NiV is proud to welcome two changemakers to our team through the HerStart Fellowship Program by Youth Challenge International (YCI): Saima Sami and Sinéad MacArtain.
As we continue building sustainable businesses for social impact in Northern Ghana, we are excited about the global perspectives, professional expertise, and passion these fellows bring to our work in Tamale.
Meet Saima Sami – Social Entrepreneurship Fellow
Saima joins us from Edmonton, Alberta, and is a recent graduate of McGill University, where she completed a double major in International Development Studies and Psychology.
Throughout her academic journey, Saima demonstrated strong leadership and commitment to women’s empowerment. She served as president of a women’s organization, supported thousands of incoming students as an inclusivity and sustainability coordinator, and interned with The Women’s Network, one of the largest women’s collegiate networking associations.
Her academic and research work reflects a deep dedication to gender equity. In a postgraduate social justice lab, she conducted independent research on the multi-dimensional positive impacts of implementing women’s business resources on intergenerational development in South Asia.
Saima’s motivation to join HerStart is deeply personal. She believes that women should not have to leave their communities or cultures to access opportunity. Inspired by her immigrant parents’ sacrifices, she has committed her life to creating meaningful social impact for women who could just as easily have been her. Through HerStart’s grassroots approach, she is eager to support women entrepreneurs in recognizing their power as agents of change.
Meet Sinéad MacArtain – Research and Learning Fellow
Sinéad joins us from Cork, Ireland (previously Vancouver, BC) as a Research and Learning Fellow. She brings over three years of experience working in non-governmental organizations supporting refugees and migrants in Greece and Ireland.
Across her roles, Sinéad has worked to influence policy and advocate for refugee families as they integrate into new communities. Before her NGO work, she practiced as an employment and corporate lawyer in Vancouver, BC an experience that strengthens her analytical, policy, and advocacy skills.
Sinéad is motivated to join HerStart by the opportunity to gain deeper experience in international development, particularly in partnership-driven approaches. She values collaboration with local communities and seeks to use her legal background and advocacy expertise to positively contribute to HerStart’s mission in Ghana.
Both Saima and Sinéad embody the values of partnership, social responsibility, and innovation that drive NiV’s work. Their experiences in research, advocacy, leadership, and women’s empowerment will strengthen our programs and deepen our impact across the communities we serve.
We are honored to welcome them to the NiV family and look forward to the learning, collaboration, and meaningful change we will create together.
Welcome to NiV, Saima and Sinéad. We are excited for this journey ahead.
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