It is our great honor to present the inaugural cohort of MIUSA Global Fellows!
The 2026 MIUSA Global Fellowship recognizes 24 MIUSA alumni from around the world who have shown outstanding leadership, accomplishment and innovation. These bold leaders are driving change in their communities, their countries, and the world, through their innovative approaches to complex challenges. Learn more about the Fellows and their work below.
2026 Fellows
Angela, Peru
Angela Giovana Marin Rivera is a translator, interpreter and linguist from Peru who currently works for the Superintendencia del Mercado de Valores Peru (Superintendent of the Securities Market of Peru). She is a proud member of the Blind Women Commission of Peru (CODIP), working to promote rights and better life conditions for girls and women with visual disabilities in Peru. Angela has contributed her expertise to projects about education, employment and gender-based violence for women with disabilities. She is an alumna of the Community Solutions leadership program, and MIUSA’s 2008 Women’s Institute on Leadership and Disability (WILD) program.
Anjana, Nepal
Anjana KC is a leading disability rights activist and feminist advocate in Nepal, who has dedicated her life to promoting leadership of women and persons with disabilities. She is Chairperson of the Independent Living Centre-Pokhara and Executive Director of Disabled Women Empowerment Center-Kaski, where she works to strengthen inclusive systems and amplify marginalized voices. Anjana was instrumental in drafting the Gandaki Province Disability Rights Act, contributing to shaping transformative provincial legislation. An award-winning leader and author of Bumpy Roads, she was recognized as one of Nepal’s 50 Influential Women (2024/2025) for her bold advocacy and lasting influence. Anjana is an alumna of MIUSA’s Women’s Institute on Leadership and Disability (WILD).
Asia, Jordan
Asia Abdel Mutaleb Yaghi is an activist, leader, and advocate for the rights of people with disabilities. She is a Member of the Jordanian Senate, where she is Chairperson of the Committee of Persons with Disabilities, and a Member of the Royal Committee for the Modernization of the Political System. She is also the founder and president of “I am a Human”, a nonprofit organization advocating for the rights of people with disabilities. Asia is a wheelchair user who is an expert in disability issues and envisions a future in which people with disabilities live their lives independently. Asia is currently a Member of the Board of Trustees of the Higher Council for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Jordan. Additionally, she is a member of the Union of Arab and African Women Investors and of the International Women’s Forum (IWF). Asia was the first woman with disabilities to receive the Al Hussein Medal for Giving and Excellence from His Majesty King Abdullah II bin Al Hussein of Jordan and is ranked number 16 on the global list of the strongest women defending the rights of people with disabilities. Asia is an alumna of MIUSA’s Women’s Institute on Leadership and Disability (WILD) program.
Caroline, South Sudan
Atim Caroline is a Deaf advocate and founder and Executive Director of the South Sudan Women with Disability Network. Caroline champions disability rights, gender equality, and inclusion, with a focus on refugees, human rights defenders, women, and children. Her achievements include successful advocacy advocating for Deaf rights in the 2011 South Sudan Constitution, securing 35% representation for women with disabilities in the 2018 Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan, contributing to the signing of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), and representing civil society at the UN Security Council on sexual violence in 2021. Caroline also consults with UN agencies and NGOs, leading initiatives across South Sudan and Uganda to advance inclusion and equity. She now serves as Secretary General of the Global Network of Refugee with Disabilities. Caroline is an alumna of MIUSA’s Women’s Institute on Leadership and Disability (WILD) program.
Dulamsuren, Mongolia
Dulamsuren “Dulya” Jigjid is Executive Director of the Culture Centre of the Deaf in Mongolia. She has extensive experience in inclusive arts, film production, and disability rights advocacy. Dulamsuren leads initiatives that amplify Deaf and Hard of Hearing voices, promote cultural participation for people with disabilities, and advance human rights locally and internationally. Her work bridges artistic research, social justice, and community empowerment, fostering spaces for accessibility, equity, and representation. Dulamsuren is an alumna of MIUSA’s Women’s Institute on Leadership and Disability (WILD) program.
Ekaete, Nigeria
Ekaete Judith Umoh is a global disability justice activist and scholar with over 20 years of experience advancing disability and gender inclusion in development. A Ford Global Fellow and honoree among the “100 Leading Women in Nigeria (2024)”, she is the first Country Director of CBM Global – Nigeria. She founded FACICP Disability Plus in 2000 to promote disability and gender inclusion in development efforts. In 2014, she was elected the first female President of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities, helping secure Nigeria’s Disability Act in 2019. Ekaete serves on global disability and feminist platforms including Urgent Action Fund – Africa, AWID, and the MIUSA international advisory committee, and has received multiple awards recognizing her leadership in disability justice and feminist advocacy. Ekaete is an alumna of MIUSA’s Women’s Institute on Leadership and Disability (WILD) program.
Gina Rose, Philippines
Gina Rose P. Balanlay is a catalyst for change, bridging global human rights frameworks with grassroots action in her hometown of Laoang, Northern Samar, Philippines. A Psychology graduate from the University of the Philippines Tacloban, she leverages her lived experience with low vision to champion the intersections of disability, gender, climate resilience, and mental health. As a co-founder and Treasurer of the Nationwide Organization of Visually-Impaired Empowered Ladies (NOVEL), she translates insights from international programs into local impact. As the director and local coordinator of NOVEL’s projects, she works in collaboration with partners like the Life Haven Center for Independent Living, the Laoang Local Government Unit, and local schools. Focusing on leadership, empowerment, inclusive climate initiatives, and sustainable livelihoods, she is dedicated to contributing to transforming her hometown into a model of accessibility and inclusivity. Gina Rose is an alumna of MIUSA’s Women’s Institute on Leadership and Disability (WILD) program.
Hanan, Egypt
Hanan Aly is a pioneering Egyptian disability rights expert and the first deaf woman to become a policymaker in Egypt’s Ministry of Education. Hanan is co-founder of Egypt’s National Council of Disability and a board member of both the Egyptian Paralympic Committee and the Arab Union of the Deaf. After losing her hearing at age seven, she overcame severe discrimination to earn a Bachelor’s degree and two post-graduate certifications. She made history as the first Egyptian deaf woman to graduate from Gallaudet University. Hanan founded the MENA region’s first Deaf Rotary Club and currently leads the Arab Foundation of the Deaf. Hanan is an alumna of MIUSA’s Women’s Institute on Leadership and Disability (WILD) program.
Hebel, Kenya
Hebel Okelo Ouma is the Chair and Coordinator of the Kakamega Deaf Association (KDA) in Kenya, and serves on numerous other disability advocacy boards and committee. Hebel has led policy advocacy at county and national levels, drafting legislation and pushing for enforcement of disability rights laws, access to education for Deaf people, and economic empowerment of people with disabilities. Hebel has a long history of teaching and mentoring Deaf students and as a peer advisor to women and girls with disabilities. Across all of his work, Hebel is a strong advocate for amplifying the leadership of disabled women, and for prevention of gender-based violence. Hebel is an alum of MIUSA’s RightsNow! Project.
- Hebel’s video message
- Kenya National Association of the Deaf (KNAD) website
- United Disabled Persons of Kenya (UDPK) website
Hellen, Nigeria
Hellen Anurika Beyioku-Alase is a passionate advocate for women and girls with disabilities and serves as the Executive Director of Deaf Women Aloud Initiative (DWAI) and the National President of the Deaf Women Association of Nigeria. She holds a Bachelors of Education degree in Guidance and Counseling and is currently pursuing her Masters of Science. Hellen promotes sexual and reproductive health rights and sign-language access for Deaf women and girls, and she developed Nigeria’s first sexual and reproductive health rights sign-language glossary. She presented at the 2018 Global Disability Summit and the 2024 World Health Summit on health equity, where she shared insights on access to healthcare for women with disabilities. Hellen is a multi-gold medalist para-athlete, who competed in shotput and javelin in 2012 and 2021. She is an alumna of the Mandela Washington Fellowship and of MIUSA’s Women’s Institute on Leadership and Disability (WILD) program.
- Hellen’s video message
- Hellen’s LinkedIn profile
- Deaf Women Aloud Initiative (DWAI) website
- Deaf Women Aloud Initiative (DWAI) Facebook page
Jenny, El Salvador
Jenny Chinchilla is an activist, psychologist, motivational speaker, and disability inclusion consultant from El Salvador, who considers her wheelchair to be an extension of her body. Through her work as a volunteer with Fundación Sendas, Inclusive Diving Foundation, and other civil society organizations, Jenny amplifies leadership of women with disabilities, particularly in violence prevention, health, sport and cultural inclusion. Jenny has more than 20 years of local and international experience consulting on human rights of persons with disabilities and inclusive approaches to disaster risk management, climate change, and humanitarian action. She has represented climate change management groups mobilizing people with disabilities at many United Nations side events, most recently addressing the UN Climate Change Conference in Brazil, 2025. Jenny is an alumna of MIUSA’s Women’s Institute on Leadership and Disability (WILD) and Training of Trainers programs.
Karine, Armenia
Karine Grigoryan is the Founder and President of the “Agate” Rights Defense Center for Women with Disabilities in Armenia. A prominent disability rights activist, she founded the Coalition for Inclusive Legal Reforms, uniting Armenian organizations of persons with disabilities to advance disability-inclusive legislation, and the Regional Disability Advocacy Coalition (2025), bringing together organizations from Armenia, Georgia, and Moldova. Karine has led more than 90 projects advancing gender equality, disability rights, inclusive policy reforms, and international advocacy, and serves on the boards of human rights institutions. Karine was awarded a full scholarship to the 2024–2025 International Women’s Forum Leadership Fellows Program, completing executive leadership courses at INSEAD and Harvard Business School. Karine is an alumna of MIUSA’s Women’s Institute on Leadership and Disability (WILD) program.
Lanieta, Fiji
Lanieta Tuimabu is a highly experienced Disability Inclusion Specialist with over 30 years of expertise in disability rights, advocacy, and inclusive practices. Self-identifying as a blind person, she has held key leadership roles including Disability Inclusion Specialist at the Fiji Program Support Facility (FPSF) and later the Fiji Program Support Platform (FPSP), as well as Office Manager at the Fiji Disabled Peoples Federation. Her leadership extends to numerous board positions: Council Member of the National Council for Persons with Disability, President of the United Blind Persons of Fiji, President of the Fiji Disabled Peoples Federation, Board Treasurer for the Pacific Disability Forum, Commissioner to the Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission, Trustee for the Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre, and Board Member of the Ministry of Employment Productivity and National Employment Centre. She was honored with the Women in Leadership Award at the National Disability Awards in 2021 for her outstanding contributions.
Loan, Vietnam
Luu Thi Anh Loan is a social work professional from Vietnam with more than 20 years of experience in inclusive education, community development, and disability inclusion. Loan is an advocate for accessibility and the empowerment of women with disabilities, and she has delivered trainings on disability equality and disability rights for educators, local authorities, and community members. She currently serves as Project Leader for the “Inclusive Education for Children with Disabilities in Can Tho City” project at Norwegian Mission Alliance – Vietnam (NMAV), where she advocates for the educational rights of children with disabilities and promotes accessibility, equality, and participation in inclusive education. Loan has worked on international development projects focusing on disability inclusion, accessibility, community-based rehabilitation, and independent living. Loan is an alumna of MIUSA’s Women’s Institute on Leadership and Disability (WILD) program.
Manique, Sri Lanka
Manique Gunaratne is a leading disability rights advocate working nationally and internationally to promote equality, inclusion, and the right to life for persons with disabilities. She is the Manager of the Specialised Training and Disability Resource Centre at The Employers’ Federation of Ceylon in Sri Lanka, where she specializes in disability-inclusive training, accessibility, and the use of information technology to empower persons with disabilities. Manique has represented Sri Lanka at numerous international conferences, trainings, and workshops as a resource person and speaker. Her contributions to the disability community have been recognized with nine national and four international awards for advocacy, leadership, and professional achievements. Manique is an alumna of MIUSA’s Women’s Institute on Leadership and Disability (WILD) program.
Martha, Ethiopia
Martha Z. Belayneh is a gender and disability inclusion advocate in Ethiopia. She serves as the Abilis Country Coordinator at the Ethiopian Women with Disabilities National Association (EWDNA), where she advances the rights and leadership of women with disabilities. Martha is an alumna of MIUSA’s Women’s Institute on Leadership and Disability (WILD) program and participated in the 70th session of the Commission on the Status of Women at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City. She is passionate about inclusive development, addressing gender-based violence, and strengthening grassroots organizations to promote the leadership and meaningful participation of women with disabilities in Ethiopia and across Africa.
Mause, Haiti and United States
Mause-Darline François is a Policy Specialist on Protection and Transitional Justice at UN Women in New York, working on the Women, Peace and Security agenda with a focus on protection, participation, and institutional strengthening. With over a decade of experience across Haiti and the UN system, she advances inclusive peacebuilding initiatives in crisis and conflict settings that strengthen women’s leadership and participation, including that of women with disabilities. Mause promotes safe participation in global decision-making spaces and recently serves as the lead drafter of a Security Council guide on mitigating reprisals risks for women civil society briefers. Mause is an alumna of MIUSA’s Women’s Institute on Leadership and Disability (WILD) program.
- Mause’s video message
- Mause’s LinkedIn profile
- Read Mause’s publication for UN Women, “Mitigating reprisal risks for women civil society briefers in public Security Council meetings”
Mila, Brazil
Mila Guedes is a Brazilian activist for the rights of women with disabilities, with an academic and professional focus on the intersection of gender and disability. She coordinates the Leadership and Female Empowerment training at São Paulo State Secretariat for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and AME NGO. She is a member of the National Front for Women with Disabilities. She was an international scholar at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, USA in 2024, articulating issues related to people with disabilities in higher education. Mila is an alumna of MIUSA’s Women’s Institute on Leadership and Disability (WILD) program.
Miyeon, South Korea
Miyeon Kim is Chair of the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and a leading advocate for disability rights and gender equality. She played a key role in drafting the CRPD, including the adoption of Article 6 on women with disabilities. With extensive experience in international human rights law, she works to advance inclusive policies, accessibility, and the rights of persons with disabilities globally, including in emerging areas such as artificial intelligence and digital inclusion. Miyeon is an alumna of MIUSA’s first Women’s Institute on Leadership and Disability (WILD) program.
Princess, Sierra Leone
Ramatu Princess Kanu is a disability rights advocate from Sierra Leone and the Founder of Women with Disabilities Yearning for Equal Opportunities (WoDYEO), established in 2019 to promote the rights, leadership, and economic empowerment of women and girls with disabilities. Her advocacy efforts supported the national ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) and the passage of the Sierra Leone Disability Act 2011. Princess served in the Sierra Leone Union on Disability Issues (SLUDI) and the National Federation of Persons with Disabilities, as National Organizing Secretary and later National Secretary General. Through WoDYEO, Princess has reached over 2,500 disabled women, advancing inclusive health services, leadership, and livelihood opportunities. Her vision is to see women with disabilities empowered as leaders nationally and globally. Princess is an alumna of MIUSA’s Women’s Institute on Leadership and Disability (WILD) program.
Rasanjali, Sri Lanka
Rasanjali Pathirage is a disability rights activist and the Founder, President, and CEO of the Nation Forum of Women with Disabilities (NFWD) in Sri Lanka. Born with a physical disability, she advocates for the rights of persons with disabilities, particularly women and girls, promoting leadership, economic empowerment, political participation, and independent living. She serves on the National Council for Persons with Disabilities and has represented Sri Lanka at the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) and the Commission on the Status of Women. An Executive Committee Member of the Commonwealth Disabled People’s Forum, Rasanjali recently completed her MBA, strengthening her strategic leadership for inclusive change. Rasanjali is an alumna of MIUSA’s Women’s Institute on Leadership and Disability (WILD) program.
Santiago, Mexico
Santiago Velázquez Duarte is a social activist from Mexico who has dedicated his life to fighting for the independence of people with physical disabilities, particularly fellow wheelchair users. He is globally recognized for his leadership and activism defending the rights of people with physical disabilities in Mexico and abroad. Santiago is the founder of a wheelchair rugby program in Mexico that assists with the rehabilitation of people with quadriplegia. He also designed an ultralight all-terrain wheelchair, the “Vida Independiente” (Independent Life), which has provided thousands of wheelchair users throughout Latin America with dignity and independence in their daily lives. His work has empowered more than 27,000 people with physical disabilities to recognize their potential, strengthen their lives, and open doors for their social inclusion. Santiago is an alum of MIUSA’s International Leadership Program.
Scader, Malawi
Scader Louis is a disability rights advocate who serves as a Commissioner of the Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC) and as a chairperson on multiple disability organizations’ councils and forums. She is a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (FCCA) with over a decade of progressive experience in financial leadership and governance. Scader works at the intersection of accountability and human rights, ensuring that systems, policies, and public institutions uphold the dignity and rights of persons with disabilities. She has played a leading role in advancing disability-inclusive policies, engaging legislators and policymakers to strengthen legal and institutional frameworks, and driving sustained advocacy for the meaningful participation in public life of persons with disabilities, particularly women and girls. Scader is an alumna of MIUSA’s Women’s Institute on Leadership and Disability (WILD) program.
- Scader’s video message
- Read Scader’s publication for Center for Inclusive Policy, “Securing Disability Rights through Inclusive Social Protection in Malawi”
- Read Scader’s publication for Humentum, “Where disability-led and locally-led development converge”
- Read Scader’s publication for Alliance magazine, “Flourish or fragment – how controlling the money matters for disability justice”
Shafiq, Pakistan
Muhammad Shafiq ur Rehman is a disability rights advocate, international consultant, and trainer from Pakistan with over 30 years of experience in promoting independent living and inclusive development. Shafiq specializes in policy advocacy, accessibility, and capacity building to create an inclusive and barrier-free society. As President of the Milestone Society, he has organized over 130 trainings and seminars, impacting thousands of persons with disabilities. Shafiq has led major inclusion initiatives with organizations such as the World Bank, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), UN agencies, and the Government of Pakistan. He has received the Government of Japan’s Foreign Minister’s Commendation and multiple Pakistani national awards for his work. Shafiq is an alum of MIUSA’s Pakistan Professional Disability Leadership Exchange Program.
