LeadNext Fellowship

LeadNext builds a vibrant network of future leaders Aged 18-25 from across Asia and the United States and supports their growth, impact, and capacity to address today’s greatest challenges. Asia Pacific Lochana Gayatri Anand Adivarekar | Age 23 | India Lochana is a Gender Trainer and works with adolescents and youth focusing on gender and sexuality. Currently, she is a Training and Advocacy consultant with YUVA where she mentors 13 researchers in the British Academy’s Youth Futures Program, which aims to create inclusive cities. One of her key roles is to engage youth in the process of policymaking and governance. Additionally, Lochana has initiated a movement named “Ubuntu” in order to create a gender-inclusive world, focusing on gender and sexuality education, by collaborating with colleges and youths. Mayabee Arannya | Age 23 | Bangladesh Mayabee Arannya is a feminist activist from Bangladesh working to end gender-based violence. As the Community and Strategy Leadat Kotha, a local feminist youth-led organization, she leads efforts to tackle the root causes of gender-based violence. Kotha’s work is at the intersection of education, research, policy advocacy, and art. Mayabeeispassionate about advocating for adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights and effective mental health and trauma management. She is a peer educator and peer educator trainer, facilitatingBangladesh’s first fully youth-led comprehensive sexuality education program. Mayabee has helped to organize multiple national protests against rape and sexual violence, promoting bodily autonomy, and gender equality, and calling for reforms of archaic rape laws. Ana Malia Melanie Angeles Falemaka | Age 18 | Tonga Ana Malia Falemaka is a first-year law student at the University of the South Pacific, Tonga. She is a youth ambassador and trainee at the Talitha Project Tonga, providing programs for young women and girls in Tonga. The programs focus on sexual reproductive health rights, confidence building, and self-esteem. Through Talitha, Ana is also a youth climate ambassador for Care Australia working on climate crisis advocacy. Recently, Ana participated in a panel discussion at one of the COP26 events titled “Cities for Children”. Additionally, Ana is a member of the With and For Girls Advisory… Read more