Youth Advisory Council
Empowering the next generation to lead the way.
The Comic Relief US Youth Advisory Council is comprised of eight trail-blazing young leaders from across the globe who work alongside our CRUS grantmaking team to inform our portfolio of grants.
Each Council Member receives a stipend, access to learning opportunities, training and mentorship, and the opportunity to co-develop a seed funding program for youth-led organizations. Youth Advisory Council members also direct and administer The Juntanza Fund, a grantmaking initiative that supports youth-led organizations globally in their efforts to ignite change around the world.
This youth-led and participatory grantmaking strategy further enhances our commitment to supporting innovative approaches to achieve our mission of a just world free from poverty.
Meet the Members
Eric Andrew
Eric works at the intersection of agriculture, data, and climate action to create economic opportunities for young people and marginalized communities in Nigeria. The 22-year-old leads AgrofixiNG, an organization that promotes food security and climate-resilient farming. His work helps young people, women, and smallholder farmers access climate-smart technologies, training, and better market opportunities. He also advises the European Union on youth-inclusive strategies, and as a Young Trade Leader with the World Trade Organization, he explores how trade can drive sustainable development.
Bipana Dhakal
Bipana is a youth advocate from Nepal dedicated to education, youth empowerment, and rural development. She founded The Learning Fortress, a program that brings creative, community-centered learning to remote areas. Growing up in a rural village, the 23-year-old saw firsthand the barriers to education that young people in her community faced, which fueled her commitment to social justice. Through her work, she uses storytelling—both traditional and digital—to amplify the voices of marginalized youth and promote equitable opportunities.
Jecinta Egbim
Jecinta is an educator, trained counselor, and community builder from Nigeria’s Kaduna State. The 24-year-old is passionate about mental health advocacy, self-discovery, and creating support systems for marginalized communities, leading her to create two mental health organizations:. Friends Advocacy for Mental Health Initiative and the Safe Haven Community, where she leads an art therapy event for children called Art Xplosion. She holds a bachelor’s degree in education, a master’s in business administration focused on humanitarian innovation and is completing a doctorate in business administration.
Ain Husniza
Ain is a Malaysian activist and founder of Pocket of Pink, an initiative promoting safety and empowerment for feminist girls through art, advocacy, and education. The 20-year-old fights for safer schools, better sex education, and policies to prevent sexual abuse and harassment. Ain works with organizations like the Children’s Rights Innovation Fund, and We Are Purposeful to ensure funding reaches youth-led initiatives that support marginalized communities.
Yazid Salahudeen Mikail
Yazid, 24, is from Nigeria and is a data scientist and advocate for climate action and sustainable development. He founded Nest Africa AI Innovation Lab and is part of the core team at Climate Change AI, a global non-profit that catalyzes impactful work at the intersection of climate change and machine learning. Yazid has worked with the UN Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data, The Iris Project, and the Ashley Lashley Foundation, leading environmental campaigns across Africa, Europe, Latin America, North America, and the Caribbean.
Emmanuel Cosmas Msoka
Emmanuel is a 22-year-old youth leader from Tanzania focused on peacebuilding, education, and sustainable development. Through The Changemakers Foundation and Tanzania Youth Workshop (two initiatives that he founded), he trains young leaders to tackle global challenges. His goal is to mobilize resources and empower youth to create lasting change. Emmanuel is also a UNICEF Youth Advocate, a Davis Peace Prize winner, and a Top 50 finalist for the Global Student Prize.
Chimdindu Okafor
Chimdindu, 20, is a researcher, abolitionist, and community organizer from the USA, focused on health equity and social justice. Howard University student works with the Justice + Joy National Collaborative on gender-based violence research and serves on the Tides Foundation’s Advancing Girls Fund youth advisory council. She has been recognized with awards like the James Patterson Writer Education Scholarship and the Ham4Progress Award. Chimdindu is also a writer, blending Black political theory and personal narratives into her storytelling.
Justina De Pierris
Justina, 20, is a political science student and youth advocate from Argentina. She serves with Girl Up Latin America, a global movement that helps girls develop leadership skills and advocates for gender justice. As part of the United Network of Young Peacebuilders (UNOY), Justina is part of a global network of youth leaders focused on peacebuilding. With 100 member organizations in over 50 countries, it was one of the key players in the adoption of the UN Security Council Resolution 2250, which promotes youth participation in peace and security.
