YAG Lightning Talks for CEPPS Partners

David Aragort is a digital rights advocate and researcher working at the intersection of technology, democracy, and human rights focused on the internet, freedom of expression, and digital authoritarianism. He is currently working as chief of institutional relations at the Venezuelan NGO RedesAyuda and actively collaborates with other organizations that protect freedom, democracy, and human rights regionally and globally. David is a member of the Generation Democracy network and has been a Democracy Tech Fellow of the Alliance of Democracies, Early Career Fellow of the Internet Society, and Open Internet Leader for Democracy with the Center for International Media Assistance.

Milagros Beltrán is a 22-year-old advanced student of political science at the National University of Córdoba, Argentina. Throughout her career, she has been interested in the inequalities in her region, human rights, gender and diversity issues. She has participated in different projects from her university related to these matters. Currently, Milagros works as an intern in the Human Rights department of her province, more specifically in the area of gender and diversity. She is also a member of the Red Ciudadana Nuestra Córdoba, a network of organizations in her city that seeks to promote the participation of civil society and citizens in monitoring and advocating public policies. She participates in the area of democratic governance.

Nayem Molla works as the Diversity and Inclusion Officer at Microgovernance Research Initiative. He is also a Master Trainer and Facilitator of the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) and SAVE Youth Bangladesh. He previously served in various capacities with the Physically Challenged Development Foundation (PDF) as part of his disability inclusion movement. He was also an elected member of the Kabi Jasimuddin Hall Union at the University of Dhaka. For his leadership and contribution to the disability inclusion movement, he was chosen for the prestigious Global Challenges of Youth with Disabilities program by Rehabilitation International (RI) Korea in South Korea in 2019.

Rashyd Bilalov is a civic activist and co-founder of the Youth Democratic Association (YODA), an NGO that unites young democratic champions throughout Ukraine to promote active citizenship and democratic values through education and public engagement. Rashyd has been working with various international organizations to strengthen democratic institutions through initiatives which engage more youth in decision-making processes on the local and national levels and is also a member of the Ukrainian chapter of European Democracy Youth Network (EDYN) and an activist of Ukrainian Students for Freedom NGO. Rashyd is currently serving as a fellow of the Community Engagement Exchange Fellowship, sponsored by the Department of State focusing on the issue of Open and Participatory Government and committed to advancing democracy in Ukraine.

Rosemarie Ramitt has been an educator and a disability rights advocate for over seven years. She is actively involved in the work of Disabled People’s Organizations, serving as the Coordinator of the Women with Disabilities Network for the Guyana Council of Organisations for Persons with Disabilities (GCOPD). Presently, she is working on the empowerment of women with disabilities who have experienced Gender-Based Violence. Her work includes the empowering of women with disabilities through education, skills training and capacity building. She is also a facilitator of the Youth Advocacy, Leadership and Linkages in Elections and Society (ALLIES) programme with IFES Guyana. She is currently leading research to map indigenous youth with disabilities across Guyana to better assess their needs as young people living with disabilities.

Ruth Ngozire is a 24-year-old Kenyan citizen. She is pursuing her Masters of Climate Change and Sustainability at Kenyatta University. She serves as a Research and Communication Volunteer at Regenerative Safaris for Climate. Her main duties involve researching and presenting core issues affecting young generations from conflict due to shared resources and the climate crisis. She has a background in Environmental Education with key interests in climate change education and human rights advocacy. She has a passion for tree growing and currently runs a programme of trees for schools to enhance Climate Action. She believes CEPPS is going to be home for her to advocate for human rights violations as a result of extreme impacts of climate change. Additionally, she believes in giving nature and humans a voice. That is what matters because peace and justice is a gift.