We are thrilled to announce the latest additions to the YCJF leadership team: Mercy Otekra and Cherelle Fruean! With their extensive backgrounds, refreshing enthusiasm and unwavering commitment to social and climate justice advocacy, they are set to bring innovative perspectives and powerful expertise to our work and mission in key areas such as grants and community management.
Mercy Otekra: A Navigator of Global Philanthropy and Intersectional Feminism
Mercy (She/Her) joins us from Nairobi, Kenya, as the new Participative Grants Manager, bringing with her a profound dedication to intersectional feminism and international development.
At the YCJF, Mercy will focus on transforming our participatory grantmaking through strategic facilitation, training, and continuous improvement across global regions, ensuring effective decentralized implementation and robust safeguarding practices.
‘‘I look forward to leveraging my feminist philanthropy background towards supporting a fully decentralized participatory grantmaking model for YCJF, that is responsive and aligned to our partners needs and contexts’’.
As a passionate advocate for social justice, Mercy has worked to implement shared and collaborative approaches to grant-making, emphasizing the importance of shifting power from funders to local experts and communities. Through the last years, Mercy has been instrumental in shaping feminist foreign development policies in countries like Germany and the Netherlands. She has contributed to broad civil society perspectives on inclusivity, particularly focusing on women's rights, gender justice, and climate change mitigation strategies.
Cherelle Fruean: A Pacific Advocate for Climate Justice With a Focus on Youth Empowerment
Cherelle (She/Her) steps into the role of Community Manager with a rich background in climate justice and social change advocacy. Originally from Samoa, and currently based in New Zealand, Cherelle has a deep connection to the Pacific region and a passion for uplifting its stories.
‘‘As a Pacific Islander, I have a very strong sense of commitment to community and climate justice. Being from a country that is at the very frontline of the climate crises means that working at YCJF is so much more than a job for me, it’s ensuring the survival of my home’’.
Performing a traditional Siva Samoa (Samoan dance) with the Pacific Climate Warriors at the COP28 Power Up Action. The dance was introduced as a sacred tradition at risk of losing to climate change.
In her role, Cherelle will be responsible for building frameworks to connect YCJF's grantee partners with capacity development providers, tailor support through partnerships within the ecosystem, and develop tools to enhance program effectiveness and well-being integration.
With over a decade of experience in the development space, Cherelle has focused on youth, feminism, and climate change. As a Pacific Climate Warrior, she emphasizes the importance of incorporating indigenous stories into the broader climate narrative. Her previous roles as an Advisor for FRIDA | The Young Feminist Fund and Regional Lead for the YCJF have shown her commitment to support youth-led, grassroots organizations within the socio environmental landscape.
Looking Ahead
The addition of Mercy and Cherelle to our team marks an exciting chapter in our ongoing journey towards more sustainable and equitable futures. Aside from their common love for traveling and exploring new cultures, their combined expertise and passion will drive our mission and purpose forward, ensuring that we continue to support and empower next generation leaders around the world!
‘‘YCJF for me is just that place that brings great and inspiring minds together towards a shared vision. It's truly the literal definition of teamwork making the dream work!’’, says Mercy.
‘‘This is truly a dream job for me and I am feeling very blessed coming into the Community Manager role. Something I really value about YCJF is how care and compassion is a daily practice’’, compliments Cherelle.
For more information about YCJF and our initiatives, please visit https://ycjf.org/about/#about-missionPurpose.