For the majority of her adult life, Shannen has been working to solve gender inequality, specifically in Ghana’s northern region.  Upon seeing the corruption, inefficiency, and lack of participation of people living in poverty in development, she decided to start a charity dedicated to transparency that would include the views of young marginalized women in its program design. Based on this mandate, Create Change was founded in 2008.  Shannen has a BA in International Development, a Masters in Human Rights, and is a certified youth coach.  Read more of Shannen and Create Change’s founding story here.

Emmanuella is a passionate person who loves to work to empower girls and women.  She gained experience from working at Eagle Nest Security, GILLBT, Legal Aid, and Stanbic before joining Create Change Ghana. As the Operations Manager, Emmanuella is in charge of managing all finance and administration issues, as well as overseeing our daily operations and team.  She holds a BSc in Business Administration and Finance from the Presby University College.  Emmanuella is an incredible mentor to all of the young women we work with and an example of ambitious young women in leadership positions can accomplish.

Sumaya is a passionate educator and youth advocate who is deeply committed to supporting children and young people in rural communities. A former sponsored student of Create Change Ghana and former CCG Youth Literacy Leader, Sumaya brings both lived experience and professional dedication to her work. She holds a Diploma in Basic Education and has experience working closely with rural schools, families, and community leaders to support educational growth and student wellbeing. Sumaya is especially passionate about girls’ education, literacy, and community empowerment. Her warm, grounded approach and strong understanding of rural communities make her a trusted and valued member of the team.