CCYA Staff

Concerned Children & Youth Association (CCYA)

 Our staff members work to implement the vision of the CCYA. Our dedicated leaders are: 

Can Caxson Ray ( Programme Coordinator)

Caxson was born in a refugee camp called Kigwa, Tabora in Tanzania on the 4 th December 1979 where his parents fled from the tyranny of President Idi Amin. By the time of his birth, his father was at the battle field to liberate Ugandans against the dictatorship of President Idi Amin

Before the escape of Caxson’s parents to exile in Tanzania, the father was arrested, tortured and imprisoned by President Idi Amin. He together with other twenty nine colleagues escaped from Mutukula prison and fled to Tanzania where they lived in exile up to the year 1979

Caxson’s father was killed in 1983 when Caxson was only 4 years old. The father was among the Uganda National Liberation Army Commanders who were blacklisted for assassinations in order for the 1985 coup to be successful

The morning Caxson’s father was attacked and got killed, the father was with his fourth born son and because of what the son witnessed he got traumatized and later developed a mental case for 19 years and passed on.

Coming from a family of a soldier, we never received any benefit from government for the services rendered to the country by our father. This made it very difficult for our mother who is an illiterate person to single handedly developed her 10 children.

Growing up in the over two decades war torn region of Northern Uganda and being raised by a single parent (mother) shaped Caxson’s desire to be part of peace building and community development initiatives. On 27th December 2001, Caxson together with other 20 youth founded CCYA with a desire to have a peaceful, united and healthy society in which the marginalized children and youth play an active role in all aspects of development

For years, we have been doing difficult work in hard-to-reach communities, supporting those who are the most physically, economically, socially and emotionally injured.  It has been heartbreaking and challenging at times, but it has also been uplifting to see the outcome of our

work, and it has helped me to realize that it is possible to restore peace, livelihoods, justice and human rights in practical terms to the lives and families of the most severely affected people.”

Caxson is currently the Program Coordinator of CCYA. He is a founding member of CCYA. He

is a teacher, a development worker, public administrator and manager by profession

(Postgraduate Diploma in Public Administration and Management of Uganda Management

Institute, Bachelor Degree in Development Studies from Makerere University and Diploma in

Education Secondary from Kyambogo University). He taught at St. Katherine Girls School and

Cranes Comprehensive School. He has worked with CCYA since 2005. He also worked with

War Child Holland, African Population, and Health Research Centre. He was also contracted by

Plan-Uganda, Lira Area whereby he facilitated the trainings of the Primary Head Teachers and

Patrons on Child Participation, Good Governance and Leadership, Effective Communication,

Lobbying and Advocacy.

Guna Moses (Finance and Administrator)

Moses is currently the Finance and Administrator of CCYA. He is a professional accountant. He holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Accounting and Management of Uganda Management Institute; Certified Public Accountant; Diploma in Business Studies from Makerere University Business School. He is experienced in finance and accounting, having worked for both the Civil Society Organizations and the Government. Moses has worked as a records officer for a local government branch, an accountant with CARITAS Lira Reception and Rehabilitation Centre, a research assistant with African Union, an accountant with Matheniko Development Forum (MADEFO) Karamoja, a Senior Accounts Assistant with Amolatar Town Council and accountant with UNHCR Uganda office.  Currently, Moses runs a private consultancy firm as part time work.

Obil Dickens Ogwang (Assistant Finance and Administrator)

He holds a professional certificate in Banking and Financial Services (CBFS) of Chartered Institute of Bankers –UK stage 1; Certificate in First Aid (Occupational Safety, Administration of First Aid during emergency situations, reporting procedures and assessment of accident victims by St John Ambulance Association and Brigade; Certificate in Credit Analysis & Delinquency management for MFIs. Use of Performance Monitoring , Tools (PMT) for Financial Analysis & Performance Indicators for MFIs awarded by Association of Microfinance Institutions in Uganda (AMFIU) in partnership with Swiss Contact and GiZ and a certificate in Accounting and Banking awarded by The Kenya Institute of Bankers

He is currently working for both Agaru SACCO Limited and CCYA. He previously worked as Credit/ Loans Officer, Chief Cashier and Finance Assistant with Agaru and Front Desk Officer with The Uganda Institute of Banking and Financial Services

He possesses a good team building skills with ability to maintain a sense of humor under pressure. A accustomed to handling sensitive, confidential records with demonstrated history of producing accurate and timely reports meeting a set guidelines

He is self motivated, with a talent for quickly mastering technology and has very good knowledge and command of Microsoft office programmes. He is conversant with Micro banker for Window systems (Mbwin) and also has over three years of hands on experience using Navision Accounting software.

He has good skills in general office administration, customer service, lending, report preparation, written correspondence, marketing & sales, and Accounting.

He enjoys reaching out to community through church activities, reading the bible, watching and playing football and gardening. Dickens is diplomatic with professionals and non-professionals at all levels. He is poised with demonstrated ability to easily transcend cultural differences. Among other accomplishments, he was the General Secretary Central Organizing Committee that successfully hosted the 2012, 2013 Annual General Meeting (AGM 2012, AGM 2013) of AGARU SACCO (AGARU SACCO has over 30,000 total active membership and Account Holders)

Adong Brendah Hope (Program Officer Children/Youth with Disabilities Project)

 Brendah is a full member of CCYA and holds a degree in social sciences.  She is a Social Worker and has completed various capacity building trainings with organizations like the AIDS Information Centre and Development Training and Research Centre (DETREC), International Labor Organizations (ILO), NGO Forum Lira, Mercy Ministries International Kigali (MMI) and NUHITES, Data Clerk / Entrant with Oyam and Kole District Local Government. Brendah served as CCYA Administrative Assistant and Adobe Youth Voices’ Educator, but currently works as a CCYA program officer heading the Children/Youth with Disabilities project, funded by the Global Fund for Children and Adobe Youth Voices. She co-developed, updates and maintains the CCYA website.

Okello Erick (Programme Officer)

Erick is a dedicated full member of CCYA, and a social worker by profession. He holds a Bachelor Degree in Social Sciences of Kyambogo University. Erick heads the CCYA ROCK POINT 256 project, supported by Communication for Development Foundation Uganda, a program that empowers and inspires the youth to create with purpose, comment and actively participate in issues that affect them and their communities through digital media tools.   He has also worked with Development Path for Community Transformation (DEPCOT), Lira Regional Office as Field Assistant, Data clerk with Uganda National Examination Board (UNEB) and Shop attendant with Lira Traders .He has extensive experience in community mobilization and social research.

Chepngetich Caroline (Programme Officer – Youth Livelihoods Project)

 Caroline is a full member of CCYA. She is a Development Worker by profession. She holds a Bachelor Degree in Development Studies of Makerere University and Diploma in Project Planning and Management of Kenya Institute of Management. She has worked with many organizations including Rongai Socio Economic Women Organization-Kenya as a Field Officer Table Banking project; HIV/AIDS Program Facilitator, fundraising and resource mobilization assistant with Rongai Socio Economic Women Organization-Kenya; BIMAS Microfinance LTD-Kenya as Credit Officer; Contract Clerk with Kenya Commercial Bank; Administrative Secretary with Bills Consulting LTD-Kenya and Kenya National Bureau of Statistics as Supervisor Kenya National Census and Housing Kilindini District ,Kwa Shee Division .Caroline also co-developed, updates and maintains CCYA’s website. 

Okot Tom (Program Officer Agri-Business Department)

Tom is a full member of CCYA. He is currently studying at EARTH University, Las Mercedes de Guácimo, Limón, Costa Rica pursuing a Bachelor of Agricultural Engineering and Sustainable Development; 2011 Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE). Jovens High School Entebbe, Uganda; 2010 Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE).Ssaku Senior Secondary School, Luwero, Uganda; 2005 Uganda Primary Leaving (PLE) Certificate, Victoria

Nile primary Jinja, Uganda.

SPECIAL SKILLS* Excellent computer skills.

* Ability to communicate fluently both in Spanish and English.

Akwang Irene (Program Officer Orphans and Other Vulnerable Children/Youth Department)

Irene is a full member of CCYA. She holds a Bachelor Degree in Social Work and Social Administration of Kyambogo University-Kampala.

Irene is a development oriented person of sound mind, character, self motivated, team player,

computer literate and receptive to new ideas and always eager to learn besides ability to catch up

with new ideas with a vast experience in dealing with disadvantaged communities using

participatory approaches.

Previously she worked for Partners for Community Health and Development Organization

(PACHEDO)

Acen Joan (Program Assistant Orphans and Other Vulnerable Children/Youth Department)

Joan is a full member of CCYA.  She holds a Bachelor Degree in Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management of Makerere University Business School and has completed various capacity building trainings with various organizations

Akanyo Esther (Office Assistant)

Esther is a full member of CCYA. She holds a Certificate in Project Planning and Management at Fountain Head Institute of Management and technology, underwent a short training in community development at the community level, participated in the youth livelihood as the youth vice chairperson supported by World Vision and has completed various capacity building trainings with various organizations.