YENIVA SISAY: WALKS US THROUGH THE POWER OF EDUCATION AND LEARNING

Yeniva Sisay (M.A. Ed) is a value creator and change agent, who is passionate about the development and transformation of Africa. In 2007 Yeniva relocated to her ancestral home Sierra Leone, with a vision to develop the next generation of Sierra Leonean leaders, innovators, and change-makers. It was then that she founded EXCEL Sierra Leone; an educational organization that provides academic enrichment, character and leadership development to senior secondary school students in Sierra Leone.

She is a master in instructional leadership and education consulting, with an emphasis on building and developing human capital in the ‘African context’. Over the last decade, as a trained and qualified teacher, a mentor and coach, Yeniva has developed a diverse portfolio of skills and experience across private and public sectors in the United States and Africa. She creates value on the continent; working in areas such as project management, business development, training & facilitation, brand communications and event management.

Yeniva is focused on living her life’s purpose of reaching young people through their minds, their hearts and souls. She lives by the mantra “I teach to revive the heartbeat of a nation gone numb”.

What two or three words have defined your career as it’s progressed?

Creative, Passion, Calling

As a champion for education, your desire is to see the youth embrace themselves and reach their highest potential and this is evident in all you do. We would love to hear about how your work with EXCEL and how it has impacted Sierra Leone.

My life’s work is about exposing youth to the possibilities that are available to them despite their external circumstances.

 EXCEL has endeavored to reach some of the most promising young people in Sierra Leone to participate in collaborative positive youth development(PYD) programs focused on providing educational enrichment activities, short courses, and support services.

In a recent study conducted with a control group we found participants in EXCEL Sierra Leone:  

• Have higher grade averages in reading and writing than the control group;

• Higher scores on public exams than the control group;

• Have significantly less risk of pregnancy, course failure and dropping out of school than the control group;

• Participants possess a full-range of developmental skills like critical thinking in school, home and the community that youth need to succeed;

• Been mentored by some of Sierra Leones MD, CEO’s, senior executives, entrepreneurs;

• EXCEL alumni go on to become college graduates and employed contributing citizens.

When we make worthwhile investments in our young people we; our country, and society can reap the benefits.

Your Organisation was one of the few that led in providing support for the victims of Ebola across Sierra Leone. supporting with training of social workers, teachers and caregivers, tell us about that experience. What made you do it?

During Ebola I was placed in a unique position to see the effects of Ebola from many different perspectives; as a mother, citizen, teacher, community leader. Schools were shut down immediately and this just didn’t sit well with me. The Ebola Viral Disease (EVD) would put considerable strain on an already fragmented and fragile education system. With schools being shut for over nine months what would young people do? I knew there was a way we could help.

So in the wake of the Ebola crisis in Sierra Leone, EXCEL Sierra Leone developed programming aimed at bridging the gap for youth affected by ebola, by supporting their academic development and psychosocial wellbeing. Our mission was to ensure ebola does not define the future of our children and youth by investing in their success beyond their immediate circumstance.

We developed a range of programs by bringing together some of the most promising University students from the Fourah Bay College of Social Work. These young people were also out of school. EXCEL engaged 12 of  students to train to become EXCEL Mentors. 

EXCEL Mentors worked along the EXCEL Management Team to provide academic support, leadership development, and psychological social support (PSS) to youth and children affected by the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), specifically survivors, orphans, vulnerable children (OVCs), school going mothers and pregnant girls, their families and population in affected communities.

It was such an enriching experience for all involved. It was powerful to see how we as ordinary citizens can come together and use or skills to make difference. We did some extraordinary work during those times.  Some of my work in the fight against Ebola has been documented in the short doc “The Ebola Stigma Vaccine” by Paul Samuels.

EXCEL Turned 10 this year, share with us some highlights of your successes especially regarding your alumni?

Through the power of education and learning, I introduce students to a world they may not have even imagined. The ultimate benefit of education to me, is the ability to share thoughts with others, challenge and develop ideas, and blend them into contributions and solutions that can transform.

In many of our traditional African homes our parents expect young people to go to school and get into the traditionally successful careers such as: doctor, lawyer accountant the safe “known” career choices. While these are all great careers but what if you dream of other options like being a professional dancer, a chef, photographer, or a fashion designer? 

EXCEL focuses on empowering the next generation to become leaders, creatives, innovators, thinkers, and change-makers who are not only inspired but in action to re-define Sierra Leone.

With the academic enrichment trainings and mentoring programs offered by EXCEL participants are able to soar in multifaceted environments using the skills they have developed. They are also exposed, encouraged and supported to explore a variety of options for their life and career choices inside and outside of Sierra Leone.  

On July 21 we celebrated 10 years in Sierra Leone. In the last 10 years, we have inspired, motivated, supported and provided FREE services for over 700 participants.  Amongst our Alumnus are 42 college graduates, 10 entrepreneurs, 7 Masters holders and 2 PhD holders. 

With so many challenges facing young Sierra Leoneans, I am elated to meet highly capable, creative and energized young people across the country with a passion to learn, contribute and make a positive impact in their communities. I am extremely proud of our EXCEL Alumni, mentors and participants. Seeing them go after their dreams and succeed in their endeavors inside and outside of Sierra Leone confirms EXCEL is making difference.

If you had the authority to pass a legislature supporting youth development in Sierra Leone, what challenge would it address and why?

If I had the authority to pass a legislature supporting youth development in Sierra Leone, the challenge the legislature would address is illiteracy. Sierra Leone has one of the lowest literacy rates in the world. In order to have thriving society we must address the issue of literacy head on.

It’s great that education reform and free quality education are getting the attention they require. But we are missing the boat if we don’t actively and aggressively address our country low literacy rate and actively develop a nation of citizens that can read and write.

You are an educator with over two decades of experience in and outside of Sierra Leone. If you were asked to choose a system of education for Sierra Leone which one would you recommend and why?

I am an educator because it is my passion to assist others in an educational journey that triggers their power and uncovers their true potential.

If given the opportunity I am not sure that I would choose one education system, after all there are some fascinating practices and results of education systems from all over the world. If given the opportunity, I would converge a team of both international and domestic experts to review some of the best practices to suit the conditions here in Sierra Leone.

I think that it is essential that we seek to review our system of education from a 21^st century perspective. We need be intentional about developing a system of education that will get youth fired up for the future so that by 2030, when Africa is set to be the most populous continent in the world, Sierra Leonean youth are already pioneers across all fields for that Africa 12 years from now.

Imagine you were to meet with an investor that is ready to finance your NGO- EXCEL, Sell your vision in a few words.

To build the Sierra Leone we want to see, we must be willing to develop our nation’s most coveted asset –our human capital.

Africa’s greatest asset is our youth. Nowhere in the world are young people more central to a continent’s future than in Africa, where they account for 47 per cent, almost half of all inhabitants.

EXCEL Sierra Leone is a positive youth development that engages participants along with their families, and their communities so that youth are empowered to reach their full potential.

Invest in the future of Sierra Leone! Your support of EXCEL is more than charitable contribution – it is an investment in the future of Africa. Your generosity is furthering EXCEL’s mission of identifying talent for the African pipeline and equip them with the skills, knowledge, and understanding to meet their potential.

A gift to EXCEL builds the network of leaders who will work together to address Africa’s greatest challenges and meet the needs of a changing continent and the demands of its citizens. Please join us in fulfilling the promise of the next generation of Africa.