We are excited to officially announce the Top 12 Finalists of the Opportunity Desk (OD) Impact Challenge!
The OD Impact Challenge was created to recognize, celebrate, and support young change-makers who are driving meaningful solutions to real problems in their communities. The challenge also reflects the growing impact of Opportunity Desk in opening doors and amplifying opportunities for young people across Africa and beyond.
This year, we received an impressive number of applications from passionate leaders, social entrepreneurs, and innovators. The quality, depth, and purpose behind many of the submissions made the selection process both inspiring and incredibly difficult. After careful review, our judges shortlisted 12 outstanding finalists whose work stood out for its clarity, innovation, and community impact. Each of these finalists represents a new generation of leaders boldly taking action, creating change, and improving lives within their communities.
What’s Next?
The application videos of the Top 12 finalists are now live on the Opportunity Desk YouTube Channel.
From this group, three winners will emerge, and you are invited to be part of the selection process.
👉 How to vote:
- Watch the finalists’ videos on our YouTube channel
- Like and leave a comment on the videos of the finalists you want to support
Your engagement counts!
Meet the OD Impact Challenge Top 12 Finalists
(In no particular order)
1. Mark Chester Tungcul (Phillipines)
Mark Chester Tungcul is a Filipino youth leader and communications professional with experience in project management, sustainability advocacy, and youth engagement across local and international platforms. He has worked with government bodies, UN-related initiatives, and civil society organizations, contributing to programs aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals, climate action, and inclusive development.
Known for bridging grassroots initiatives with global opportunities, Mark leverages strategic communication, digital media, and leadership to amplify youth voices and drive meaningful social impact.
Impact Area: Youth Leadership & Strategic Communication for Sustainable Development
2. Melicy Mandala (Malawi)
Melicy Mandala is a community development and climate action professional from Malawi, committed to advancing women’s economic empowerment, clean energy access, and environmental sustainability. Her work sits at the intersection of gender equality, climate resilience, and inclusive green livelihoods, with a strong focus on supporting marginalized women and youth in rural and peri-urban communities.
She is the founder and lead of Wala Women’s Social Enterprise, which produces eco-friendly fuel briquettes from agricultural waste such as rice husks. Through this initiative, Melicy equips women with skills in sustainable production and small-scale enterprise, enabling them to earn income while reducing reliance on charcoal and firewood. Her work directly addresses deforestation, indoor air pollution, and household energy poverty, while creating dignified, climate-resilient livelihoods for women.
Impact Area: Clean Energy & Climate-Resilient Livelihoods for Women
Click here to vote for Melicy.
3. Ogweno Stephen (Kenya)
Ogweno Stephen is a multi-award-winning global public health expert, researcher, author, and innovator, committed to addressing health inequities and advancing wellness globally. With a Public Health degree from Kenyatta University, a Master’s in Global Health from the University of Manchester, and Sustainability in Business Leadership studies from the University of Cambridge, Ogweno specializes in improving public health tackling non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and leveraging on health tech across Africa. As the founder and CEO of Stowelink Foundation (2015) and Lifesten Health (2022) , Ogweno has implemented transformative health programs in over 10 African countries, focusing on improving health literacy, behaviour and access to care. His advocacy emphasizes the inclusion of marginalized groups in health and policy programming.
Globally, Ogweno serves in several key roles, including as a Steering Member at WHO NCD Labs and NCD Alliance, and as a director at the World Obesity Federation, amplifying work in global health. As celebrated entrepreneur, researcher and author of six books, Ogweno has received prestigious accolades, including the WHO-AFRO Hideyo Noguchi Prize for Young African Researchers in 2022 and listed as Top 100 Young African Leaders. At just 29, Ogweno is a trailblazer in public health, inspiring impactful change.
Impact Area: Public Health Equity & Health Innovation in Africa
Click here to vote for Ogweno.
4. Lawrence Banda (Zambia)
Lawrence Banda is a youth leader, Junior Councillor, and social impact advocate from Lusaka, Zambia, driven by a deep belief in the power of young people to transform their communities. He is passionately committed to mindset transformation, leadership development, and civic participation, with a strong focus on amplifying youth voices and inspiring young people to rise above limitations.
Lawrence actively empowers youths through his work as a Peer Mentor and Schools Project Coordinator with Transforming Youths Mind Era, where he supports and leads youth-focused initiatives aimed at inspiring positive change. Through mentorship, advocacy, and community engagement, he encourages young people to believe in their potential and take meaningful action toward building a better and more sustainable future. He is deeply passionate about using his voice, creativity, and leadership to drive lasting impact in his community and beyond.
Impact Area: Youth Leadership Development & Civic Engagement
Click here to vote for Lawrence.
5. Akpevweoghene Okuse (Nigeria)
Akpevweoghene Okuse is a young community advocate working at the intersection of girls’ health, menstrual hygiene management (MHM), adolescent sexual education, economic Empowerment, and Second Chance Education. She works with Her Voice Foundation, as the Program Officer where she supports outreach programs for adolescent girls and young mothers across local communities. Her work focuses on improving access to accurate health information, sanitary products, safe spaces, and economic empowerment opportunities for girls and young mothers.
Through the Second Chance Education program, Akpevweoghene supports efforts to reintegrate out-of-school adolescent girls and young mothers back into formal education, ensuring that early motherhood or vulnerability does not permanently end a girl’s learning journey. She has participated in youth development and leadership trainings, including the Ideation Hub Africa masterclass series 5 Program, where she continues to strengthen her capacity in community engagement, program implementation, and driving measurable social impact. Akpevweoghene remains committed to creating practical, inclusive solutions that expand opportunities for girls to learn, heal, and thrive.
Impact Area: Girls’ Health & Education Access
Click here to vote for Akpevweoghene.
6. Sameer Khan (Pakistan)
Sameer Khan is a digital and community activist from Pakistan working at the intersection of technology, gender justice, and peacebuilding. He is the founder of Safar Buddies and Collective Pakistan, youth-led initiatives focused on reclaiming public and digital spaces for women through cultural activism, interfaith dialogue, and grassroots innovation. His work emphasizes safe mobility, women’s civic participation, and inclusive storytelling, using technology and art as tools for resistance, belonging, and social change.
Through his initiatives, Sameer has led programs that have engaged and mobilized thousands of young people across Sindh, amplifying marginalized voices and fostering collective action. By combining digital tools, creative expression, and community organizing, he continues to challenge gendered barriers to participation and promote more inclusive, peaceful, and equitable public spaces for women and youth.
Impact Area: Gender Justice, Peacebuilding & Youth-Led Digital Activism
Click here to vote for Sameer.
7. Eunice Adewale (Nigeria)
Eunice Adewale is a clean energy innovator and sustainability professional, and the founder of Smokeless Briqs Energy Solutions. With a background in environmental science and sustainable development, she brings over five years of experience advancing affordable and scalable clean energy technologies. Her expertise spans renewable energy systems, thermoelectric generator (TEG) technology, biomass production, and clean energy business operations.
Through Smokeless Briqs, Eunice is driving the adoption of cleaner cooking and energy solutions while reducing dependence on fossil fuels and traditional biomass. Her leadership has been key to scaling operations, developing technical solutions, and securing strategic partnerships that strengthen the company’s impact. She has received multiple recognitions for her work, including the ACT Foundation Changemakers Innovation Prize and the Nigeria Energy Forum Innovation Prize, highlighting her contribution to sustainable energy innovation.
Impact Area: Clean Energy Innovation & Sustainable Energy Access
Click here to vote for Eunice.
8. Hamayun Khan (United States)
Hamayun Khan is a policy and social impact professional working at the intersection of education, economic development, and fragile contexts. He is the Founder and President of SolaTeach, supporting 500+ Afghan girls with English and career-ready skills under restrictive conditions, and he has secured $10,000 in competitive grant funding to deliver measurable programming impact.
He is also an award-winning author and published writer. His book The Death Within received the International Impact Book Award (2025), and his education and social impact work earned the Global Recognition Award (2025). He has written policy articles, book chapters, and op-eds on Afghanistan’s development, connectivity, and economic recovery. Besides, he has contributed through media features and podcast appearances to raise awareness on Afghan girls’ education and youth opportunity.
Overall, Hamayun combines experience in education innovation, development policy, and economic analysis, including work on infrastructure, connectivity, and inclusive growth. As such, he has founded Collective Impact Consulting, providing research and policy advisory across the Global South, and previously supported USAID-funded work as a Finance Analyst at Counterpart International.
Impact Area: Education Access & Policy Innovation in Fragile Contexts
Click here to vote for Hamayun.
9. Michael Sunmoni (Nigeria)
Michael Sunmoni is a Nigerian maternal-health innovator and the founder of SerielleHealth, a digital maternal-care platform focused on reducing preventable pregnancy-related complications in underserved communities. With over seven years of clinical and community health experience, he has worked closely with women in low-resource settings across Lagos, Nigeria, gaining firsthand insight into the gaps in maternal care, education, and access to timely support.
Through SerielleHealth, Michael is delivering affordable, AI-powered maternal care via a low-data web platform that provides personalised pregnancy guidance, symptom monitoring, maternal education, and access to licensed healthcare professionals. He has led the development of the platform’s functional prototype, expanded its maternal-education content library, and coordinated maternal-health outreaches reaching over 1,200 pregnant women through education, screening, and referrals. With partnerships established across clinics and pharmacies, Michael is now focused on scaling SerielleHealth to reach 3,000–5,000 mothers, improving pregnancy outcomes and reducing maternal complications across Nigeria.
Impact Area: Maternal Health & Digital Health Innovation
Click here to vote for Michael.
10. Osmar Zaidan (Indonesia)
Osmar Zaidan is a youth social innovator from Indonesia and the CEO of Kita Korban Bullying, a national youth-led movement dedicated to eliminating bullying among young people. With a background in youth leadership and social advocacy, his work focuses on creating safe, inclusive environments where young people can learn, grow, and express themselves free from violence, fear, and discrimination.
Through Kita Korban Bullying, Osmar leads prevention-focused anti-bullying education, school-based programs, and community empowerment initiatives that promote empathy, inclusion, and peer-led action. The movement has reached over 100 schools across Indonesia, trained networks of Anti-Bullying Ambassadors, and built partnerships with NGOs, government institutions, and community organizations. Under his leadership, the initiative also launched Indonesia’s first Anti-Bullying Declaration, mobilizing young people nationwide to commit to safer and more respectful spaces.
Impact Area: Youth Protection, Mental Well-Being & Safe Learning Environments
11. Dabri LoĂŻc Nzalakanda-Noble (Congo)
Dabri LoĂŻc Nzalakanda-Noble is a young Congolese social entrepreneur passionate about sustainable solutions and social innovation. He is the founder of AquaPlay, an innovative initiative that uses games and interactive educational tools to raise awareness among communities about water, hygiene, and sanitation issues in both urban and rural areas.
With experience in community engagement, popular education, and advocacy, LoĂŻc is committed to transforming water-related practices by combining playfulness, education, and social impact. Through AquaPlay, he aims to foster collective awareness and responsibility in the face of environmental challenges in Africa. He firmly believes that well-informed communities can become powerful agents of sustainable change.
Impact Area: Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH) Education & Community Awareness
12. Wongani Mulanga (Malawi)
Wongani Mulanga is an environmentalist committed to expanding access to clean energy and education in Malawi. She co-founded Green Minds, where she helps lead youth-driven efforts that support students in rural communities through practical, sustainable solutions. Her work reflects a strong belief in community empowerment and meaningful youth participation. Wongani continues to push for approaches that bring real impact to both people and the environment.
Impact Area: Clean Energy Access & Environmental Sustainability
Click here to vote for Wongani.
Voting begins on Friday, December 19, ends on Wednesday, December 24, 2025.
The top 3 winners will be announced on Monday, December 29, 2025.
We celebrate every applicant who took the bold step to apply and share their story. The OD Impact Challenge continues to affirm the belief that one opportunity can change a life, and many lives can change the world.
Thank you for supporting these incredible change-makers đź’›
