Cecilia Lesho is a youth advocate based in Kasama, Zambia, and has over 6 years of experience in social and community development work, and has worked with several civil society organizations. She currently serves as Program Manager at Bakashana Basambilile, an organization that provides scholarships to underserved women and youth in Zambia. Cecilia founded one of Bakashana’s most far-reaching projects, the "Boys for Change'' and “Girls Leading Our World'' clubs, which operate in 16 schools and youth spaces across Kasama and Mungwi in Zambia. Through this project, Cecilia oversees 14 youth coaches, who work with over 1,000 youth each week to develop their life skills and leadership capacities. Cecilia is the 2021 award winner of the Northern Youths Rise Up and Shine Award. Cecilia is currently in her final year working toward a Bachelor of Social Work at Information and Communication University in Zambia. She credits the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders for empowering her with the knowledge of critical social issues, cross-cultural skills, and leadership expertise required to deal with the opportunities, challenges, and lessons that await her as she makes social work her life’s mission.