After attending the 2016 Alumni Association Leader Training in South Africa, Jessey Coleman (YES 2010-2011, hosted by YFU in Ellwood City, PA) was inspired to go back to his home in Liberia and pass on what he had learned to his fellow alumni. After months of planning his own workshop, he invited members of the Liberian Alumni Association to attend his training on July 2, 2016.

Seven alumni, including a few who only recently returned from their YES year in the U.S., attended the training at IEARN-Liberia’s office. During the training, Jessey focused on teaching the other alumni about facilitating leadership development and budgeting. He explained the difference between being a leader and a manager, shared characteristics of good leaders, and also started a discussion on expectations of alumni leaders. When teaching others about budgeting, Jessey helped the alumni understand the steps of making a good budget, as well as how to maximize funds in order to run projects on smaller budgets.

Jessey proudly reported that by the end of the sessions, participants were able to list at least five expectations of an alumni leader, identify differences between a leader and a manager, name several characteristics of a good leader, and discuss challenges in creating a budget. The alumni themselves felt that the training was really fulfilling, informative, and engaging.

Great work, Jessey!