how to make washable pads. Goods for Girls also aims to promote a change in attitude towards girl child education within the community and to improve the quality of life available to them.
Victoria Gillbard,Camps International  Victoria, who has a BSc degree in Outdoor and Environmental Education, has worked in the youth sector for 15 years. She discovered the benefits of education in the outdoor environment whilst working within a large primary school who were intent on providing learning outside the classroom. She has lead school team expeditions for Camps International to Kenya, Tanzania and Borneo. School team expeditions take part in various environmental conservation projects in Kenya. Assistance is also provided for communities in developing themselves. Victoria is very keen on developing young people and empowering them to make the most of opportunities and step outside of what is comfortable in order to create a shift in their mindset.
Munir Virani, The Peregrine Fund Munir Virani was born and raised in Nairobi, Kenya.  He graduated with First Class Honors in Zoology and was selected by The Peregrine Fund to train as a raptor biologist under the legendary Simon Thomsett. Munir registered at the University of Leicester (U.K.) and did his Master’s degree on the endangered Sokoke Scops Owl. He successfully completed his Ph.D research at the University of Leicester (U.K) where his research focused on Augur Buzzards at Lake Naivasha. In 2002, Munir was awarded the Aga Khan Foundation award for excellence in the Field of Science and Technology by His Highness Prince Amyn Mohamed.  Munir has published over a 100 scientific and popular articles including a paper in the esteemed journal Nature. In 2007, he was awarded a prize for the Wildlife Photographer of the Year in a competition organized by Twende Travel Magazine.

Day 2:   11:10 – 12:00    HIV/AIDS:

This session will explore the many ways in which HIV/AIDS impacts communities and how these can be tackled.
Dr. Jennifer Galbraith, CDC Dr. Galbraith is the Deputy Branch Chief of Prevention in the Division of Global HIV/AIDS Prevention, Kenya—part of the United States Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).  Her work includes moving evidence-based behavioral interventions from research to practice. Dr. Galbraith also worked at the Division for Adolescent and School Health at CDC.  Her content area was sexual risk behavior of adolescents focusing on HIV, pregnancy, and STD prevention.  Prior to coming to CDC, Dr. Galbraith worked at University of Maryland in the Department of Pediatrics.  There she assisted in the development and evaluation of “Focus on Kids” and “Informed Parents and Children Together,” HIV prevention interventions for urban African American adolescents and their parents. Both programs have been identified by CDC as interventions with best-evidence of effectiveness.  Dr. Galbraith has led dozens of intervention sessions among youth and parents and conducted over 40 training of trainers workshops across the US and in many international locations.
Barbara Durr of John Snow, Inc. Barbara Durr works for John Snow Inc., a public health management organization dedicated to improving the health of individuals and communities throughout the world.  JSI provides technical and managerial assistance to public health programs in 106 countries. Barbara is based in Kenya and provides institutional and technical capacity building support to organizations implementing HIV and AIDS programs in East and Southern Africa. Barbara has two Masters Degrees from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and has worked in over 40 countries.  She began her career as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Gabon and later became the Peace Corps Director in Morocco.
Josephine Munywoki of Fadhili Trust (and colleague) My name is Josephine Munywoki.  I am married and have 4 children.  My background is Public Health and I am currently completing my research project for a Masters degree.  God used me to start Fadhili Trust back in 2001 and over the years, we have worked with People Living with HIV/AIDS in Home based care and Prevention. We are currently working in the area of HIV Prevention, Microfinance and Education support for Orphans and Vulnerable Children.  I have worked directly with the community since 1993 in both development and Health programs.