The people guiding YPEP.

Yonas Kibreab

Yonas Kibreab is an actor, voice artist, student, and youth advocate working across film, television, and animation. He stars as Elio in Pixar’s Academy Award-nominated film Elio and plays the lead role of Felix McCoy in the feature film Reimagined. Yonas began his acting career with his first major role as Luna in the Blumhouse film Blood Moon.

His additional credits include Merry Little Batman, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Sweet Tooth, Pupstruction, Slumberkins, and Pretty Freekin Scary, with projects for Disney, Pixar, Netflix, Apple, and Warner Bros. Animation.

A family trip to the Philippines inspired Yonas to expand his work beyond entertainment. After visiting underserved communities and learning firsthand about the challenges facing children and families, he helped start a youth-led nonprofit organization dedicated to providing children in the Philippines with educational support, basic necessities, and hope for a brighter future.

Yonas believes young people do not have to wait until adulthood to make a difference. Through acting and community service, he hopes to inspire his generation to turn compassion into meaningful action. Yonas is currently in the 11th grade of high school.

Isabel Kibreab

Isabel Kibreab is a film and television professional with experience across creative development, production, acquisitions, and distribution. She currently serves as Executive Assistant to the CEO and President of Wayfarer Studios, where she manages high-level executive operations while also contributing to script coverage, project tracking, talent and IP research, and development strategy.

Her previous experience includes roles at HBO, Estée Lauder, A24 Films, TBWA\Chiat\Day, and Maji Sports. Throughout her career, Isabel has supported senior executives, coordinated complex productions, managed distribution and delivery materials, tracked projects and priorities, and conducted industry, market, and box office research.

In addition to her professional work, Isabel has produced several short films, including Loving You Is Complicated, Wasted Words, Good Trip, and Into the Red. She earned a BFA in Film and Television Production from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, with a minor in Africana Studies.

Isabel is passionate about developing distinctive, audience-driven stories that introduce fresh perspectives, challenge expectations, and connect with viewers in meaningful ways.

Bemnet Kibreab

Bemnet Kibreab is a finance executive, entrepreneur, and nonprofit leader with extensive experience in investment banking, business management, and community service.

He spent 17 years at Jefferies Financial Group, advancing from Analyst to Senior Vice President in the Leveraged Finance Group. During his tenure, he helped structure and raise more than $100 billion in debt capital for leveraged buyouts, acquisitions, refinancings, and other strategic transactions.

After leaving investment banking, Bemnet founded Maji Sports LLC, a sporting goods design and distribution company. He also served as the company’s Chief Financial Officer, overseeing its financial operations as it sold products directly to consumers and through major big-box retailers.

Bemnet currently serves on the Board of Directors and as Treasurer of the School of Eritrean Languages of Los Angeles, Inc., where he provides financial oversight and supports the organization’s mission of preserving Eritrean language and culture.

He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from UCLA, graduating summa cum laude.

Novelwin Sernio-Abonda

Novelwin Sernio-Abonda is a licensed Mathematics teacher, instructional designer, and youth leader based in Naic, Cavite, Philippines. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education, major in Mathematics, from Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila and is currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Education, major in Mathematics, at the University of the Philippines Diliman.

With more than seven years of classroom teaching experience and nearly a decade of tutoring students from elementary school through college, Novelwin has dedicated her career to helping young people succeed. Her professional experience includes curriculum development, instructional design, and the creation of digital learning materials for both Philippine and international educational institutions. She is passionate about making quality education engaging, accessible, and meaningful for every learner.

Beyond the classroom, Novelwin actively serves in her local church, where she mentors children and teenagers, leads youth discipleship, and supports campus ministry initiatives. Through her work in education and community service, she has developed strong relationships with public school teachers, school administrators, and local communities throughout the Philippines.

These experiences have given her firsthand insight into the educational and financial challenges many Filipino families face, including the inability to afford school supplies, uniforms, transportation, and other essential educational expenses.

As Director of Philippines Programs for Y Philippine Education Project, Novelwin serves as the organization’s primary representative in the Philippines. She works closely with local schools, teachers, and community partners to help identify students with the greatest need, verify requests for assistance, coordinate scholarship and educational support programs, and help ensure that donated funds are used responsibly, transparently, and where they can have the greatest impact.

Novelwin believes that education is one of the most powerful tools for breaking the cycle of poverty. She is committed to helping create opportunities for children to reach their full potential through education, mentorship, and strong community partnerships.