2020
David Karorero
- Age: 30
- | He/him/his
Region:
Country of Origin:
Country of Residence:
Expertise Areas:
Social norms transformation efforts must be formalised within humanitarian action to ensure a sustainable and international solidarity within humanitarian action response.
- David Karorero
Bio
David Karorero is a Burundi/Denmark global youth advocate, Founder of Burundian Youth for a Brighter Future, an organization intervening in the mental health and psychosocial support and youth participation for youth and women living in emergency settings (refugee camps) in 7 countries.
David is also the 2020 World Dignity Project Mental Health Champion Award, David has been recognized locally and internationally for his efforts in mental health equity
David is also part of the Lancet Commission on Global Mental Health and part of the MyMindOurHumanity Campaign.
David is now serving as a Youth Sounding Board Member for the European Union Commission for International Partnerships to advise the Commissioner for International Partnerships on the relevance and effectiveness of EU external action when it comes to youth.
What ignited your pursuit for gender equality?
I grew up in a country where gender equality is still taboo. My experience as a refugee showed me how women are likely to have more difficulties during war and humanitarian settings. That's why I put women refugees’ rights at the center of all my discussions.
Please share your biggest wins as an advocate for gender equality.
I have been recognized with the 2020 World Dignity Project Mental Health Champion Award. I presented a winning solution during the WHO Global Dialogue on Financing for Prevention and Control of NCDs in April 2018, a project on how to integrate mental health support into the routine of a refugee camp on a special focus for pregnant women. I have also spoken on different stages about refugees where I always put a special emphasis on pregnant women or survivors of sexual assault in order to generate solutions designed to them, and contributed to the first ever European Union Youth Action Plan for the (2022-2027) exercise.
Outside of your gender equality advocacy work, what do you enjoy doing?
Reaching out of the people in my community especially with those with a marginalized background, reading books, and practice sports.
Languages Spoken:
- Danish (Advanced/Native)
- English (Advanced/Native)
- French (Advanced/Native)
- Kinyarwanda (Advanced/Native)
- Kirundi (Advanced/Native)
- Kiswahili (Advanced/Native)
- English (Advanced/Native)
Publications:
Speaks On:
- migrant and refugee empowerment
- mental health psychosocial support in humanitarian settings
- youth participation in global decision-making process
Past Awards, Certifications, or Fellowships:
- Youth Innovation Lab for Solutions on NCD's (2018)
- UNLEASH (2017)
- Human Rights and Environment by UNITAR
- Certificate of Completion by IYAFP
- Certificate of Achievement by the Global School Program
- Leadership Certificate by Mariager Hojskole
- Theology by Mariager hojskole
