On Monday, October 2 at 9am ET, the YES program hosted the Networking: YES and Beyond Webinar for YES and YES Abroad alumni. In this interactive session, webinar attendees learned skills in relationship building, how to reach out to potential collaborators, and heard experience shared from seasoned YES alumni.

The Networking: YES and Beyond Webinar featured an expert guest speaker and eleven YES alumni with experience in developing partnerships for community projects. Following the panelists' presentations, attendees had the chance to ask questions in the Q&A portion of the event. ASL interpretation and live captioning were available at the event.

Meet the guest speakers:

Dr. Sam Potolicchio (Founding Executive Director of American Councils For International Education's Center for Global Leadership) was named one of “America’s Best Professors” by the Princeton Review, the Future Leader of American Higher Education by the Association of Colleges and Universities and was also profiled in a cover story on his leadership curriculum by Newsweek Japan as the "Best Professor in America". Potolicchio has delivered lectures in over 85 countries, from Oxford, LSE, Cambridge and Yale to Iraq's Komar University and Donetsk State University.

Semra Amet (YES 2010-2011, North Macedonia, placed by FLEX in Powell, OH) is a Project Officer at the Network of Association of Local Authorities of South-East Europe, leading activities in energy transition, green agenda and climate.

She is a master of International Law and the Law of the European Union. Her past experiences include projects on local services, international education, human rights & gender equality, democratic and political culture, peacebuilding and interethnic dialogue.

Maryan Karmoker (YES 2012-2013, Bangladesh, placed by AFS in Pinckney, MI) is the former General Secretary and External Affairs Officer of YES Alumni Association, Bangladesh, and has worked on projects focusing on women empowerment and youth development. Maryan is currently working as a Business Support Assistant, Programme and Strategy at World Food Programme, United Nations.

Dr. Lukolm Nendi Solomon (YES 2005-2006, Nigeria, placed by IRIS in Washington County IA) is currently employed as the Medical Superintendent 82 Division Military Hospital and Services Nigeria. Hailing from Plateau State, Nigeria, he has been the recipient grants, including the 2022 Global Village on the Move with the Ioccoca Institute.

Ochanya Okoh (YES 2011-2012, Nigeria, placed by World Link in Williamsburg, IA) is a passionate advocate for gender equality within the tech sector, and is the visionary behind Tech for Girls, a program dedicated to empowering teenage girls with digital skills and mentorship. This initiative is crafted to sow the seeds of ICT education and foster a tech-centric career path for young women.

An alumna of the Kennedy Lugar Youth Exchange and Study Program, Ochanya was hosted in Williamsburg, Iowa, an experience she credits for igniting her fervor for instigating change and propelling her on her journey of leadership. Having served as a former special assistant to the Governor of Kaduna State and a graduate of the Kashim Ibrahim Fellowship Program, Ochanya is poised at the forefront of policymaking. Her driving force is harnessing the power of data to redefine governance in Nigeria and across Africa.

Muksin III "Jiro" Ibrahim (YES 2014-15, Philippines, placed by Greenheart International in Adams, NY) is an active youth leader who has initiated and worked on several projects in the Philippines primarily focusing on youth empowerment, environmental sustainability, community participation and social services. He is a two-time grant awardee of Greenheart Global Impact Grant and has conducted numerous projects alongside the local government and partner NGOs back in his country. Currently, he is working as an Administrative Officer IV (HRMO II) at the Local Government Unit of Brooke's Point while at the same time, establishing his own initiative/movement #WeAllCan dedicated to promoting collective effort for a brighter future.

Luqman Ramli (YES 2010-2011, Malaysia, placed by PAX in Gainesville, Florida) currently serves as the Associate Director of Regional Client & Business Analytics at a Malaysian bank. In this role, he focuses on driving digital transformation and enabling data driven decision making within the Group Transaction Banking division across ASEAN. Additionally, Luqman is an active board member of AFS Malaysia and a former President of YES Alumni Malaysia.

Humaida Tebantaa Kaleem (YES 2015-2016, Ghana, placed by PAX in Oshkosh, WI) is a fifth-year Doctor of Medical Laboratory Science student at the University for Development Studies, with a profound passion for the health and well-being of her community members. She proudly holds the position of President in the Medical Laboratory Science Students Association. In 2022, she took the lead in organizing career guidance and counseling sessions during the YES appreciation day. Tebantaa Humaida actively serves as the Policy and Outreach Officer at Girls Empowerment Mission (GEM-GHANA), where their mission is to inspire, educate, and empower girls and women through various empowerment programs.

She enthusiastically volunteers in blood donation drives and community health outreach initiatives, allowing her to expand her network and connect with like-minded individuals. In the upcoming webinar, Tebantaa Humaida will be sharing insights on the significant impact of networking on her leadership journey and how to effectively leverage networking for personal and professional growth.

Moustapha Elhaj (YES 2020-2021, Lebanon, placed by Greenheart Virtually) is the YES Alumni in Lebanon coordinator and has worked on several community development projects such as the Women and Youth Empowerment Festival and Financial Literacy Workshop for Lebanese high school students. He is currently studying Computer Science at the Lebanese American University and is experienced in community development, project management, and public relations.

Marwa SanAllah (YES 2020-2021, Israel (Arab Communities), placed by PAX in West Jordan, UT) is an ambitious Visual Communication and Graphic Design student and freelancer. She is also a part time English teacher at Helen Doron. Marwa enjoys nature, hikes, coffee shops, and people.

Mouhamedoune Dame Ndieguene (YES 2014-2015, Senegal, placed by AFS in Cleveland Heights , OH) is a young African leader, driven by a profound belief in the transformative power of education, discipline, dedication and open-mindedness. A dynamic and problem solving oriented, Mouhamedoune thrives on taking initiative and has passion for entrepreneurship and exploring opportunities. He is currently serving as the founder and CEO of BETA (Best English Training Academy). His drive for impactful initiatives led him to cofound Weeto (meaning "you are not alone" in Wolof). Weeto is an organization which raises awareness on mental health in Africa. Mouhamedoune is deeply committed to projects that uplift vulnerable populations, aligning with his vision to contribute meaningfully to Senegal's development, leveraging his multifaceted digital skills, expertise and network.

Lea Abdel Khalek (YES 2021–2022, Lebanon, placed by AFS in Carroll, OH) Founder of the first non-political youth-led club in her village known as MBYC, or Majdel Baana Youth Club, which deals with everything related to community service and pushing the youth to spend their time more efficiently volunteering for a cause that’s developing in her village. She has worked on multiple youth engagement projects, and has over four years of experience in the field.