Ochaya Jackson Amos is a University of Juba student pursuing a Bachelor of Art in Development Communication. He is a certified Fact-Checker and has been a media practitioner. Jackson is also interested in research, and information technology, which he is passionate about.
Jibi Moses is an administrator, public health practitioner, and humanitarian with five years of experience. Moses is also a skilled researcher and certified fact-checker. He describes himself as a creative, resourceful, and flexible individual able to adapt to changing priorities while maintaining a positive attitude and strong work ethic. He’s a clear and logical communicator who can establish rapport with supervisors, colleagues, and individuals to achieve organisational and personal goals.
Moses graduated with a Bachelor of Public Administration from Kampala International University. With an Advanced Certificate in Public health from Ristal Institute Juba. Currently, he is a program manager for Junub Youth Action Network (JYAN).
Ghai Aketch Deng is a news reporter with Sawa Sawa Network. He covers stories on the environment, youth, education, peace implementation, and humanitarian situations in South Sudan.
Before joining 211 Check, Aketch worked as a photographer and technical studio operator for KU-TV Kenya. He also worked for Jhpiego-John Hopkins University affiliate as a supervisor for outreach programs.
Additionally, he volunteered for humanitarian organisations, working as an English language teacher in various refugee camps in Uganda. His work experience in the humanitarian sector has helped him better understand issues affecting communities and the role of digital media in storytelling, healing, and peace-building.
Steve Topua has been in #defyhatenow since March 2020. His roles include data analysis and training. He is involved in data analysis work (data collection, analysis and visualization). He has been involved in training fellows/participants in several Fellowships done by #defyhatenow, including DataSpeaksFellowship, where he was the lead trainer, and the EFFiSS Fellowship. He has also trained staff from South Sudan, Ethiopia and the Gambia on Data Collection, Cleaning and Analysis. Currently he is involved in the InterNews Rooted in Trust (RiT) South Sudan Project where he is the Information Manager/Data Analyst.
He is a graduate of the Technical University of Kenya, where he studied Bsc Mathematics.
George Hakim Egily is a South Sudanese journalist, filmmaker and social media activist.
Hakim is interested in local, national, and international politics, as well as conflict resolution dialogue, as a result of his experience working with the world’s leading media companies such as National Geographic, Sky News, Reuters, and Al Jazeera. He possesses expertise in filmmaking, production, journalism, and photography.
He has also worked for OTV Egyptian, Ebony TV, Al Jazeera Arabic News, Reuters News Agency, and R0g agency.
He has two diplomas in mass communication from Cairo University’s Journalism department and the Egyptian High Institute of Cinema.
George Hakim is also certified by the Jenu Film Garage Alaska USA, the Al Jazeera Institute for Media Development, the Reuters Foundation, Reuters East Africa, and the University of Alaska Fairbanks Department of Theatre and Film.
“My greatest motivation is to support the people of South Sudan to build a nation of peace, equality, coexistence and pride. I want to see the people of South Sudan, especially the youth be able to participate in and be active in the growth and development of their nation. I have personally experienced the power of social media for change and impact at the grassroots level and I am committed to seeing journalism and social media in South Sudan being used for positive change,” Hakim George.
Beatrice Amude Paulino is a Fact-Checker at 211 Check, #defyhatenow South Sudan. She is a working journalist and a member of the South Sudanese Female Journalist Network (FJN).
Beatrice is creative, has research abilities, is adaptable and eager to learn, and has excellent communication skills.
She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communications from the University of Juba, as well as an Advanced Certificate in Journalism from the South Sudanese Media Development Institute.
Emmanuel Bida Thomas is a Project Coordinator at 211 Check, a fact-checking and information verification platform (flagship project of) #defyhatenow South Sudan.
Bida also manages his personal Bida News Blog, a site about current affairs, fact-checks and media literacy. He previously served as a news reporter and editor for Equator Broadcasting Corporation (EBC), and helped launch Social Media presence (Facebook and Twitter) for the station in 2020. He trains on fact-checking and information verification, teaches internet research, social media management and marketing, and google productivity tools in Juba, South Sudan.
His recent projects include ‘Data Speaks Fellowship’ and ‘Empowering Fact-checking in South Sudan.’ Bida’s current work focuses on the role of content creators and citizens in the changing media landscape, promotion of veracity and accuracy of information in the public domain.
Bida tweets at @Bidal_Thomas.
Marina is a social impact enthusiast, development advocacy journalist and a feminist. A believer in youth empowerment through exposure and availing resources that support ideation, transformation, peace-building and gender equality in all spheres. Previously, she worked as a broadcast journalist, public relations officer, communication strategist and project manager for several local NGOs in South Sudan. She is a graduate of Mass Communication and Media Arts Masters to further effective media production in Communication for development.
Nelson has been leading #defyhatenow’s Digital Media and Training teams since 2017. In this role, he supervises and controls all the 211 Check Desk and decides and implements the editorial policy and looks after its execution in consultation with the Managing and Associate Editors. Nelson Kwaje is actively involved in the planning and growth of the 211 Check Desk.
He is also involved with several regional and international fora involved in the development of the internet and right of citizens Africa such as: Network of African Youth for Development, Internet Society, ICANN, KICTANet, and Africa CMS Summit.
