Victor Ochen
Founder and Executive Director, African Youth Initiative Network (AYINET)
Expertise on:
Social Protection & Inclusion
Victor Ochen is the Founder and Executive Director for African Youth Initiative Network, which works to mobilize and empower the youth and communities. Born in northern Uganda, he spent 21yrs of his childhood as a refugee in the camps. His organisation has provided reconstructive medical repair to over 21,000 war victims. Challenged by the hardships of war and poverty, while living in the camps at the age of 13 years, Ochen formed a Peace Club and led the anti-child soldiers’ recruitment campaign amidst the war in northern Uganda.
Forbes Magazine named Ochen as one of the 10 most powerful men in Africa in 2015. He was named the Global Goals Ambassadorfor Peace in 2015 and was nominated for the 2015 Nobel Peace Prize, making him the first Ugandan and the youngest Nobel Peace Prize nominee from Africa. He is also a member of the Global Advisory Group to the UNHCR on Gender, Forced Displacement and Protection.
