Kectil World Youth Network

Speaker Name : Salif SANOU
Host Name : Nabila Abbas

Podcast Title : “Growing Up in Conflict: Inside Burkina Faso’s Hidden Crisis” Featuring Salif from Burkina Faso

Description : In this powerful episode of the Kectil Youth Podcast, host Nabila Abbas sits down with Salif from Burkina Faso to explore what it truly means to grow up amid ongoing conflict. Moving beyond headlines, the conversation sheds light on the human side of insecurity since 2015—how violence, displacement, and uncertainty have reshaped daily life, education, and opportunities for young people. Salif shares his personal journey from hardship to purpose, his decision to pursue English education in a French-speaking country, and his vision to create a youth-centered English learning space that fosters growth, resilience, and opportunity. This episode is not just about crisis—it is a story of courage, leadership, and the determination to build a better future despite the odds.

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Speaker: Lenaa Kumar
Host: Ashwathy Venugopal

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Speaker: Lenaa Kumar
Host: Ashwathy Venugopal

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Speakers: Christelle Barakat
Host: Ashwathy Venugopal

Description:
In this deeply moving episode, we speak with Christelle Barakat, a youth leader and Kectil Global Board Member from Lebanon, who shares what it truly means to grow up in the shadow of war. From daily life amid conflict and economic crisis to navigating fear, identity, and hope—this conversation goes beyond headlines to reveal the human side of Lebanon today. Listen to her unpacking the ground realities of living in constant uncertainty, battling with what she terms as ‘negative peace’.
Through personal stories, reflections on history, and honest insights on resilience, Christelle offers a rare glimpse into the strength of a generation living through uncertainty, yet refusing to lose hope.

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In this episode of the Kectil Podcast, we recorded a meaningful conversation with two inspiring youth leaders from the Northwest Region of Cameroon who are actively working within communities affected by the ongoing Anglophone Crisis. Through their personal experiences and professional work, they share insights into how the crisis began, how it continues to shape the lives of young people, and the challenges communities face in areas such as education, security, and economic stability. Listeners will gain a deeper understanding of the realities youth live with in conflict-affected regions, while also hearing powerful stories of resilience, leadership, and grassroots efforts aimed at promoting dialogue, peacebuilding, and opportunities for the next generation.

Speaker 1 :  Ngong Anita Ngeh Speaker 2 : Akem Aurelia
Host : Nabila Abbas

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Daliya and Darina are one of the youngest KECTIL colleagues of 2026
Daliya Kossanova | Co-Founder & CEO

Daliya serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the KOREM project. As a high school student with a deep-seated passion for technology, she focuses on the intersection of technical innovation and human-centric design. Her leadership is driven by a commitment to creating practical solutions that tangibly improve quality of life.

Darina | Co-Founder & CMO

Darina is the Chief Marketing Officer and a high school senior. She oversees the strategic outreach and advocacy for the project. Her work is motivated by a dedication to social support and a vision for a more inclusive world, ensuring that KOREM’s technological advancements reach the communities that need them most.

The KOREM project is a social-impact technology venture focused on enhancing independence for the visually impaired. The organization has developed an intelligent mobile application designed to replace traditional navigation aids—such as canes and guide dogs—with cutting-edge digital solutions.
By leveraging artificial intelligence and computer vision, the app provides a comprehensive navigation alternative, aiming to eliminate the insecurity and mobility barriers often faced by the blind and low-vision community.

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Sherry M. Knowles, Founder and Executive Director of the Kectil Program. In this special session, Sherry will share her personal journey to leadership, reflecting on the challenges, lessons, and principles that have shaped her path.

As Kectil leaders, this is a unique opportunity to gain valuable insights on resilience, personal growth, and the impact of strong leadership. This session will offer both inspiration and practical takeaways for your own leadership journey.

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In this special group episode of the Kectil World Youth Network Podcast, host Nabila Abbas brings together the top three Kectil Community Project winners—Favour (Nigeria), Fatima (Afghanistan), and Collin (Uganda)—for a powerful shared conversation on youth-led change. From breaking mental health stigma and empowering women in restrictive contexts to fighting child hunger through sustainable school gardens, this episode explores how young leaders are turning local challenges into impactful solutions. An honest, inspiring dialogue on leadership, resilience, and what it truly takes to create change—starting right where you are.

Speakers : 1-  ASINGYA COLLIN, UGANDA/ 2-  Fatima Abdullahi, Afghanistan / 3- FAVOUR OSARETIN EVBUOMWAN, NIGERIA

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Host: Ashwathy Venugopal

About speaker
Full name: Veronika Konyk
Country: Ukraine

Short bio: Veronika Konyk is a young innovator, leader, and founder of the HealthyHeart AI. She is a Paris Collaborative Global Fellow 2025. She has also been recognized as a winner of international and national competitions. Veronika is a researcher at the New York Academy of Sciences and the Junior Academy of Sciences of Ukraine.

HealthyHeart AI - an AI-powered platform designed to empower individuals to understand, monitor, and manage their cardiovascular health. The system leverages machine learning and deep learning algorithms to analyze user-inputted data, forecast the likelihood of cardiovascular risks, detect early warning signs, and provide personalized recommendations. It is designed to be simple, fast, and accessible to everyone, making critical health information easy to understand and act upon.

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In this episode of the Kectil Youth Network Podcast, host Nabila Abbas sits down with Marie, a 16-year-old high school student from Vanadzor, Armenia, who is already making waves through her community projects and youth advocacy. Together, they explore Marie’s journey into sociology, her initiative “Let’s Talk About It” for teenage girls, and her vision for empowering rural youth in Armenia. Through this heartfelt conversation, Marie shares how culture, community, and curiosity shape her generation’s path toward creating a better future.

Host Full Name: Nabila Abbas

Speaker Name: Marie Avetisyan

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