Nura Yunus

Mastercard Foundation – Lead, Onboarding, Inclusion and Wellbeing

Nura Yunus  (she/her) is an Eritrean-Canadian Muslim born and raised in Toronto, the territory covered by the Dish With One Spoon Wampum Belt Covenant. Nura has over ten years of experience working in program design and delivery, community development and workshop facilitation with and for grassroots, non-profit and philanthropic organizations. She is passionate about advocacy and inclusion of marginalized groups including refugee and displaced people, women and girls, people living with disabilities, LGBTQ+, and Indigenous Peoples of Canada. She currently works to support young people from marginalized backgrounds to access, thrive, and transition to employment with the Mastercard Foundation as Lead, Onboarding, Inclusion and Wellbeing in the Scholars Program. Nura has an Honours Bachelor of Arts from the University of Toronto and a Post-Graduate Certificate in International Development Project Management from Humber College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning

Judy Moholobela

Judy is the Coordinator in the Office of the CEO at African Leadership Academy. Her position serves as the heart that drives the core of the organization, ensuring alignment between the CEO’s office and the mission of the Academy. She acts as the coordinating partner for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, supporting the holistic well-being of scholars and designing and facilitating processes for the Scholars Entrepreneurship Fund.  She is the founder of the Youth Connect Market, a platform for young entrepreneurs to showcase their talents and author of the book ‘‘Career Guidance in a Backpack’.

Collette Utetanase Ganza

Scholar Representative of the Mastercard Foundation at the University of Rwanda

Collette is a dedicated Scholar Representative of the Mastercard Foundation at the University of Rwanda, pursuing a degree in clinical psychology. Passionate about mental health advocacy, Collette holds a Mental Health Champion certificate and is the founder of the Sanga Inshuti Initiative.

At Sanga Inshuti, Collette spearheads efforts to promote student-led solutions and reduce stigma surrounding mental health in academic settings. Through various activities, she empowers students to transition into their next life chapters with resilience and become catalysts for positive change in their communities.

Prof. Fatoumata Ba

Je suis psychiatre, thérapeute familiale et systémicienne, diplômée de la Faculté de Médecine et de Pharmacie de l’Université Cheikh Anta Diop de Dakar. J’ai eu à travailler dans différentes structures de santé mentale du pays dans le cadre de ma formation avant d’être recrutée par la Fonction publique et affectée au Centre Hospitalier National Universitaire de Fann, en 2006. De 2006 à 2011, j’ai été médecin chef de l’unité d’hospitalisation “Etage Gauche ” de la clinique psychiatrique Moussa Diop de l’hôpital de Fann. J’ai été aussi enseignante vacataire à l’institut de recherche et d’enseignement en psychopathologie de l’Université Cheikh Anta Diop de Dakar (IREP), de 2008 à 2011. 

Depuis 2011, je suis enseignante chercheure à l’UFR des Sciences de la santé de l’Université Gaston Berger de Saint-Louis. Je travaille aussi au service de psychiatrie du Centre Hospitalier régional de Saint-Louis. Je suis, depuis 2022,  Maître de conférences agrégée de physiologie humaine. Je participe à des travaux de recherche portant sur la santé mentale des étudiants, dans le cadre d’études multicentriques (Cameroun, Algérie, Sénégal, Congo). En 2019, j’ai été aussi lauréate du prix l’Oréal-Unesco pour les femmes en sciences en Afrique sub-saharienne. Je suis membre de sociétés savantes, parmi lesquelles la Société africaine des neurosciences (SONA), la Société de Physiologie et de Biologie intégrative, la Société africaine de Santé mentale, la Société africaine de Physiologie et de Physiopathologie, la Société française de Recherche et Médecine du sommeil, entre autres.

Actuellement, je suis la présidente du Comité chargé de la mise en place de la structure de santé mentale à l’UGB.

Benjamin MOUTOUAMA

Graduated in Internet and Multimedia at the Institute of Training and Research in Computer Science of the UAC. Alumni of the Mastercard Foundation at the University of Abomey-Calavi.

Dr. Hanle Kirkcaldy

Head: Student Counselling Unit (SCU) / Clinical Psychologist

University of Pretoria, South Africa

Hanlé Kirkcaldy has been a registered clinical psychologist at the Health Professions Council in South

Africa since 1991. She has a background working in the private and public sectors and has been in the student counselling and development environment since 2004 – first at Stellenbosch University and currently at the University of Pretoria. Hanlé has been Head of the Student Counselling Unit (SCU) since July 2021. She holds a PhD in Psychology from North-West University, an MA in Clinical

Psychology, and an MPhil in Applied Ethics, both from Stellenbosch University. She recently completed a diploma in Business Management at the WITS business school as well as a training course for managers in student affairs and student success managed by Higher Education and Learning Management in South Africa. She has published in both national and international academic journals and has presented at conferences locally and abroad. Her fields of interest include the psychological treatment of mood and anxiety disorders, and how we cope and make meaning of distressing events, specifically in the area of post-traumatic growth. She is further interested in ethics as it applies to psychology and professional development, and the training of professionals in the mental health sciences. She manages a team of mental health professionals at the University of Pretoria with the goal to promote mental health and wellbeing in the student community.

Dr Yvan Butera

Minister of State for Health – (MoH Rwanda)

Dr. Yvan Butera, is the Rwandan Minister of State for Health since November 2022. He has a broad experience in senior leadership in the Rwandan health care sector. 

 Previously, he served as the Deputy Executive Secretary of the Human Resources for Health Secretariat, overseeing health care workforce capacity-building and development. Prior to that he worked as a physician at various district and university teaching hospitals in Rwanda since graduating from the University of Rwanda, School of Medicine in 2014, including five years at the Rwanda Military Hospital. 

 Dr. Butera has a PhD in Human Genetics from the University of Liège, Belgium and holds a Masters of Science in Global Health Delivery from the University of Global Health Equity.

Docteur en Sciences Psychologiques et de l’Education de l’Université de Mons (Belgique)

Professeur Titulaire des Universités (CAMES)

Enseignant permanent à l’Université d’Abomey-Calavi.

J’interviens dans le Département des Sciences de l’Education et de la Formation (Faculté des Sciences Humaines et Sociales) et à la Coordination de la Formation doctorale de Psychologie et des Sciences de l’Éducation (Ecole Doctorale Pluridisciplinaire « Espaces, Cultures et Développement »). Je suis spécialiste de pédagogie universitaire avec un intérêt particulier pour les thématiques de recherche et d’enseignement suivantes : Echec/Réussite scolaire et universitaire, Orientation scolaire et professionnelle, Education et médias, Pédagogie et dynamique universitaires, Handicaps et exclusions scolaires, Éducation familiale, Jeu et apprentissage scolaire, Psychopathologie de la famille.

Actuellement Vice-Recteur chargé des Affaires Académiques de l’UAC et Chef Adjoint du Laboratoire d’Expertise et de Recherche en Education, Formation et Orientation (LAEREFOR). J’ai une cinquantaine d’articles scientifiques publiés dans des revues nationales et internationales à comité de lecture et deux livres publiés en 2013 et 2021.

SANDRINE UMUTONI

MINISTER OF YOUTH

Sandrine Umutoni has served as the Minister of State for Youth since 22 August 2023. Prior to that, she served for 7 years as the Director General at the Imbuto Foundation – a non-governmental organization founded in 2001 by the First Lady of Rwanda, H.E. Jeannette Kagame, to contribute to the development of a healthy, educated, and prosperous Rwandan society.

Prior to her work with Imbuto Foundation, Ms. Umutoni was involved with international development institutions, immigrant and refugee communities in Atlanta, USA. Her contributions encompassed education, policy research, as well as promoting access to literature and the arts in both the United States and Rwanda.

With a strong affection for her homeland, Rwanda, Sandrine Umutoni has a deep passion for community development, social studies, exploring new cultures, and the creative industries. Notably, she authored her debut children’s book titled ‘Nayima’s Prize’ in 2016.

Ms. Umutoni’s educational achievements include a B.A. in International Relations from Agnes Scott College in Decatur, Georgia, USA. Additionally, she holds an M.A. in French Studies and a Graduate Certificate in Translation from Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA. She is proficient in French, English, and Kinyarwanda, and an intermediate level of proficiency in Spanish.

Dr Gandy Madzalo holds a Doctor of Medicines in Alternative Medicines (A.M.) Nutritionist Therapist, Lifestyle Medicine Practitioner, Wellness Coach, trained in Hydrotherapy, Physiotherapy. He trained with the Plaskett Nutritional Medicine College (R.S.A) Center for Nutrition and Lifestyle Management C.N.E.L.M (UK). Be Free Lifestyle Centre, IBAM Academy (India) International Institute of Original Medicine (IIOM) USA
He enjoys helping people to regain and maintain optimal health by addressing all aspects of the person—physical, mental, spiritual, and social—and providing exceptional, personalized patient-focused care. He loves helping people to optimize their health naturally and to live radiantly. He has facilitated Health & Wellness Programs in South Africa, Seychelles, Botswana, Swaziland, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Zambia, Rwanda and Cameroon.

He is the author of the book “Health is Wealth” Amazing Secrets to Excellent Health For You and Your Family. He teaches and coordinates health and wellness educational programs to both corporate and communities. As part of community outreach, he presents Diet & Health Talks as a guest on SABC 2, Melvee Production (Pretoria) MBC Radio & TV, Zodiak Radio (ZBS) and writes in a number of magazines and newspapers on Healthy Living issues He presents live cooking demonstrations on how to prepare Quick & Healthy Meals using disease-fighting foods, with a special focus on Weight management, diabetes, heart diseases, cholesterol, High blood pressure, cancer, eating disorders, food allergies and intolerance, gastro intestinal problems, chronic fatigue, hormones, H.I.V/Aids making it easy and fun to eat well. He believes in the whole person – body, mind and spirit educational approach to good health.

Some of the institutions who have benefited from Gandy’s Wellness Outreach includes: Bodicare South Africa, Bodicare Cameroon, Lighthouse Seychelles, World Vision, Standard Bank, United Nation, World Health Organization (WHO), Action Aid, World Vision International, British Council, The Malawi Institute of Management (MIM) Faith Based response to H.I.V/Aids, Reserve Bank of Malawi, TEVETA, Institute of Peoples Management, FDH Bank, Faith based communities, Orex Wellness Rwanda, Lifestyle to Health Rwanda, Goshen Naturals Rwanda, MAGDA Lifestyle Rwanda etc.

Dr Memory Muturiki

Director of the Student Wellness Service at University of Cape Town

Dr Memory Muturiki is the Director of the Student Wellness Service at the University of Cape Town, South Africa, she is responsible for the campus health clinics, student counselling services and is involved in operational research in mental health. 

She is a medical doctor by background healthcare practitioner, still in clinical practice with special interest in Adolescent and Youth Health. She was involved in the National Students’ Mental Health Survey that was conducted by the South African MRC across universities in the country. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree, a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery, MBA in Healthcare Management and is a PhD candidate in Public Health at the University of the Witwatersrand. Prior to joining UCT she has worked in the NGO and public health sectors where she participated in several health interventions at a national level, including the Integrated School Health Policy, the Adolescent and Youth Health Policy and the Paediatric and Adolescent HIV Treatment Advisory.

Mr Anele Siswana Profile

Pioneering Mental Health Advocate

Anele Siswana, a distinguished graduate in clinical psychology from Rhodes University, stands as a thought leader and trailblazer in the field of psychology. As a registered clinical psychologist with the Helping Profession Council of South Africa (HPCSA), Anele’s journey has been characterised by a relentless commitment to transforming mental health care and making it more accessible to all South Africans.

A Rhodes University Master of Arts (MA) graduate in clinical psychology and a Nelson Mandela University BPsych (Counselling) alumnus, Siswana has not only enriched his academic credentials but also diversified his knowledge by obtaining a higher certificate in Theology through Theological Education by Extension College (TEEC). His journey has taken him from Fort England Psychiatric Hospital in Makhanda to Dr. George Mukhari Academic Hospital in Gara-Nkuwa, Pretoria, where he contributed significantly to improving mental health care.

Siswana’s dedication to mental health extends beyond clinical practice. He is the driving force behind “MIND YOUR MENTAL HEALTH with Anele Siswana,” an initiative to increase access to mental health care services through seminars, social media engagement, and discussions on crucial psychosocial and cultural topics.

Additionally, Siswana’s impact transcends professional boundaries. He has emerged as a prominent brand influencer, partnering with various campaigns focusing on mental health, culture, identity, diversity, and inclusion. His role as a corporate wellness consultant further highlights his commitment to raising awareness about mental health and providing essential psychological and consulting services.

Lydia Winda

Senior Counselor at United States International University-Africa (USIU-A)

Lydia is a seasoned psychologist with 14 years of experience on Sexual and Reproductive Health, HIV & AIDS, Life Skills, Peer Counseling and Mental Health related matters.

She has more than 3 years of experience being the patron of peer educators and counsellors. Lydia is a mental health champion who creates awareness and is an expert trainer on mental health in the community who works with both the Youth and Adults as a counsellor, trainer and champion

M.Salim S. Wangabi

Clinical Psychologist and counselor at Ashesi University

M.Salim S. Wangabi is a Licensed Professional Clinical Psychologist. He is a counselor at Ashesi University providing psychosocial support and intervention to students and staff. Salim works with students on a variety of different mental health problems including Depression, trauma, anxiety, Adjustment to physical illness, Addictive behaviours, challenging behaviours, eating disorders, personal and family relationship problems, Learning disabilities amongst other psychological disorders.

Salim is currently a Phd fellow at the University Utrecht, Netherlands. He holds a Master of Philosophy in Clinical Psychology and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Computer Science from the University of Ghana. Central to his practice are psychometric assessments, psychotherapeutic Interventions, research, and teaching,

Salim’s goal is to assist clients reduce their distress and improve their psychological wellbeing. He uses psychological methods and research to make positive changes to his clients’ lives and offers various forms of therapeutic treatments adapting it to their context and culture. Salim often works alongside other professionals in multidisciplinary teams to deal with complex patient problems and develop a context specific intervention for each client.