Erin Wildermuth, Founder and Executive Director  

Erin Wildermuth began the Youth Advocacy Network in Buea, Cameroon in the Fall of 2009.  Before founding YAN, Erin completed a Masters in International Political Economy at the London School of Economic where her thesis project documented the power of Non-Governmental Organizations in setting international policy specifically as it related to North-South power dynamics. 

Akwanga David Nkemtaji, Local Partner

David Akwonga is the Chief of the Technology Center at the Bilingual Grammar School Molyko - Buea and YAN's main contact at the school.  His dedication, hours of overtime and wealth of ideas are the foundation upon which YAN's program in Buea is successful.

 

Walters Chin, Local Project Coordinator  

Walters Chin is a twenty-five year old student at Buea University who has been working with YAN since 2009.  Walters coordinates all program logistics, runs orientation, and is available to YAN fellows throughout the year. 

 Clara Rowe, Youth Advocacy Network Fellow 2012-2013

Clara joins Youth Advocacy Network from Ecology Project International, an educational nonprofit in Costa Rica focused on empowering youth to take a role in conservation. Previously, she worked for the Environmental Defense Fund in Mexico. Clara is particularly excited to bring an environmental perspective to students as they analyze issues important around them in their community. Clara earned her undergraduate degree in biology and environmental studies from Amherst College.

 Josh Nathan, Youth Advocacy Network Fellow 2012-2013

Josh joined Youth Advocacy Network in 2012, and is thrilled to be working for the coming year as a fellow in Buea, Cameroon. Prior to his fellowship with YAN, Josh was an 8th grade writing teacher at Boston Collegiate Charter School in Boston, Massachusetts, as well as a 2010 Teach For America Corps Member.  Josh has also taught inmates in a Massachusetts jail for one year and spent 3 months teaching children in a rural community in Sierra Leone. He earned his undergraduate degree in English from Amherst College, and his Masters degree in curriculum and teaching from Boston University.

Barbra Bearden, Youth Advocacy Network Fellow 2011-2012, Grant Writing Consultant

In October of 2010, Barbra returned from Iraq where she managed a UNDP capacity building project in Basrah,  In Baghdad Barbra contributed to communication support, project monitoring, and grant writing for International Medical Corps. In the US and Eastern Europe Barbra has worked with a number of non-profits providing support and leadership for advocacy campaigns, membership initiatives, and grant writing. She has a Master degree in International Communication, specializing in global networks.


Heather Faison, Youth Advocacy Network Fellow - 2010-2011

Heather Faison is a digital journalist and award-winning web designer from North
Carolina. She is a graduate of Howard University and an Ohio State University Kiplinger
Digital Media Fellow where she completed a multimedia project on childhood obesity in
African Americans. As a YAN fellow, she will be teaching a New Media Advocacy class
at the Bilingual Grammar School Molyko – Buea and teaching video production at the
Buea Deaf School.

Joshua Whitener, Youth Advocacy Network Fellow - 2010-2011

Joshua Whitener graduated from The University in Washington before moving to Cameroon to volunteer full time at Buea School for the Deaf in 2009.  Since arriving, he started a computer class for the students, mastered basic Cameroonian sign language, and proved indispensible as assistant to YAN both at BSD and the Bilingual Grammar School Molyko - Buea. As recently made fellow he will finish off the 2010-11 school year for the New Media Advocacy class at BGS Molyko and complete the educational Sign Language DVD for the parents of deaf students in Cameroon.

Wegmuller ikone efokoa, Advisor

As an entrepreneur and artist, Wegmuller ikome efokoa owns a production studio blue drops studios and has directed and produced award winning video clips. One of his artists is presently a KORA All Africa nominee. He is a producer with a passion for quality work and the founder of Bluedrops Studios in Buea, Cameroon.

Gabga Stanley Miki, Advisor

Gabga Stanley Miki hails from Limbe and has been in cinema for eight years. As an editor, he began developing a love of motion graphics. In 2007 Stanley started working as a cinemotographer, editor and graphic designer in both national and international projects. He was involved in BREAK-IN a soap opera which won Best film by the public in Fako Film Festival and  MBELIGI a Doc-Drama which earned a nomination to the Nuff Global Festival for climate change.