Students & Alumni

Students

Our ripple effect

On students’ school, families, communities

Since our conception 13 years ago we have run 10 programmes, unfortunately we missed three years due to changes in the school terms, Ebola and Covid.  Over the years, 140 students have attended our residential programmes, they have gone on to influence over 700 students in eight different school clubs, by sharing the information they have learnt and introducing them to our library, computers and masterclasses. They have done more than 3,500 hours of community service and served over 1,500 people.

Ahmad & Francess

Ahmad and Francess graduated in 2013, trained as Peer Facilitators and later as  Programme Facilitators They have developed their leadership skills over the years and now co facilitate the residential programme and support the students. In this picture they are running a session with the students.

Francess is now a qualified Lawyer and Ahmad a Mining Engineer.

Alumni

We continue to develop relationships with all our alumni; several of them have become key contributors to the delivery and running of the programme.

  • "SoAYL has given me an opportunity to learn in a friendly environment."

    Student that graduated in April 2022

  • “The critical thinking sessions were of utmost importance. They helped my thinking ability and my capacity to express myself.”

    Student that graduated in April 2022

  • “It was important to learn how to keep myself safe when using the Internet and social media.”

    Student that graduated in April 2022

  • “I had a first hand experience of the problems affecting our environment.”

    Student that graduated in April 2022

  • “I enjoyed writing my essays because the feedback I got from my mentor was very helpful.”

    Student that graduated in April 2022

  • “The community service taught us the benefits and joys of helping others.”

    Student that graduated in April 2022

Christiana

Christiana was part of the focus group of 20 young students, that were invited in 2004 to share their prospective on life in Sierra Leone after the civil war and what they felt they needed as future leaders of the country.  She was one of 12 students from the focus group that subsequently went on to join the inaugural programme in 2009. Christiana started volunteering with the programme in 2020, assisting in the library and was employed as the organization’s part time administrator between 2020 and 2022. She is married, has an adorable young son and a BSc in Applied Accountancy.

Christiana said I enjoyed working with SoAYL because:

  • It was an honour and privilege to be part of the development of Sierra Leone’s future leaders.

  • I had an opportunity to meet and work with a wide variety of people this included bright and hardworking students, stakeholders and tutors, I learn a lot from all of them.

  • SoAYL did not only teach its principles and values but operates by them.

  • Working in SoAYL was like working in a family, there was a strict and firm working environment but was balanced with understanding, compassion, flexibility, support and fun.

Current students, Alumni, Staff and SoAYL Sierra Leone Committee after a day developing SoAYL’s strategy for the next three years.

“By embedding integrity I know we can eradicate corruption.”

— Peer facilitator

Current students, Alumni, Staff and SoAYL Sierra Leone Committee after a day developing SoAYL’s strategy for the next three years.