Ocaya Stephen Michael
Project Coordinator
Stephen, is a pioneer staff since the organization’s inception in 2014. He currently holds the Project Coordinator position. Stephen holds a BSc degree in Economics, Post Graduate degree in Project Planning & Management. He is currently, a MBA final year Student Researcher at the Faculty of Business and Development Studies at Gulu University, a Public Chartered Institution accredited by the National Council of Higher Education in Uganda  Previously, Stephen held positions at Gulu District Local Government as an Intern, Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development (ACTED)-Research Assistant, as well as Data Entrant under the Expanding Social Protection (ESP) Program with the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development.   Stephen has skills in strategic organization’s design and diagnostics, planning, administration, leadership and governance issues. He has spent over 6 years at the organisation championing the collaboration with Uganda Prison Services (UPS) under the Rehabilitation, Reformation, & Reintegration of Youth (Ex) Inmates thematic area. A contribution which has significantly shaped the lives of many vulnerable and marginalized youth ex inmates in northern Uganda.   Stephen pioneered many projects for the organisation including; The Youth Entrepreneurship Enhancement Project (2014). The Norec program (formerly FK Exchange Program-2017) were he represented the organisation in Malawi at Centre for Legal Assistance (CELA; he also piloted the social enterprise model concept of Advance Afrika under the Moringa project in northern Uganda (currently Roots of the Nile (RoN)). As a Project Officer, he supported the opening of the land, organizing and mobilizing the local communities, and linking with strategic stakeholders to support the establishment of the enterprise in Awach sub county, Gulu district for 3 years. In 2020, he was recruited as a Support Business Manager under Roots of the Nile (RoN).  He was also actively involved in strengthening the capacities and mentoring of youth led organization’s in northern Uganda under the International Labour organisation (ILO), Youth Entrepreneurship Facility Program.   Stephen is passionate about inspiring and mentoring young people. He derives his motivation through building strategic and valuable relationships that is inexhaustible with different actors in the development work. Your choice of people you associate with will have more impact on what you become than any other single factor ~ Brian Tracy