Feature Stories

Kaushar Barejiya is a recent graduate of the University of Massachusetts Boston, where she earned a degree in Political Science and Public Policy. Having grown up in India, Barejiya brings a unique perspective to her work, informed by her personal journey, grounded in the belief that the complex challenges facing diverse communities can only be addressed when those communities are represented in decision-making spaces. She places equity and access at the core of everything she
does.

Kaushar brings a wealth of experience in non-profit and advocacy spaces, having held impactful roles at organizations such as Black Lion Strategies, the United Nations Association of Greater Boston, and the Congressional Office of U.S. Senator Edward J. Markey. She served as Student Body President at UMass Boston and currently contributes as a Youth Board Mentee to the Board of Directors at Amnesty International USA—both examples of her commitment to amplifying
youth voices and driving meaningful change.

Driven by a vision to build a career at the intersection of policy, law, and international development, Kaushar is excited to join the UNCCD Youth Caucus Steering Committee. She looks forward to working alongside global peers to uplift youth perspectives and co-create inclusive policy solutions with lasting global impact.

Ruby is an environmental justice advocate and researcher working at the intersection of peace, security, and environmental sustainability. Her work focuses on desertification, land restoration, climate change, and related issues within the frameworks of the UNCCD and UNFCCC. She is deeply passionate about youth advocacy, empowerment, peace-building, and influencing environmental policy.

Francis Asamoah

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Joshua Laizer is a seasoned professional with over six years of experience in community engagement, regenerative agriculture, and project design and management. With a proven track record in both public and non-profit sectors, Joshua has worked extensively across local and international landscapes, collaborating with various NGOs and providing consultancy services for a range of impactful projects.

Currently serving as the Regenerative Grazing Expert for Afriscout, a global community social enterprise, Joshua offers strategic guidance for the implementation of regenerative grazing initiatives in Kenya, Ethiopia, and Tanzania, underscoring a commitment to sustainable agricultural practices that benefit both communities and the environment.

In addition to this role, Joshua is the Co-founder and Finance Director of TACCEI, where he focuses on driving sustainable development efforts and enhancing community resilience. He is also the Founder and Coordinator of the GLFx Maasai Steepe Chapter, hosted by TACCEI. In this capacity, Joshua brings together landscape actors to promote landscape restoration and climate action, emphasizing core restoration activities that address environmental challenges.

As the Head of the Indigenous Youth Program at the Youth Initiative for Land in Africa and Secretary General of the African Youth Pastoralist Initiative, Joshua is dedicated to empowering youth and amplifying the voices of pastoral communities.

Passionate about fostering collaborative solutions and sustainable practices, Joshua’s work not only supports local ecosystems but also aims to create lasting social change across the continent.

Lena Moral Waldmeier is a development professional specialising in international cooperation, communications, and stakeholder engagement. She most recently worked on a project at the intersection of Earth Observation Data and Land Degradation Neutrality and is now completing a second master’s in Communication for Development. Beyond her academic and professional roles, Lena actively supports early-career professionals through her online platforms and has started her own Non-Profit for Rescue Animals in Indonesia.

Daniela Solis is the Coordinator of the Coalition of Action 4 Soil Health (CA4SH), a global multi-stakeholder community dedicated to improving soil health through collaboration and evidence-based action. She has over five years of experience leading initiatives at the intersection of sustainable land and soil management, food systems, climate resilience, and livelihoods. Her work focuses on mobilizing diverse actors through strategic partnerships, policy advocacy, international dialogue, and knowledge co-creation. Through CA4SH’s Youth4Soil Initiative, she has facilitated youth access to global policy spaces, coordinated youth participation at the three Rio Conventions, and worked to amplify the voice of young advocates in international processes. She holds a master’s degree in environmental management from Bocconi University and previously worked at the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD).

Audrey S-Darko, is a Land Youth Negotiator, climate tech entrepreneur and sustainable land advocate. She leads Sabon Sake, an organization at the intersection of regenerative agriculture (restoring soil health and degraded ecosystems) and carbon financing for climate vulnerable farming communities.

She is committed to deploying nature and tech-based solutions that restore soil health and biodiversity, improve the economic wellbeing of land stewards and accelerates the transition towards climate resilient farming and food systems, especially in rural landscapes. Her organization collaborates with climate-committed organizations and individuals to build and scale climate action strategies and land restoration projects (e.g. waste-to-biochar initiative) that provide practical pathways to achieving a Just Transition to NetZero.

Audrey is keen on ensuring policy, governance, culture work well for land and its people, bringing about systemic change. She enjoys grassroot mobilization, stakeholder engagement, convening youth and creating a knowledge-sharing environment that provides solutions to land degradation, climate change issues, governance and other thematic areas that preserve land and climate.

Xiomara Acevedo, Internationalist, Mphil in conservation leadership, climate, gender, and environmental justice activist, and social entrepreneur from Colombia. She is the founder and director of Barranquilla+20, a women-led NGO focused on women and youth, which began its impact in 2012 and whose mission is to educate and recognize the leadership of women, children, and youth on issues of climate change, biodiversity, land and water in Colombia and countries throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. Barranquilla+20 has reached more than 35,000 people with its various campaigns, projects, and initiatives, and she was one of 10 Generation Equality youth fellows.

Xiomara also co- coordinates the Global Youth Biodiversity Network in Colombia and the Women for Climate Justice network. She is passionate about intergenerational equity, a rights-based approach, and promoting feminist action for environmental justice. In 2021, she was selected as one of the 50 “rising stars” in ESG by Women of the Future. She is also a One Young World Ambassador, and a Big Bet Climate Fellow by Rockerfeller Foundation.

Tafadzwa Muzira is a passionate youth development advocate, climate action leader, and biodiversity conservationist from Zimbabwe with over 7 years of experience in youth-led sustainable development. He currently serves as the Country Representative for Young Professionals for Agricultural Development (YPARD) Zimbabwe and is a Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) Ambassador. Tafadzwa has led initiatives empowering rural youth through climate-smart agriculture, biodiversity restoration, and sustainable land governance. He previously served as Program Support Officer at the Zimbabwe Youth Biodiversity Network (ZYBN) and is an alumnus of the Opportunities for Youth Employment (OYE) program under SNV Zimbabwe. He has actively participated in global platforms such as YOUNGO (Global Coordination Team Member), Southern Africa Youth Forum (Co-Chair, Gender Committee), and One Million Leaders Africa (OMLA), where he received two mini-grants , the Lyn Maguire Grant for Climate Smart Agriculture training project and Strengthening Food Security roject in Zimbabwe. Tafadzwa is driven by a strong vision to elevate youth voices in climate resilience,  food security and land restoration spaces to foster inclusive, equitable, sustainable environmental solutions.

Mahathi Aguvaveedi is a policy and communications professional focused on soil and land restoration. Currently working with the Save Soil movement, she operates at the intersection of regenerative agriculture, soil health, and public policy—building cross-sectoral coalitions that connect grassroots organizations, think tanks, scientists, and policymakers. She has also collaborated closely with media and social media influencers to promote ecological causes over the past few years.

A Columbia University alumna, Mahathi holds a Master’s in Public Policy and Economics. Over the past decade, she has worked with UN agencies and social enterprises across food systems, public health, and refugee support.

She is a strong advocate for ecological generalists—leaders who can bridge disciplinary silos to build integrated responses to global challenges. Mahathi believes that youth play a pivotal role in shaping our collective future—economically, socially, and environmentally—and is committed to empowering them. She also serves as a Youth Innovation Coach with the India Youth Climate Network.

Tiffany Marcelle (she/her) is an experienced advocate for sustainable land management and environmental resilience in the Caribbean. As a farmer, she brings practical insight to her work with organizations such as PiSLM, IICA, and Agrovisionaries, where she supports climate-smart agriculture, land restoration, and community-based land stewardship. Her work focuses on empowering rural and Indigenous communities through training, project development, and knowledge exchange. With a passion for promoting sustainable land use and combating land degradation, Tiffany is committed to integrating traditional practices with innovative solutions to build a more resilient and inclusive future for Caribbean landscapes.

Luis Castillo, Peruvian economist specialized in sustainable and inclusive business development. With over five years of experience at AIDER, he designs bio-business strategies that benefit native and peasant communities, promotes economic inclusion, and supports forest conservation. He holds a Master’s in Business Management and a strong foundation in financial analysis and value chains. Passionate about sustainability, Luis combines analytical thinking and leadership to create impactful initiatives aligned with ecosystem restoration and climate action and his commitment to youth empowerment and sustainable land management.

Chehek Bilgi is a digital advocate and a cinematographer working at the intersection of climate justice, gender equity, land, and sustainable development. With over a decade of experience engaging in UN processes and global advocacy platforms.

Chehek combines a deep understanding of policy with a creative approach to communication. Her work is grounded in the belief that strategic policy advocacy paired with impactful storytelling can drive meaningful, transformative change. Chehek uses the power of multimedia to bring critical issues to a wider audience. As an accomplished cinematographer, her films have been featured at various international film festivals. She frequently collaborates with NGOs and global organizations to create visual content that educates, informs, and inspires action on sustainable development, climate change, land and social justice. Her work seeks to highlight the interconnectedness of environmental sustainability and social equity, telling stories of those most affected by land degradation and climate impacts, with a particular focus on marginalized communities, including women and youth. Her vision is to continue leveraging both policy and creative communication to drive transformative change in the fight for a more just, resilient, and sustainable world.

Shahrukh Nasim Khan is an American scientist, environmentalist, and public health advocate with expertise in engineering, Ph.D. candidate in Industrial/Energy Engineering at the University of Tennessee and a current Youth Delegate for UN Conference of Parties (Nuclear For Climate delegation).

Shahrukh has experience with World Wildlife Fund, DOE, and currently an Engineer at FAA and his leadership roles include and are not limited to: World Bank youth delegate, UN Associations national council chair and Global Peace Chain youth ambassador.

Kaltrina Lici is an Environmental Studies and International Relations student in Florida, USA. Her interests in agriculture, sustainability, and social justice have led her to contribute to volunteer projects within her local community, university, and international organizations. She aims to increase youth inclusion in global politics and sustainable development within the UNCCD Youth Caucus.

Carter Cheng is the European Focal Point of the UNCCD Youth Caucus, Managing Director (London) of Young Professionals in Foreign Policy (YPFP), Engagement Coordinator for the Democratising Education for Global Sustainability and Justice (DemEd) programme at the University of Cambridge, and a World Economic Forum Future 50 Leader.

She is also serving on the Harvard Business Review Advisory Council and the judging panel for the FAO World Food Forum Youth Policy Board. She has experiences across the UK Cabinet Office, Spanish Ministry of Youth, United Nations ESCAP, Peking University, the University of Hong Kong and more.

At Cambridge, Carter’s MPhil and PhD research focuses on designing governance models to turn climate tech innovation into a catalyst for equity, inclusivity and resilience. She holds a LLM (Yenching Fellow) from Peking University, a MSc in Economic History from the LSE, and a BA in International Relations (Dean’s List) from the University of St Andrews.

Nicolò Emanuele Passaro is an independent researcher, policy analyst, and climate and digital governance advocate from Sicily. With a background that bridges environmental sustainability, internet governance, and socio-political research, he has collaborated with international organizations including UNESCO, Restless Development, Salzburg Global Seminar, Student For Liberty and Youth Center for Research. Nicolò has served as Head of Communications for FAOU and a Delegate for the International Youth Federation. He is a Steering Committee Member of the UNCCD Youth Caucus and was selected as a rapporteur for the World Water Congress 2025. Passionate about youth empowerment, disinformation, and equitable climate storytelling, he focuses on connecting digital transformation with environmental justice. His interdisciplinary work is rooted in both academic rigor and engagement, particularly from underrepresented areas such as Southern Italy. He is committed to amplifying marginalized voices and building inclusive policies serving local communities while contributing to global dialogues.

Nancy Barisoa Andriamiarimbola is an award-winning climate justice, human rights, and gender equality advocate, and a software engineer. She believes in creating change through impactful actions driven by a deep commitment to sustainability and social equity. Nancy has earned recognition for her leadership and contributions, including the Best Team Leader Award from Huawei’s Seeds for the Future program and the 50 Outstanding African Women in Development Award 2024 from Donors for Africa. Her EcoShe project was honored with the Climate Justice Award by the Climate Development and Knowledge Network (CDKN).

As the founder and host of the Tanora Revolution Podcast, Nancy empowers young Africans to embrace resilience, compassion, and a positive mindset. Fluent in Malagasy, French, and English, she has represented Madagascar at prominent international forums focused on climate action, human rights, and youth empowerment. Her work has been featured in Midi Madagascar, Jejoo Madagascar newspapers, on a Youth Spotlight Show in Nigeria, The Responsible Citizen magazine based in Botswana, Place aux jeunes based in Benin and Global Landscapes Forum.

Esha Mitra is a climate action enthusiast, climate advocate and educator from India, who is passionate about improving the scenario for the youth involvement in policy making and solutions for landscape challenges, and engaging young leaders to take stronger and bolder actions for the protection, restoration and sustainable management of land. She is acting as the Global Focal Point of the UNCCD Youth Caucus. She is an active member of International Forestry Students’ Association (IFSA) and IUCN Commission on Education and Communication (CEC). Her interest lies in management and communication in the field of environment education, community and youth engagement, green skills and green jobs.

JulietGrace is a dedicated environmentalist and passionate advocate for sustainable land management and environmental conservation pursuing a career in environmentalism and advocating for policies that conserve natural resources and promote sustainable practices. Currently, she plays a pivotal role in mobilizing youth around the world to actively participate in the UNCCD’s mission as the UNCCD Youth Caucus GFP. She is also an Advisory Board member for the Gender, Generation and Climate Change (GENERATE) Project by the University of Leeds, and an ambassador with the African Youth Climate Hub