Jonathan Kesten, Youth Leadership Grant Recipient

Jonathan Kesten, 2007-2008 Grant Recipient
Montgomery Blair High School, Maryland

Update, September 2016:

Jon graduated from Georgetown University with a degree in Psychology and a Certificate in African Studies. By mixing his focus on cultural psychology and neuroscience with his affinity for Africa, he hopes to find new solutions to problems facing the continent.

After studying African politics and development for two semesters abroad in Cameroon and Paris, France, Jon pursued an African Studies Certificate and honors thesis to continue critical reflection on corruption and NGO accountability in Africa. In Yaoundé, he interned with LAGA and Anti-Corruption, creating partnerships between businesses in the community and the city’s population of street children. He worked as a translator and consultant for corruption cases.

Recently, Jon has co-founded the Social Innovation in Development Lab that consults with NGOs and businesses in Africa to promote best practices in the development industry. Jon still serves on the board of directors for School Girls Unite.

School Girls Unite

Jonathan Kesten is a senior at Montgomery Blair and soon will be a Georgetown Hoya. In his work with (SGU) School Girls Unite (an international non-profit promoting girls’ education worldwide), two benefit concerts have been held which have raised enough to support over 80 young women in Mali, Africa to attend school.

“Thanks to the micro-grants from the FFC, School Girls Unite have been able to tackle even more education and justice related issues in the developing world. Currently, SGU is working on a bilingual ‘Action Guide’ cataloging the progress of SGU and capturing the initiative needed to solve global education problems in our modern world. School Girls Unite has raised $4,822.87 (almost 5k) in the concerts, thanks to the gracious support from the FFC.” – Jonathon Kesten