As summer ends, the 2024 YES Alumni Grant cohort continues to make waves in their communities with projects embodying the YES spirit of volunteerism, empowerment, and positive change. These alumni leaders are addressing critical issues such as academic integrity, gender-based violence, the environment, and the inclusion of persons with disabilities.

Introducing the grantees whose impactful projects will wrap up in late August and September:

Daniel Valai ’18 (Liberia) was placed by IRIS in Altoona, Iowa. He is a dedicated volunteer and served as Secretary General and President of the YES Alumni Association of Liberia. His passion for making an impact has led him to partner with multiple organizations, including the youth-led nonprofit Partners for Education, State Exchange Alumni of Liberia, and the National Liberian Youth Association. He is currently studying biology at United Methodist University. One fun fact about Daniel is that he could eat torborgee, a spicy soup associated with the Lorma tribe, every day without hesitation. Through his grant project, Restoring Academic Integrity: Phase Three, he will continue his mission of promoting academic transparency and fairness in Montserrado, Bong, and Cape Mount county high schools. Follow Daniel’s project during the last week of August on Facebook at Restoring Academic Integrity-Liberia.

Ibrahim Lenguris ’16 (Kenya), placed by World Link in Belleville, Illinois, recently graduated with a bachelor's degree in innovation technology from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology. One fun fact about Ibrahim is that he is enthusiastic about aviation and captivated by the beauty of planes. However, his heart remains firmly grounded in his community’s wellbeing. In response to pressing issues, he launched Safeguard Samburu Girls, an initiative aimed at combating the alarming rates of teen pregnancy, youth marriage, and female genital mutilation in the Samburu community. The project will work with 100 girls, raising awareness, providing support and counselling, and fostering dialogue to challenge and change oppressive cultural norms. Follow Ibrahim’s project in late August on Facebook at Ibrahim Lenguris and Instagram at _Lenguris.

Khadija Sulaiman Shehu ’19 (Nigeria) was placed by AFS-USA in Clarksville, Tennessee, and she is now an agriculture student at Bayero University in Kano. Khadija is passionate about learning and personal growth, always diving into new interests. Her most recent is videography. Her grant project, Invest in Our Future, aims to combat sexual and gender-based violence and drug abuse in Kano through seminars, an awareness raising campaign, and a tie-dye and tailoring skills training. Follow her project late-August through mid-September on Instagram at khadijas.affairs and LinkedIn at Khadija Sulaiman Jebu.

Denis Katana Karisa ’19 (Kenya) was placed by AYA/AIFS in Lincoln, Nebraska. He is currently studying cyber security at the United States International University-Africa in Nairobi. He is passionate about innovative problem-solving and developing unique ideas. One fun fact about Denis is that he is an artist and a dancer and comes from a musical family, as his father is a musician. His grant project, Nairobi Eco Youth, will provide waste management education to 60 youth, ages 9-13, strategically targeting locations with significant waste issues to instill environmental awareness in the next generation of leaders. Follow his project in mid-September on Instagram at denisskatana and Facebook at Deniss Katana.

Choirunisa (Nisa) Humairo ’11 (Indonesia) was placed by AYA/AIFS in Highland, Indiana. During her exchange year, she enjoyed volunteering with children. One fun fact about Nisa is that she likes to try creating new pressed fruit juice combinations in her spare time, and her current favorite is beetroot and apple. Nisa, a pediatric dentist, designed the project Healthy Smiles for Children with Disabilities, which will teach children with disabilities, their caregivers, and their teachers about oral health and hygiene. Follow Nisa's project through the end of September on Instagram at residenkgaugm2021 and LinkedIn at nisa humairo.

Joyner Irine Atieno ’17 (Kenya) was placed by PAX in New Haven, Indiana. She currently serves as Treasurer of Kenya’s YES Alumni Association. She recently finished her bachelor’s degree in applied bioengineering at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology. One fun fact about Joyner is that she can eat hot food but cannot drink hot tea. Her grant project, Sustainable Entrepreneurship, will train 45 fourth year biomedical science students how to integrate entrepreneurship into science to develop sustainable business ideas, offering an avenue for self-employment post-graduation. Stay up to date on her late-September project by following Joyner Irene on Facebook, _royal_joyner on Instagram, and Joyner Atieno on LinkedIn.

Samira Salman ’10 (Nigeria) spent her exchange year in Grundy Center, Iowa, placed by IRIS. She has a bachelor’s degree in biological sciences and is currently studying medicine and surgery at Kaduna State University. She plans to specialize in hematology with special interest in sickle cell disease, a genetic blood disorder that affects hemoglobin, the protein that carries oxygen through the body. Her hobbies include trying new cuisines and traveling. Inspired by her medical knowledge and her aspiration to eradicate sickle cell disease, she will implement the Sickle Cell Awareness and Screening Program, which aims to raise awareness about the disease among 600 community members. Follow Samira’s project throughout September on Instagram at sameerahsalman and X at samiesalman.

Fatma Khalifan Salim ’18 (Kenya) was placed by ACES in Oregon, Ohio. She is studying law at Mount Kenya University and is also President of the YES Alumni Association in Kenya. She is the founder of Fatma's Pad Project, an initiative she started while still on exchange that provides reusable menstrual pads to girls in Kenyan villages. An interesting fact about Fatma is that she has never tasted bananas even though her family eats them almost every day. Her project, Mentoring for Occupational Success, will offer mentorship for vocational training to 50 youth in Malindi who quit high school, helping them apply for grants and scholarships to fund their education. Follow her project in mid-September on Facebook at Fatush Khalfan Salim, Instagram at Fatma_khalfan_salim, and LinkedIn at Fatma Khalfan.

Abdullateef Abdullateef ’17 (Nigeria) spent his exchange year in San Antonio, Texas, placed by AFS-USA. He is now in his final year of his civil engineering studies at Ahmadu Bello University in his hometown of Kaduna, and he works as a project manager at a consulting company. One fun fact about Abdullateef is that he enjoys traveling and plans to visit every state in Nigeria by next year. In Nigeria, persons with disabilities (PWDs) face barriers to participation in training programs that could enhance their employability. This propelled him to organize Tech for People with Disabilities. Through this initiative, Abdullateef aims to address underrepresentation in the workforce by providing tech training to 30 PWDs. Follow his project from mid-August through September on LinkedIn at Abdullateef A. and Facebook at Abdullateef Abdullateef.