Liliya shares a special memory reuniting with her host family.
We are pleased to introduce the final twelve project leaders of the 2024 YES Alumni Grants cohort, changemakers who are leading inspiring initiatives around the globe. These twelve remarkable alumni are addressing urgent global issues on the local level, ranging from mental health and education to environmental sustainability and gender equality. They are using the skills gained through the YES program to lead, empower, and drive change in their communities.
Abdellah Abboudi ’18 (Morocco) spent his YES year in Jasper, Missouri, placed by ASSE. He is currently pursuing a degree in software engineering at the Moroccan School of Engineering. Abdellah has co-founded several non-profit organizations and is the founding president of the Moroccan Association for YES Alumni. One fun fact about Abdellah is that he enjoys hiking and exploring the mountains near his hometown. Inspired by the leadership and organizational skills he gained during the YES program, Abdellah was awarded a grant for Project Unity, designed to empower young people in his community to become proactive leaders. The project will bring together 150 students and recent graduates for an interactive conference, where community-focused professionals will deliver talks and workshops on social engagement and project development. The goal is to inspire attendees to create and lead their own initiatives, with the potential to launch up to 150 new community service projects over the coming year. Follow Abdellah’s project during the first week of November on LinkedIn at Abdellah Abboudi.
Korvah Fromayan ’16 (Liberia) was placed by CIEE in West Townshend, Vermont. He is currently studying public administration at the University of Liberia in Monrovia, with the dream of one day running and managing his own school and hospital in Liberia. One fun fact about Korvah is that he loves music, and he constantly sings and plays music. His passion for improving his local community drives his project, Zero Drugs for Tomorrow's Leaders, where he will lead a three-day campaign against drug abuse for 100 secondary school students in Paynesville City, Montserrado County. Project updates will be posted mid-November on Facebook at Global Transformer GT-Liberia and Korvah M. Fromayan, and Instagram at korvah_m.fromayan.
Joseph Lambe ’13 (Cameroon) spent his exchange year in Eden, New York, placed by AFS-USA. He holds a master’s degree in international law, specializing in digital law. Joseph currently manages JL Consulting, a business consulting firm that helps small businesses with legal, administrative, and digital services. He also serves as the president of the Cameroon YES Alumni Association. One fun fact about Joseph is that he loves food and travel. His grant project, Let Them Lead, will empower 50 youth with leadership and project management skills. The project will run until mid-November and you can follow it on Facebook at Lambe Yonkam Joseph and YES Alumni Cameroon, and LinkedIn at Joseph Lambe.
Mubarak Yantaba ’18 (Nigeria) was placed by World Link in Waterloo, Illinois. He is currently studying computer science at Ahmadu Bello University. One fun fact about Mubarak is that he’s deeply interested in world history and civilizations and could listen to audiobooks and podcasts all day. His grant project, Girls in Charge, will train 50 orphaned female students, who are at risk of child marriage due to economic hardship, in three in-demand skills to help them gain a source of income and inspire further education. Follow his project progress running until mid-November on Instagram at moolayahs_pov and Facebook at Mubarak Lawal Yantaba.
Tamba Abdulai ’14 (Sierra Leone) was placed by AYUSA in Greeley, Colorado and now holds a degree in banking and finance from the University of Sierra Leone. He is currently pursuing a master’s degree in information technology with a focus on data analytics. Tamba serves as the health statistics manager at Partners in Health Sierra Leone, an NGO providing preferential healthcare for the poor. One fun fact about Tamba is that he loves soccer and supports Real Madrid. Inspired by the knowledge he gained from the YES program on health and sanitation, his grant project, Promoting Hygiene and Sanitation in Gbukuma Village, will train 120 community members on hygiene and sanitation practices and construct eight latrines for the community. Follow Tamba’s project, which runs from mid-November to early 2025, on Facebook at Tamba S Abdulai.
Mohammad Mubarak Bello ’10 (Nigeria) was placed by IRIS in Ankeny, Iowa. He is currently a resident doctor specializing in psychiatry at the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital in Kaduna. One fun fact about Dr. Bello is that he, his father, half-brother, wife, and first son all have birthdays in November. Mohammad leads MindClinic Kaduna, a project focused on mental health advocacy and education. Through this initiative, he aims to combat stereotypes, reduce stigma, and promote mental well-being in his community. Follow his project until the end of November on Instagram at mindclinic247 and eembello, and Facebook at MindClinic247 and Muhammed Mubarak Bello.
Ishaku Abner ’10 (Nigeria) spent his YES year in Coon Rapids, Iowa, placed by IRIS. He is currently pursuing a master’s degree in monitoring and evaluation from the Federal University of Kashere, after earning a degree in mathematics and a post-graduate diploma in educational foundations. One fun fact about Ishaku is that he’s known for his infectious laughter and sense of humor. Inspired by his host mom, who ran a nonprofit called Creating Great Places, Ishaku’s grant project, PioneerPath Fellowship, will train 30 alumni on how to leverage their exchange experiences to launch businesses and support community service initiatives. His project will run through mid-December, and you can follow it on Facebook at Shak Abner and LinkedIn at Ishaku Abner.
Hikaru Wakeel Hayakawa ’20 (USA), from Maplewood, New Jersey, spent his YES Abroad year in Skopje, North Macedonia and is now the deputy executive director of Climate Cardinals, a youth-led nonprofit making climate education more accessible to non-English speakers. He recently graduated from Williams College with a degree in history. One fun fact about Hikaru is that he plays the sitar, a three-stringed Indian instrument resembling a guitar. His project, Towards Accessible and Youth-Oriented Climate Education, involves collaborating with the Climate Cardinals team to accelerate the creation of infographics for their organization, aiming to make climate education more accessible to a global audience of over 300,000. Follow Hikaru’s project, which runs through the end of the year, on Instagram at climatecardinals, LinkedIn at Climate Cardinals, and X at ClimateCardinal.
Amadu Gbassay Kabia ’11 (Sierra Leone) was placed by AYUSA in Harper, Texas and is currently working as a civil engineer at Innovative Solutions Consultancy. One fun fact about Amadu is that he enjoys sharing knowledge, which he demonstrates by organizing public lectures at Fourah Bay College at the University of Sierra Leone to teach research skills to engineering students. Amadu is a two-time grant recipient, and his current project, Sierra Leone Sustainable Harvest, aims to educate farmers in remote communities in the Northern Region about climate change, food preservation, sustainable farming practices, and agribusiness development. The project includes hands-on training, allowing farmers to apply what they learn by cultivating local food. Follow his project, which runs through January 2025, on Facebook at Amadu G Kabia, Instagram at amadugkabia, and LinkedIn at Amadu G. Kabia.
Jonathan Johnny ’18 (Sierra Leone) was placed by CIEE in Bedford, Iowa and will soon be awarded a degree in biological sciences from Njala University. He enjoys challenging himself by learning new skills and meeting people from diverse backgrounds. His grant project, Kickoff for Peace: Football, Sustainability, and Wellness, aims to create an inclusive garden for student collaboration and organize a football tournament with 300 participants from 20 teams to raise awareness about peace, non-violence, and mental health among students. Additionally, the project includes a one-day workshop for 100 participants focused on peacebuilding and environmental sustainability. The project will run until January 2025, and you can follow it on Facebook at Kickoff for Peace and Jonathan Johnny.
Jan Art Asat Serna ’16 (Philippines) was placed by AFS-USA in Denver, Colorado. He is currently working as a licensed medical laboratory scientist. One fun fact about Jan Art is that he founded a youth-led organization focused on health promotion and education in his town. He was also part of the interim officer cohort that established the YES Alumni Association of the Philippines (YAAP) in 2023. His grant project, Movement for Malaria-Free Brooke's Point, aims to improve the health of his community by providing education to prevent malaria. To stay up to date on Jan Art's project, which ends late-January, follow Kalyouthsugan on Facebook.
Isaka Dalei ’19 (Tanzania) was placed by PAX in Portland, Indiana and is currently pursuing a medical degree at St. Francis University College of Health and Allied Sciences in Morogoro. A couple of fun facts about Isaka is that he’s a right-footed soccer player, yet he’s scored more goals with his left foot, and while he can easily run over five miles, he finds it difficult to do 10 push-ups. As a campus director for Millennium Campus Network, a global student network advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Isaka is inspired to work on SDG 2, zero hunger, through his grant project Kilimo Janja (Smart Agriculture). The project will design a website and mobile app to address gaps in marginalized farmers' access to information, markets, and resources, while also providing training in three villages in the Morogoro region through February 2025. Follow Isaka’s project on Instagram at officialisakadalei and Facebook at Isaka Dalei.