Meet the Corps
International Youth Corps (IYC) members are a diverse group of promising young leaders from around the world, hailing from places like Dallas, New Delhi, the Golan Heights and Atlanta. Each Corps member is required to carry out a personal project that embodies RTD's mission in their own community, projects you can support by exploring the options below.
IYC MEMBER OF THE MONTH
Claire Sokoto (Nairobi, Kenya)
Planting a Seed of Hope: A Mentoring Program for Youth
Claire is an undergraduate student in Nairobi currently in her second year of pursuing a degree in psychology. Because her mother (Stella Sokoto) works for Kenya’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs division, Claire has had the opportunity to live overseas including a five year stint in Belgium. She enjoys travel, reading and having discussions with other young Kenyans about how to make a difference in their country. She notes that “through RTD I have learned that I enjoy having the same discussions with youth from all over the world and learning to see things from others perspectives.”
In collaboration with the Assignment Hope, an organization based in Oklahoma (USA), her “planting a seed” project is helping recruit local community members to upgrade their schools’ infrastructure and create a mentoring program for 8th grade students. The basis of the mentorship program is to motivate Seet Kobor’s 8th grade class (in a village called Maram) concerning the value of education to their future, giving them “a seed of hope” for greater possibilities. The program will also establish a new fund for the children whose guardians cannot afford to pay for their secondary education, which a major hurdle to young Kenyans receiving a higher education.
To support Claire's project, follow the link to the right & select "Claire Sokoto/Kenya" under Program Designation.
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OTHER IYC MEMBERS
Or-Tal Be'eri (Jerusalem, Israel)
The Work that Reconnects
Or-Tal Be’eri is from a Kibbutz settlement in the Upper Galilee in Northern Israel. After joining RTD’s youth Corps program in Israel last June, her IYC project strives to empower Israeli and Palestinian woman to engage in resolution of the Israeli - Palestinian conflict.
Niambi Brown (Atlanta, Georgia, USA)
“Because I Did” College Mentoring Project
Currently serving as the Director of Education for Junior Achievement of Georgia, Niambi is dedicated to quality education for all. Her IYC project is a collaboration with Corps member LaNovia Meuse on the “Because I Did” project, a mentorship program aimed at increasing college enrollment amongst minorities.
Shivani Chopra (New Delhi, India)
Street People Resource Center
A resident of New Delhi, India, Shivani is a lawyer by profession but in the future is interested in pursuing politics like her father, who is a local politician. Having accompanied RTD on its last three IYC trips, her personal project proposes the creation of resource center in Delhi, India for homeless adults and children, commonly known in India as “street people.”
Mahar Cooke (Atlanta, Georgia)
Ghana-US Child Ambassadors Project
A resident of Atlanta, Mahar is a dedicated supporter of the Diaspora African Forum, which works to encourage people in the Diaspora to invest in and/or relocate to Africa. His IYC project involves creating a Child Ambassadors program to empower children from deprived rural communities in Ghana, where he is a youth chief, to champion issues affecting their communities.
Mike Dean (Columbus, Ohio, USA)
The RS Dean Project
Mike is a native of Columbus, Ohio and is the Program Manager of his local Youthbuild Program. Having founded the RS Dean Foundation in honor of his slain brother, Mike’s project focuses on reaching juveniles either prior to their first offence or immediately after a repeat offense.
Candice Dixon (Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA)
At age 28, Candice Dixon has already built her own competitive consulting company – Dixon Solutions, LLC – a thriving website development, graphic design and information technology consulting company, which Candice manages as President and CEO. Active in numerous community activities, Candice is currently using her company to help strengthen the technology component of her state’s K-12 math and science education.
Rhonda Everdyke (Washington, D.C., USA)
Young Elected Officials Survey Report
Having worked in DC for five years, Rhonda has significant experience in the fields of policy, advocacy and communication. Her project is aimed at empowering young people wishing to pursue public office by developing a survey describing the challenges and opportunities of youthful elected officials.
Ely Flores (Los Angeles, CA)
Ely Flores has come a long way since his difficult upbringing in Los Angeles, California. Faced at an early age with the reality of social injustice, he originally turned to violence and gangs. Beginning at the age of 17 though, he’s embraced a lifestyle devoted to justice, equality and nonviolent change, becoming one of the most recognized young leaders of his community.
Lindsey Holmes (Newark, New Jersey)
Youth Entrepreneurship Series (Y.E.S!)
Lindsey C. Holmes, a native Washingtonian, has already founded two organizations aimed at financial literacy and social empowerment. Having joined RTD in Kenya in March 2009, her IYC project seeks to promote entrepreneurship to youth under the age of 21 by facilitating a series of interactive workshops.
Nitasha Kapahi (New Delhi, India)
India-Pakistan Documentary
A native of India, Nitasha’s is a dedicated cinematographer and social activist. Her project involves the creation of a documentary depicting the similar culture and challenges of the people of India and Pakistan, aimed at fostering common understanding and shared solutions amongst both peoples.
Chancee’ Lundy (Dallas, Texas)
The Selma Youth Conference
A proud native of Selma, Alabama, Chancee` Lundy is a successful environmental professional and community focused leader. Having once been named one of Ebony Magazine’s “30 Leaders of the Future,” her IYC project provides young adults with self development, as well as social and technical skills to impact their community.
La Novia Meuse (Atlanta, Georgia)
“Because I Did” College Mentoring Program
La Novia is the Director of the I Have a Dream Foundation's Gideons Project, which provides long term tutoring, mentoring, enrichment, and college prep for low income students. Aptly titled the “Because I Did” Program, La Novia's current project involves pairing 50 high school students who are interested in attending college with 25 minority professionals who successfully did so.
Morapedi Moreotsene (Johannesburg, South Africa)
Having joined IYC after its 2009 trip to South Africa, Morapedi works at Sonke Gender Justice Network, an organization which promotes gender equality, the prevention of domestic and sexual violence, and the reduction and spread of HIV and AIDS in South Africa. He previously attended Cape Peninsula University of Technology, where he volunteered as a HIV&AIDS and Gender Based Violence Peer Educator.
Kinya Mururu (Washington, D.C., USA)
Young Elected Officials Survey Report
A native of Kenya, Kinya is currently pursuing a Masters of Public Administration from Howard University in Washington, D.C. Her IYC project is a collaborative effort with two other Corps members that seeks to provide young leaders with dreams of elected office the tools they need to succeed in achieving their goal.
Enos Mutokah (Nairobi, Kenya)
Enos is currently in his fourth year at the University of Nairobi studying Journalism and Media Studies. He is also the lead coordinator for the Healers Youth Program of the PLO Lumumba Foundation Initiative, which seeks to build a peaceful and cohesive society after the post-election violence that rocked Kenya in late 2007. He hopes to break the country’s negative ethnic stereotyping, which has resulted in animosity and violence over the years.
Lony Natanzon (Tel Hai, Israel)
Born in Soviet Moldova, Lony Natanzon currently resides in northern Israel and is passionate about spreading the message of nonviolence through alternative education. Having traveled to over a dozen countries around the world, Lony believes that the key to building a world at peace with itself is to work with people on an individual level, helping them to embrace a humble and nonviolent lifestyle.
Mak Radicic (Sarajevo, Bosnia Herzegovina)
One of the IYC’s newest members, Mak was born in Sarajevo in 1984, where he lived through the Bosnian War from 1992-1995. A dedicated activist for peace and understanding in his home country, as well as for disadvantaged youth, his goal in the IYC is to gain the tangible skills in nonviolence and youth leadership he needs to improve quality of life for all Bosnians.
Julian Ramirez (Cleveland, Tennessee)
Julian is the co-founder of YouthBuiltMedia and founding member of Men and Women of Great Spirit, both of which address the lack of awareness and action among young people. Along with extensive youth experience as a mentor, tutor, and peer counselor, Julian has a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from Bryan College and is currently pursuing a Master in Criminal Justice from the University of Cincinnati.
Kathy Rodger Fernández (Brussels, Belgium)
Coming from a Spanish and British background with fluency in French, English and Spanish, Kathy is currently in her second year at Leeds University (U.K.) studying Psychology and Management. Previously she studied in Brussels and took time away from school to travel and work in Spain. In the future she hopes to pursue management consulting or human resources as a career and incorporate the knowledge and training provided by the IYC.
Aia Safadi (Majdal Shams, Golan Heights)
Originally from the Golan Heights – an area still disputed by Syria and Israel – Aia is currently a student of democracy and peace at Tel Hai College in northern Israel. Describing Dr. King as one of her lifelong heroes, she is passionate about continuing her nonviolence training with the Corps and developing a personal project that furthers his humanitarian work.
Katra Sambili (Nairobi, Kenya)
Mogotio Community Cultural Centre
Hailing from a remote area of Kenya's Rift Valley Province, Katra is passionate about rural development in Kenya. Inspired by the dialogue-based programs she witnessed with the IYC in Israel, her project seeks to foster reconciliation amongst Kenya’s main ethnic groups by appealing to their shared culture and history.
Shun Sheffield (Albany, Georgia, USA)
"I Realize" Green Rallies
Currently a readiness instructor at Job Corps, Shun visited Kenya with RTD in March 2009. He is now organizing a series of community events across the American South that seek to educate local officials, business leaders and citizens about the value of sustainable development.
