Join youth leaders, practitioners, and partners from across the Governance Action Hub network to explore how young people are reimagining democratic participation and driving meaningful change.
Over the past year, the NextGen DIY Democracy Labs have developed practical tools, resources, and new approaches to support youth-led action. This interactive showcase will share their work, highlight key lessons, and invite participants to help shape what comes next.
What to Expect
- New tools and resources developed by youth leaders
- Insights from the two Democracy Labs
- Opportunities to share feedback and ideas
- New connections across the Governance Action Hub community
Whether you work on youth participation, democratic innovation, governance, or collaboration, we invite you to join us.
Meet the Speakers
Celine Samson | Making Democracy Accessible Lab Leader
Celine Samson is the head of the online verification team at VERA Files, a Philippines-based media nonprofit which specializes in in-depth reporting and fact-checking. Celine has led the delivery of over 4,000 fact-checks with her team, and the building and adaptation of AI tools to assist in fighting disinformation. She is passionate about promoting media literacy and engaging young audiences.
Nishchhal Kharal | Making Democracy Accessible Lab Leader
Nishchhal Kharal (Nish) is originally from Nepal, a Rotary Peace Fellow and master’s student in International Development Policy at Duke University. He has over a decade of experience working as a civil society leader in Nepal, including founding and directing Freedom Studio, a civic media organization that integrates art, digital media, and technology to support social movements and civic campaigns across South Asia. His activism and research are primarily focused on digital media, protest cultures, people power, and strengthening civic space.
Mumbi Namwawa | Getting into Politics Lab Leader
Mumbi is a Political and International Relations specialist with extensive experience working within Zambia’s political environment, focusing on empowering young people and women. Her work spans elections, democracy, policy analysis, research, and advocacy, with a strong commitment to gender equality and human rights. She currently serves as the Civic Participation Officer for ActionAid Zambia and is the founder of Polity Track, an initiative dedicated to monitoring democracy, supporting elections, providing political and policy guidance to young and women politicians, and offering informed political analysis in Zambia. She envisions a future where democracy evolves beyond outdated structures, allowing a new generation to rebuild and shape it to meet the demands of a society free from colonial and patriarchal legacies.
Nikola Nešić | Getting into Politics Lab Leader
Nikola Nešić is a Master Engineer of Telecommunications with experience in technical operations, business development, and leadership training. He spent nine years at telecommunication company, advancing to the position of Regional Manager, where he led teams, managed operational processes, and supported the implementation of new technologies and performance improvements.
He has also been actively engaged in public service, serving as a Member of the National Assembly of Serbia and being elected three times as a City Assembly member in Kragujevac. His work has focused on economic development, regional cooperation, citizen engagement, infrastructure, and local governance.
Since 2024, Nikola has been a licensed Hansen Beck business trainer, specializing in leadership, communication, negotiation, and high-performance teams.