Victoria Merab Akinyi is cofounder and team leader at Streetlights Uganda, an arts-based nonprofit organization. Streetlights Uganda uses art to empower street-connected children by discovering and nurturing their talents and abilities. She also initiated the Ntunga Program, empowering mothers and young girls with tailoring, fashion, and financial skills to enable them to care for their children and reduce the influx of children on Uganda's streets. Victoria holds a bachelor's degree in Industrial and Fine Arts from Makerere University. She is also founder and director of VM Interiors, an interior design company. Victoria aspires to use her talent and profession to alleviate the socioeconomic challenges that lead children to the streets. She is setting up a center in Soweto, a slum in Kampala, that can accommodate up to 10 children for classes. After completing the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, Victoria plans to continue with Streetlights Uganda and to establish an art academy for street-connected children and women as well as youths from marginalized communities. The academy's mission is to produce skilled artists who are prepared to thrive anywhere in the world. Victoria also hopes to create a platform that promotes the talents of street-connected children globally.