1. Kherann Yao
Khérann is a 25 years-old Ivorian who is passionate about nature. He holds a degree in private law and is currently doing a Master’s degree in development project management at the Canadian Institute of Management.
For the year 2019, Khérann will work with UNICEF on the plastic recycled schools building project, in Cote D’Ivoire. In fact, he will pilot the green schools project, which will consist on transforming 30 schools made of recycled plastic bricks into ecological schools (operating on solar energy, with the implementation of a plastic recycling system, etc.)
Khérann is very optimistic about the impact that young people can make for the future of our planet
and hopes to have the opportunity to meet other young leaders.
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2. Jean Jacques Yao
Jean Jacques is the National Director of Habitat for Humanity Côte d’Ivoire (HFHCI). He has been with Habitat for Humanity since 2002. Jean Jacques holds a Masters Degree in Management; a Masters Degree in Local Development; and a Master of Science in Public Health. He also holds a certificate in Operational Marketing, a certificate in leadership, a certificate in Public Private Partnership and a certificate in Sustainable Business strategy.
Before joining HFHCI, Jean Jacques used to work as a Project Supervisor and Local development specialist for a Technical design urban planning based company. Jean Jacques is excited to be a part of the Habitat for Humanity family because it gives him the opportunity to interact with communities in need. He has enjoyed interacting with partners, local communities, and volunteers who have believed and championed the HFH mission. Jean Jacques strongly believes that when we work together, we can change people’s living conditions; especially vulnerable groups of our society. Through his work with vulnerable groups, Jean Jacques hopes to promote sustainable community development in Cote d’Ivoire.
Through Jean Jacques’s leadership HFHCI is currently engaged in two major projects. The first project is the implementation of the Communities Led Total Sanitation project (CLTS). This project is carried out in partnership with the Ministry of Urban Development and Construction, local government representatives and communities’ leaders. The objective is to improve the access to sustainable and affordable water, sanitation and hygiene through CLTS approach. The other project is the Advocacy program. This program aims at fully contributing to solve the issue of land tenure policy, a major step in ensuring access to adequate housing for all.
3. Sarah Crawford
Sarah Crawford has over 15 years of experience working in the non-profit sector in Africa. When she first arrived in Abidjan, she began working with patas monkeys who were being trafficked in Abidjan. Through this avenue, she began taking care of Nemley Junior, the young chimp rescued from traffickers during a sting that was followed by the BBC News. That experience led to her decision to use her knowledge of NGO management and relationships with governments to establish Akatia to protect the chimpanzees of Cote d’Ivoire and stop the illegal pet trade (www.akatia.org)
4. Andy Costa
Andy Costa is the President of ‘My Dream for Africa’ foundation and CEO of AndyCOSTA & CO GreenTech, a startup focusing on responsible innovation. Andy is a committed ecologist and has for the past ten years been an active advocate in the fight for the preservation of the environment and sustainable development in Cote d’Ivoire.
Known as the ‘Ambassador of Green transportation’ through his promotion of cycling for daily transportation, Andy began his career in the field of communication where he exercised as a project manager in operational marketing for Coca Cola Cote d’Ivoire. He was soon overtaken by his passion for nature and photography, hence moved on to a career of photojournalist (Press). He worked as a consultant of the Ivorian National Television (RTI) and the information website Abidjan.net.
In his quest to advocate for the preservation of the environment, he created the ‘My Dream for Africa’ Non-governmental organization and ECOREPORTER, a news channel that involves interviewing members of the community while biking. Every day, ECOREPORTER performs bicycle ride interviews with public, cultural, sporting or political personalities. The interviews include discussions on climate change and advocating for the increased promotion of cycling as an alternative non polluting, green transportation and creating bike paths in African countries.