The Global Shapers Community is a network of local groups led by young people who are exceptional in their potential, achievements and drive to make a positive contribution to their communities.

These groups are called ‘Hubs’ and are based in different cities around the world, developed and led by outstanding people between the ages of 20 and 29. Since it was founded, the community has grown to more than 5,500 Global Shapers, and has the goal to reach 10,000 by the end of 2017.

Present in over 169 countries and territories, with more than 450 city-based Hubs, the Community are helping Global Shapers to develop and implement projects with local impact.

Here is a list of the Global Shapers:

1. Abdul-Latif Issahaku, Global Shaper, Tamale Hub. Data and Devices Manager, MTN

Abdul-Latif Issahaku is a passionate marketing executive who leads brands to drive products and services innovation.

Since 2006, Abdul-Latif has worked for two multinational telecommunication companies; the Chinese giant Huawei Technologies as well as MTN, Africa’s leading telecommunications operator.

In 2013, he launched the MTN Apps Challenge providing Ghanaian youth the opportunity to use technology to solve the litany of problems in Ghana.  About 100 young software developers have taken part in the annual competition.

2. Adelard Kakunze, Global Shaper, Bujumbura Hub. Co-founder & CEO, Burundi 3.0

Junior Doctor, King Khaled Teaching Hospital. In the last five years, he has worked with and for young people in Burundi as President of the Medical Students' Association of Burundi, working on a project of creating awareness on diabetes in high schools, and as Project Assistant at NGO RET.

In March 2013, he launched Burundi 3.0. and in October 2013, he participated in the One Young World Summit. Adelard is recognized as the 2nd Most Enterprising Student, under35CEO.co (2013).

3. Amina El Abed, Global Shaper, Tunis Hub. Digital Media Planner, Universal McCann

Amina is a Digital communication Specialist who has managed online branding strategies for prominent public figures in Tunisia, as well as international brands such as Unilever, Johnny Rockets and Huawei.

She is now a Digital Media Planner at McCann and a Communication Consultant for Radiomed in Tunisia and for TheBritish Council with a specialization in Strategic Communication in CVE. She is also a social entrepreneur in her hometown of Nafta through the implementation of a local craftsmanship project.

As a Global Shaper, she eagerly joined the Nordic Africa Business Forum initiative to contribute as much as possible to shaping strong and fruitful relationships between the two regions.

4. Anuoluwa Ishola, Global Shaper, Lagos Hub. Executive Director, Youth Empowerment and Development Initiative

Anuoluwa Ishola is a public health professional with diverse work experience in program management and leadership. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from Bowie State University, Bowie, Maryland.

She holds a Master's Degree in Public Health from George Washington University, School of Public Health and Health Services, Washington DC. She has worked in various public health Institutes. She is currently the Executive Director at the Youth Empowerment and Development Initiative (YEDI)

5. Ato Ulzen-Appiah, Global Shaper, Accra Hub. Director, Ghana Think Foundation

Ato Ulzen-Appiah studied at MIT and Stanford in civil engineering and management disciplines. He's the director at the GhanaThink Foundation which mobilizes and organizes talent for the primary benefit of Ghana.

He worked at Rancard as product manager building new revenue services off its platform. He worked at Google as a program manager building sustainable tech communities in Africa.

6. Caleb Meakins, Global Shaper, Addis Ababa Hub. Head of Corporate Strategy, Cambridge Industries

Caleb heads up the Ethiopian Entrepreneurs Association which he founded in London in 2014 He studied for a Masters in Civil Engineering in the UK and worked in the industry for a short while. He returned to East Africa to work for a Venture Capital fund called Novastar Ventures before returning to Ethiopia to develop and grow the Ethiopian Entrepreneurs Association.

The organisation works with the diaspora, governments and businesses to achieve this. He also leads the Corporate Strategy for Cambridge Industries, a renewable energy company constructing waste-to-energy biomass plants in Africa.

7. Chime Asonye, Global Shaper, Abuja Hub. Senior Special Assistant on Sustainable Development Goals, Office of the Executive Governor of Abia State, Nigeria

Chime Asonye is the Senior Special Assistant on Sustainable Development Goals to the Governor of Abia State, Nigeria. Previously, he worked as an Associate for the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President of Nigeria on the Millennium Development Goals. His career has concentrated on development, democratic governance, and policy in Africa. Currently, he also serves as the Executive Director of NaijaDC, a global, social conscious, collaborative network of leading Nigerian Diasporians intent on African development.

8. Elita Banda, Global Shaper, Maseru Hub. Alumni Coordinator and YALI Leadership Hub Manager, U.S Embassy, Maseru

Elita Banda is a young African female who is passionate about realizing the development of her country; Lesotho and the African continent as a whole. She currently works with the U.S Embassy in Maseru, Lesotho as an Alumni Coordinator and Manager of the YALI Leadership Innovation Hub. In her capacity as Alumni Coordinator, she works with U.S Exchange program alumni on community development, civic engagement and professional development programs. As YALI Leadership Innovation Hub Manager, she works with the U.S Embassy to facilitate workshops, online courses, and networking events focusing on Entrepreneurship, Public Administration and Civil Leadership.

9. Ephraim, Global Shaper, Kigali Hub. Chief Executive, Rwa Business Group

Ephraim is a serial entrepreneur; founder and CEO of Rwa Business Group. Rwa Business Group is a Rwandan based conglomerate with interests in commodities and FMCG, ICT, and financial services and investment management. Ephraim holds a professional qualification from the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants. Driven by the power economic empowerment has to change the continent's narrative, Ephraim, through Rwa Capital, invests in young and women entrepreneurs.

10. Faraja Nyalandu, Global Shaper, Arusha Hub. Executive Director, Shule Direct Ltd

Fajara established Shule Direct, a thriving organization committed to providing comprehensive web and mobile educational platforms offering local learning content across multiple subjects for learners in Africa. She has dedicated her professional career and personal life to empowering others to achieve their full potential. As a lawyer, she has the legal background to drive social change while continuing to comply with regulatory guidelines as well as rigorous industry standards

11. George Appiah, Global Shaper, Kumasi Hub. Hive Manager/Co-Founder, Kumasi Hive

As an undergrad student, George founded the famous Makerspace in Ghana, Creativity Group, which is a youth platform to promote innovation and the use of technology for social intervention. He is also founding partner of solar PV start-up, QuadSolar which focuses on providing affordable and reliable power for SMEs and homes and a co-founder of Kumasi Hive which provide multi-space innovation and entrepreneurship center with Makerspace, co-working spaces, training space and event space to support start-ups, innovators and the entrepreneurship ecosystem in Kumasi.

12. Gerald Chirinda, Global Shaper, Harare Hub. Founder/Executive Director, Tapiwa Capital 1

Gerald Chirinda is the Founder and Executive Director of Tapiwa Capital, a Zimbabwean based Investment and Advisory Company with a focus on start-up and early stage companies. He is also the co-founder of Educate which is a Specialist Education Finance provider in Zimbabwe.

The core goal of Educate is providing financial access to facilitate education. Gerald is the sub-license holder over Zimbabwe and the rest of Africa (excluding South Africa) of the eInvoiceFinancingTM system.

This is a unique, web based IT platform which enables Financial Institutions to view electronically validated supplier invoices which can then be discounted virtually risk free. Gerald enjoys starting up and building businesses and he is currently working on putting together new ventures in different sectors which he hopes to introduce to the market soon.

13. Hend Abdulwahed, Global Shaper, Tripoli Hub. Communications and SM Manager, M&C Saatchi World Services

Hend joined M&C Saatchi World Services in March 2015 as Communications Manager to handle a governmental institution account. She is also Tripoli Hub Vice Curator at the Global Shapers Community. Being a multi-lingual in Arabic, French and English, Hend has worked with local and multinational companies in various fields, such as, in communications with LAP GreenN, in administration in the United Nations, media, marketing, events planning, human resources, public relations and diplomacy. While networking, she had the opportunity to do some PR for Hill & Knowlton Strategies, followed by another consulting company JMW Consulting.

14. Jeanne d'Arc Umulisa, Global Shaper, Kigali Hub. Consultant/Economist, Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI)

Jeanne d’Arc Umulisa received her M.D in 2012 in Public Policy and Economic Development/Economic Policy from KDI School of Public Policy in Seoul S. Korea Her professional background was mostly in the government, she worked as an Economic Researcher at the Office of the Prime Minister in Rwanda dealing with different research and analysis in the area of economics, financial, trade and investments sectors also helped her to gain experience in planning M&E.

After two years she was appointed as the director of Planning in the Ministry of Gender and Family promotion which operating under the PMO where she was involved on daily basis in putting in place plans and policies in the area of gender equality, women empowerment, family promotion and child protection.

15. Johnpaul Barretto, Global Shaper, Dar es Salaam Hub. Community Manager & Co-Founder, Kinu Innovation Space/ Kinu Group Limited

Johnpaul A. Barretto is a co-founder and currently employed as Community Manager of the KINU Innovation Space, established by KINU Group Limited. KINU is a social enterprise, established by six young Tanzanians, with the mission of concentrating, growing and accelerating the Tanzanian technology and social landscape through capacity building and fostering a culture of innovation and co-creation. The KINU Innovation Space was established with funding from The Indigo Trust and Google Inc.