Meet our Writers’ Council

Maulline Gragau the Editor-in-Chief of the Writers’ Council. She is a creative, researcher, policy and legislative drafter, writer,  and lawyer. She is a versatile professional with 5+ years of experience in the areas of law and forensic science. She is passionate about legal practice, renewable energy technologies, inclusive development through ICT, responsive leadership and environmental conservation. Her goal is to make these opportunities available to marginalized people especially indigenous communities, women, and youth. Maulline believes that Africans have the capability to find their own solutions to all the undeniable problems which confront them.

Esther Brito Ruiz is the Sub-Editor of the Writers’ Council. She is a Master’s Graduate in Women, Peace, and Security at the London School of Economics. She was previously a Global Shaper within The World Economic Forum and currently serves as Chair and researcher within the Conflict, Security and Crime Student Research Committee at IAPSS and a Junior Research Fellow in the European Institute of Policy Research and Human Rights (EIPRHR).

Balkis is the Advisor to the Writers’ Council. Balkis is from Tunisia and contributes her expertise to several international nonprofit organizations. She is an aspiring diplomat, a social entrepreneur and an activist and earned her BA in English Language, Literature and Civilization from the University of Sfax in her home country. She is also an Alumna of a US State Department Exchange Program called the Thomas Jefferson Scholarship, where studied English and International Affairs at the University of Southern Indiana.

Benjamin White is a recent graduate of International Relations, Peace and Conflict Studies and has discovered a strong passion for dissecting current international affairs and political issues. Particularly interested in contemporary armed conflict and how to bring about the resolution of such conflicts, he believes that development is the answer to much of the world’s strife.

Anna is a political science major at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. She has developed a passion for human rights issues and hopes to create a positive impact with her writing.

Hanen Ben Ghzayel is an Ecole Normale Supérieure alumna who majored in Anglo-American literature, civilization, and language. She is an English teacher with 4 years of professional experience in the field of education who is passionate about addressing issues concerning gender equality and women’s rights in the MENA region through her writings. Hanen is, also, a creative, a blogger, and a freelance photographer who tries to document her life as a Tunisian woman through her photography.

Sheila Achieng is a young Kenyan passionate about youth empowerment. She possesses extensive experience in the implementation of youth empowerment programs and leverages the power of stories to advance a new narrative for the African continent.

Violet Isek is a social development enthusiast passionate about the growth and development of teenagers and young people.
She earned her BSc in Microbiology from the University of Calabar, Nigeria. She is developing herself and gaining more knowledge in the social sector and has been working towards addressing social problems focused on youth development, education, and healthcare.

Ayoub Benfdila is currently studying linguistics at Ibn Tofail University in Kenitra, Morocco. He is passionate about social work, being active in society to make an impact, and creating the change that he wants to see in the world. Ayoub is involved in many NGOs, such as Atlas For Development, and Association Anoual. In addition to this, he is starting his own project that aims to raise awareness on Autism.