The ygap Story
ygap understands that people living in communities affected by poverty or disadvantage are best placed to understand the unique challenges of that community, and how best to direct change. We also believe strongly in the power of entrepreneurship as a tool for locally-led development. These two key principles are what drives the work that we do.
ygap programs are designed to accelerate the potential of locally-led business by combining economic empowerment with community development. ygap’s programs support local entrepreneurs who have shown the drive, talent and conviction to create change in their own communities through social impact ventures.
The role ygap plays is to support the growth of these entrepreneurs and their ventures through our unique model of development. Our program is structured around four key needs for early-stage impact ventures: capacity-building of leadership team, tailored operational and strategic business support, providing access to networks, and access to funding.
The roots of ygap are steeped in innovation, entrepreneurship and a determination for change. We’ve created multi-million dollar fundraising and advocacy campaigns, started and grown numerous impact ventures ourselves and have cultivated meaningful partnerships to fund our work.
In turn, we’ve run over 40 programs that have supported over 500 ventures. These ventures have gone on to provide opportunities for over a million people affected by disadvantage to break the poverty cycle.
ygap was started in 2008 by a team of young and enthusiastic volunteers, and has since matured into a high impact international organisation driven by its work.
Where We're Located
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Meet the Team
ygap’s global team are located across Kenya, South Africa, Bangladesh, the Pacific Islands, and Australia. Our In-Country Teams are experts in the local entrepreneurial ecosystems in which they operate, meaning that ygap programs are designed and delivered by people who deeply understand the context of the ventures they support. ygap’s Headquarters, Fundraising and Leadership teams are based out of Australia, and support the In-Country teams with the resources to deliver their work.
ygap Kenya
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Carol Kimari, Kenya Country Director
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Albert Kimani, Kenya Program Manager
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Anderson Njoroge, Kenya Program Assistant
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Periz Odhiambo, Kenya Impact Officer
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Mercy Munene, Business Development Officer
ygap South Africa
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Palesa Mabidilala, South African Country Director
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Hazel Mkwanazi, South Africa Program Manager
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Natacia Gwebu, South Africa Program Assistant
ygap Bangladesh
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Erad Kawsar, Bangladesh Country Director
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Mehrab Bin Tarek, Bangladesh Program Manager
ygap First Gens
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Marisha Nair, First Gens Program Manager
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Kim Nguyen, First Gens Program Coordinator
yher Program
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Kaitlin Tait, Director of yher
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Talei Goater, yher Pacific Islands Program Manager
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Katleho Tsoku, yher Africa Regional Director
ygap Fundraising
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Kaitlin Harasym, Campaign Manager
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Christie Raymond, Strategic Partnerships Manager
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Priya Ray-Hook, Senior Campaign Advisor – Polished Man
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Elisa Pizarro, Campaign Advisor – Polished Man
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Taryn Yat, Graphic Designer – Polished Man
ygap HQ
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Hedda Ngan, Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning Manager
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Eva Mackinley, Marketing and Communications Manager
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Yue Yamanaka, Graphic Designer
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Tishya Desai, Program Coordinator – ygap Collaborations
ygap Leadership Team
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Mark Harwood, CEO
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Lisa Hyden, CFO & COO
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Audrey Jean-Baptiste, Director of Strategy and Operations
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Jill Roche, Chairperson
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Aaron Tait
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Elliot Costello
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Cathy Scalzo
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Luyen Duong
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Sally McCutchan
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Demetrio Zema
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Tim Middlemiss
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