Café Amka Celebrates Africa’s Next Generation of Conservation Innovators At GCTDF 2026

Café Amka made its mark at this year’s Global Conservation Tech & Drone Forum (GCTDF 2026), stepping beyond hospitality to champion the young African innovators redefining conservation on the continent.

In partnership with the forum, Café Amka recognised the finalists and winners of the Youth Conservation Tech Awards — a cohort of innovators distinguished by their creativity, measurable impact, and use of technology to address Africa’s most pressing environmental challenges.

Among the honourees was Cynthia Nekesa, recognised for a digital platform integrating technology to advance environmental sustainability and knowledge preservation. She was joined by Catherine Kiseperi, Brian Omwoyo, Andrew Mogambi and Job Cheruiyot — whose work collectively reflects the growing momentum of youth-led conservation solutions across the continent.

As part of the partnership, Café Amka hosted the winners for a curated coffee experience — an intimate, community-driven gathering designed to introduce them to Kenyan coffee culture and open space for honest conversation around innovation, collaboration and what it means to build solutions that last.

“It was important for us to celebrate these young innovators beyond the stage,” said Wangui Ndegwa of Café Amka. “These are bold, thoughtful ideas coming from young people across Africa, and we wanted to create a space where they could connect, reflect and feel supported as they continue doing work that matters.”

The initiative speaks directly to this year’s forum theme — “Technology in Service of Nature: Protecting Wildlife, Supporting People, Restoring Ecosystems” — and reinforces a broader conversation about the role hospitality spaces can play within innovation ecosystems: not merely as venues, but as platforms for exchange, mentorship and inspiration.

For Café Amka, the collaboration is an expression of a wider mission — creating spaces where ideas, culture and community converge. It is a mission shared across the broader Pergamon Hospitality portfolio.

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