Growing up in Ethiopia, Sara witnessed firsthand the challenges faced by coffee farmers, especially women. Determined to make a difference, she embarked on a mission to transform the coffee industry and uplift the lives of female workers.

When Hyliene Atieno completed her studies in Hospitality Management in 2015, she dreamed of working in the hotel industry. But those dreams felt out of reach because every job application she sent out was rejected due to her physical disability.

I have always been an outstanding student, well-regarded by both peers and teachers. I graduated as the best student in my undergraduate program and was the only one to earn First Class Honours in four years, a record that had not been broken for some time. I never imagined being unemployed. With my academic excellence, leadership experience, and involvement in various activities, I felt confident and competent. Yet, nothing prepared me for the struggle of unemployment.

I am a healthcare professional shaped by a deep commitment to resilience, service, and transformative impact. Growing up in a context of fragility and limited access to formal education, I quickly understood the power of education as a tool for personal and community transformation. From an early age, displaced to Kenya as a refugee, I demonstrated a focused drive to overcome systemic barriers, pursuing my foundational education across fragile borders and rebuilding academic momentum where opportunities emerged.

Growing up as a girl in a close-knit family of six, I was passionate about leading and living a life worthy of praise by God and others. I always strived for excellence in all I did. My academic journey has been relatively smooth, despite some challenges along the way. I owe everything to God for His unwavering love, guidance, and support. I am also deeply grateful to my family and friends who became my backbone during difficult times. May their cups run over.

Like thousands of people in northern Nigeria, Ibe was forced from his home after an insurgent attack. He and his family ended up in an overcrowded displacement camp, where 3,000 people were crammed into a space built for only 250. Urgent needs were prioritized: food, water, medicine, and schooling. Not much attention was given to the growing piles of garbage. So, he began collecting it himself. It was not long before a few women volunteers joined him, turning a simple act of care into something bigger. Ibe soon realized that waste management was an opportunity that could transform lives. “These women had lost everything,” he says. “I wanted to make the rubbish collection effort worth their while, and something they could be proud of.”