August 14, 2024 (SAN FRANCISCO, CA) — YLabs, a global nonprofit organization that works with young people to build a better future, is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Chinwe Effiong as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective August 19, 2024. Following a comprehensive and rigorous search conducted by the Board of Directors, Dr. Effiong was selected for her outstanding qualifications and her passion for elevating young people’s skills, vision, and ideas.

Dr. Effiong will take over from Dr. Rebecca Hope, who co-founded YLabs ten years ago and has been instrumental in its growth and impact.

“It has been my joy and privilege to have led YLabs over the past ten years. I am incredibly proud of our team, our impact in reaching over 1.1 million youth, and our ongoing commitment to enabling youth leadership, innovation, and decision-making on critical issues in health, climate resilience, and economic inclusion,” said Dr. Rebecca Hope, YLabs’ Co-Founder. “I cannot think of a better person than Dr. Effiong to steward our work into the next decade. Alongside her substantial experience in programs that improve young people’s lives globally, she shares YLabs’ deep commitment to amplifying youth power, agency, and opportunity, especially for youth who have been historically marginalized. I am delighted to welcome Dr. Effiong as YLabs’ new CEO and look forward to seeing her advance YLabs’ impact for youth, with youth in the years to come.”

Dr. Effiong brings a wealth of experience in international development, academia, and philanthropy. Most recently, she served as Chief Program Officer at the GlobalGiving Foundation in Washington, DC.

Prior to this, Dr. Effiong held several leadership positions at Michigan State University, including Assistant Dean for International Studies and Programs and Director of the Global Youth Advancement Network. Additionally, she has served as Senior Vice President at Junior Achievement (JA) Worldwide and CEO of JA Africa, where she managed multimillion-dollar portfolios to support youth-focused programs across 16 sub-Saharan African countries.

“Demographic shifts are creating youth majorities in various regions of the world. Yet many young people lack access to the skills and technology they need to thrive and shape their futures,” said Dr. Chinwe Effiong. “YLabs bridges this gap by equipping youth with the knowledge, tools, and networks they need to cultivate thriving, joyful, and interconnected communities. I am honored and thrilled to join YLabs at this critical juncture in its history and grateful to Dr. Hope and the YLabs Board for their remarkable vision and excellent stewardship of the organization to date. I look forward to working closely with Dr. Hope, the YLabs Board, partners, and staff to inspire another generation of global leaders and innovators.”

Dr. Effiong holds a Ph.D. and master's degree in International Relations and Political Science from the University of Delaware. She has dedicated her career to ensuring young leaders are equipped with the resources they need to create sustainable and impactful change in their communities.

YLabs has seen strong growth over the past decade reaching over one million young people across 18 countries. In the coming five years, YLabs aims to connect 5 million young people with digital products and services to enhance their health, climate resilience, and economic opportunity.