Lovetta Y. Qualah
Age: 29
Country of birth: Liberia
Role: CEO /Founder of Positive Actions Driving Safety (PADS)
LinkedIn: Lovetta Y. Qualah
Lovetta Y. Qualah, a young twenty-nine-years-old African leader from Liberia, is passionate about connecting with professionals in the nonprofit sector, particularly those experienced in providing health solutions to women and girls. Her interest also extends to health awareness initiatives focused on promoting proper hygiene among girls.
As the CEO and Founder of Positive Actions Driving Safety (PADS), Lovetta takes on a leadership role in driving positive change. Currently, she serves as the principal assistant and registrar at the Alexander B. Cummings Model Science and Technology School in Monrovia, Liberia. With over 10 years of experience providing administrative support to senior executives, Lovetta brings a strong background in organizational management.
Lovetta holds a bachelor’s degree in Biology from the Mother Patern College of Health Sciences. She is an active member of the Young African Women Congress and a fellow of the Young African Leaders Initiative Online Cohort 14. Her commitment to personal growth is evident in her attainment of a verified certificate of achievement in Child Protection in Theory and Practice from HarvardX, an online learning initiative of Harvard University. In addition to her professional pursuits, Lovetta is deeply involved in humanitarian work as the CEO of PADS for Girls Liberia. This organization aims to make a positive impact by addressing the basic healthcare needs of girls. Lovetta is also a licensed minister and serves as a worship pastor at Life Church Liberia.
After completing the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, Lovetta intends to leverage the knowledge and experience gained from the program to expand the work of PADS for Girls in Liberia. Her goals include mentoring, motivating, and empowering more girls in local communities and schools, envisioning a future where the possibilities, opportunities, and dreams of girls are not hindered by the inequality of basic healthcare needs.
Finagnon Ulrich Joyce Dossou
Age: 31
Country of birth: Benin
Role: Expert Consultant in Digital Communication-Marketing
LinkedIn: Joyce Dossou
Finagnon Ulrich Joyce Dossou, a thirty-one-year-old young African leader from Benin, focuses on public health in her project area. Her project specifically targets women’s economic empowerment through education and public health initiatives in Abidjan.
In her role as an expert consultant in digital communication and marketing, Joyce Dossou brings over five years of experience as a marketing and communication specialist. She specializes in bilingual expertise, knowledge synthesis, and strategic communication. Beyond her professional endeavors, Joyce is an active member of Rotary International, where she dedicates her efforts to voluntary social and humanitarian projects centered around women’s empowerment, education, public health, and environmental protection. As the head of communications for the Côte d’Ivoire coordination team, she collaborates with various national and international companies and institutions.
Joyce holds multiple degrees in Finance and Law, Business Administration, Marketing, and Communication. She firmly believes that women’s empowerment is crucial for a better future and serves as a catalyst for peace. After completing the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, Joyce plans to continue communicating, sharing knowledge, and working towards her dream of creating a better world.
Charmaine Aiziva Kahiya
Age: 33
Country of birth: Zimbabwe
Role: Medical Scientist in Computer Aided Drug Design and Discovery (computational pharmaceutical chemist)
LinkedIn: Charmaine Kahiya
Charmaine Aiziva Kahiya, a thirty-three-year-old young African leader from Zimbabwe, focuses on public health and scientific research in their project area. Their aspiration is to establish a wellness center and acquire the skills necessary to effectively interact with their clients. As a Pharmaceutical Chemist specializing in Drug Design and Discovery, Charmaine aims to make a significant impact.
In their role as a medical scientist specializing in Computer Aided Drug Design and Discovery, Charmaine brings nine years of experience in the life and health sciences, and is currently pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy in this field. Charmaine is also the founder of the startup Ai-Vaka Capacity Building. Through this initiative, Charmaine focuses on equipping low-income communities with practical skills and making STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) accessible to girls and women in marginalized communities.
Charmaine actively mentors with organizations in Zimbabwe, including StemFemmeNetwork and Elevate Trust, as well as global organizations like AFRISEARCHI-GIS, OWSD (Zimbabwe National Chapter executive team), 500womenscientists.org, and UNESCO. Their vision, after completing the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, is to enter the field of translational science, where STEM extends beyond laboratories and offices to grassroots communities. Charmaine firmly believes that African solutions lie within Africans themselves. Their goal is to empower women through education and access to STEM, ultimately improving their quality of life.