Our Founder

​Henry Atem is a spirited leader, a democracy specialist, and a devoted humanitarian with over 15 years of experience working with international organizations across multiple countries and regions worldwide. Born in Cameroon's port city of Tiko, Henry's altruism is influenced by his first-hand experience of the many difficulties, conflicts, and pain in many nations, similar to what his home nation is currently experiencing. Beginning his career in local politics at the young age of 19, Henry first served as Municipal Councilor of Tiko, helping to shape local governance, and worked to encourage the participation of his home city's youth in local development and grassroots politics.

Throughout his professional and spiritual growth, Henry has witnessed the suffering of millions of children and women worldwide, fostering inside him an intense commitment to embrace his gifts as a humanitarian and leader to fervently serve the international public good. In his travels, working for the African Union, the United Nations, the United Nations Development Program, the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, and the Carter Center, he served in conflict or post-conflict countries such as Afghanistan, the Ivory Coast, Papua New Guinea, South Sudan, Syria, Haiti, Libya, and Iraq. Henry's desire to help the vulnerable has only been emboldened further, and his passion for God and international service has only deepened. When an armed conflict erupted in his home country of the Cameroons, leaving thousands dead and millions of civilians afflicted, Henry established the Atem Foundation to further his humanitarian efforts, advocate for the rights of women and children, and provide greater access to aid, education, empowerment, and research to improve the international humanitarian response.

He has devoted his humanitarian service to all citizens across the African continent suffering from conflicts, including to those displaced by disasters and pandemics. He believes the only way to address displacement is to tackle the underlying causes of conflicts. While ensuring aid is accessible to displaced people to address their urgent needs, he has engaged in seeking avenues to a political solution to the conflict affecting his home country. In his words “As international citizens, we see how children, women, disabled people suffer to survive when displaced because of conflicts or disasters. We must do all in our power to leverage our experiences and networks to advocate and seek ways to show love. 

Henry dedicates his passion for God and his commitment to service to the influence, legacy, and love of his grandparents, Otto Ekpeni Itoe and Cecilia Pande Itoe, two guiding figures of his life who continue to inspire his mission and the work of the Atem Foundation to this day.

Join Henry Atem to share love to those in need by supporting the work of the Atem Foundation.