Faculty: Arts
Program: Master of Public Policy and Global Affairs
Year: 2020
Country: Kenya
Claire Louise Okatch is a Kenyan by birth and enthusiastically claims her matrilineal Tanzanian heritage. She holds a BA in Social Research and Public Policy and a minor in Mandarin Chinese from New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD). She also graduated from United World College (UWC) of South East Asia in 2014. She considers herself a lifelong advocate for inclusive policy making that creates space for the female, youth and Black voice. For the last 7 years, she has been heavily involved in establishing and expanding youth networks with particular emphasis on global citizenship, education, heritage and gender equity. She has worked with youth networks and community groups in South Africa, Mozambique, the UAE, East Africa and South East Asia to this end.
Claire has worked as an independent consultant with clients such as NYUAD which led to her retention as a youth advisor for the Dhakira Center of Heritage at NYUAD and Center for International Heritage Activities. She currently serves on the Kenya National Committee of UWC and brings with her volunteer experiences from the National Committees of China and Singapore. She is also the lead coordinator of the UWC Short Course held annually in Moshi Tanzania which brings together 16-19-year-olds from around the world to learn about conflict and community building in the context of East Africa. She is pursuing an MPPGA with the hopes that this will further cement her policy practice capabilities in her search for a more just world for marginalized groups.