By Fily Coulibaly (YES 2011-2012, Mali, placed by CCI Greenheart in Stratham, NH)

What are some of your biggest accomplishments since becoming an alumni of the YES program?

Over the past ten years, I have participated in countless community service activities, tackling pressing issues like:
- Education (the Smile Camp, which is a yearly educational and interactive camp for orphans);
- Poverty (clothes drives and Operation Ramadan, which for 8 years distributes food kits to 200 families during the holy month of Ramadan);  
- Social inclusion (women's empowerment workshop, Change is Me, which is a project to foster dialogue between women from the north and the south and promote peace);
 - Hunger and malnutrition (resilient agricultural practices through my job)
- Disability related issues (I served as a Special Olympics coach and participated in ToTs to advocate for a more accessible and inclusive society)  

I served as an executive member of the YES Alumni Association of Mali for two terms, both as the vice president and the treasurer. I'm also the president of the youth association, Mali Djigui (Mali's Hope), which I co-founded with fellow alumni and friends, and which strives to help orphans get a better future by inspiring them. 

What are some of your favorite memories from the YES program?

It was a year full of beautiful memories. With my host family, I cherished the spirit put in every event, from how the decoration of our home would change from one season to another, to how my host brothers would get overly excited for a Super Bowl game. I admired the charm of Christmas lights and the vibrant joy of the holiday season, despite the cold winter in New Hampshire.

My school life was equally hectic, because I joined many clubs in addition to my sports team. I participated in interstate competitions, campaigned for fundraisers, coached and cheered at Special Olympics games, and went to Prom, among other opportunities. Ten years later, i visited my host community and all the good memories rushed back as if it were yesterday. 

What are some of the ways you’ve stayed connected to fellow alumni since your exchange experience? What about your host family or friends?

Keeping in touch is a must. We YES Alumni are citizens of the world and we love to meet new people anywhere we go! I was able to keep in touch with my fellow alumni through the various workshops I participated in after my exchange year. I also had the chance to travel a lot thanks to my job, so I never miss out on an opportunity to reach out to local YES offices and alumni in the area. Social media, like WhatsApp and Facebook, have also made it very easy to keep in touch with family and friends over the years. I often video call my host family. I visited them last year after ten years and it still felt like home. 

How did the YES program impact you professionally? What about personally?

I'm progressing in a very dynamic and diverse work environment. Thanks to the exchange year abroad, I developed leadership, public speaking, and communication skills that allow me to present complex topics in simple, confident, and creative ways. Participating in the YES program gave me an opening to the endless opportunities and connections across the world, and helped me with my university and career orientation. In one sentence: it developed me as person. It gave me enough exposure to adapt to any kind of environment, be more self-reliant, and above all, it activated my eagerness to give back to the community. 

What is one piece of advice you would give to current or future YES program participants?

You are ambassadors of your countries today and global citizens tomorrow. Be grateful for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and seize it to grow and find your purpose. Whatever your time allows you to do, do it! Join the clubs, the sports teams, apply for the workshops, and make meaningful connections.

You were selected among many others because YOU have the potential to make a positive impact. Learn and share as much as you can with your host community and fellow participants so that once you join our privileged network of alumni, you can continue to be great, give back to the community, and inspire others.

In 10, 20, or even 30 years, what do you hope the legacy of the YES program will be?

I'm always proud to see YES alumni striving in leadership positions in their jobs and communities. The legacy of YES will be its intergenerational impact, thanks to the inspiration that alumni are! 
After 10 years, I will still say, "wow, this experience exists, and it changed me."

YES alumni will shape the world around diversity, social inclusion, tolerance, respect for others and their culture, and advocacy for positive changes. Community service will become the new normal and peace shall prosper.