At Future of Africa’s 2026 Fresh Start Ceremony, Mohammed Musa shared his journey from the streets to joining the Norviwo Program in a heartfelt speech that reflected his growth, and hope for the future.
When I came to Future of Africa (FOA), I remember the older residents talking about their matriculation ceremonies and how it was a nice experience for them. They shared their experiences with so much excitement. As I listened to their stories, I began to imagine what my own matriculation would feel like. Their stories left me looking forward to my turn, and I was glad that everyone at FOA gets a moment to celebrate their decision to join FOA.
At the beginning of August, Madam Cindy let the new residents know that the Fresh Start Ceremony, our matriculation, would be held on 23rd August 2026. Hearing this made me happy because the day I was looking forward to was fast approaching. But something even more significant happened that same day the matriculation date was announced. Later in the afternoon, Madam Grace called me and asked if I could be the spokesperson for the matriculants. I shouted, “Why me! She smiled and replied, “Why not you?” I kept looking at her shocked but then I began to feel special, the one among my peers to be chosen to say a few words on the day.
Being asked to speak at the ceremony meant more than the honor itself. It meant someone had seen my potential and believed I could have this important role to speak on behalf of all the residents. From that week, Madam Cindy and Sir Elom helped me think about how to write a speech and what I would say on that day. It was challenging thinking about what to say but the staff were encouraging and gave me plenty of ideas.
The day then finally arrived. I woke up nervous but I was also confident because the night before I rehearsed with the staff and each one of them kept saying I was delivering the speech well. This made me proud. Once I got to the center I kept practicing so I would not forget any parts of my speech.
After breakfast, Madam Mary asked us to go and change into our African print outfits for a quick photo shoot. We changed and headed outside, excited about the day. I liked how the photographer took his time to teach us how to pose in front of the camera. I do not generally like taking pictures but that day I didn't mind at all.
After the photo shoot, Madam Cindy marched us to the office and gave us our matriculation gowns. As I put mine on, I could not help but reflect on my journey. I thought about the older residents who had once talked about their own matriculation ceremonies and I remembered how I used to think about this day too. And now, there I was, wearing my own matriculation gown. When the program started, I became nervous again because there were lots of people who had come to celebrate with us.
Then the moment I will never forget came. Sir Nicholas called my name and invited me to come forward to speak on behalf of the matriculants. I stood up, took a deep breath, and made my way to the stage. In that moment I decided not to simply give a speech. I decided to tell my story. I stood before the audience and began to speak about my journey and everything I had been through. I spoke about where I came from, my hometown, and then how I ended up the streets of Accra. As I shared my experiences and reflected on everything I had gone through, I became overwhelmed.
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I was very emotional sharing my story in front of everyone but I was also proud of how far I have come.
It was an extremely emotional moment for me. As the memories came back, I felt myself breaking down. At one point, I honestly thought I would not be able to finish my speech. The words became difficult to say, and the emotions were almost too heavy to carry. But I held on. I reminded myself of how far I had come. I took a breath, gathered my courage, and continued speaking until I reached the end. When I finally finished, the audience gave me a resounding round of applause. In that moment, I felt incredibly proud of myself. I stood before a crowd and told my story, even when the memories were painful and the emotions were overwhelming. I had started the speech not knowing whether I could finish it, but somehow, I did. And that, to me, was another victory.
The rest of the day was beautiful. I enjoyed every performance and every moment of the celebration. One of the performances that touched me the most was the traditional drum performance by my friends who are still on the streets. Seeing them there, performing with such joy and confidence, made the day even more special for me. It was truly an awesome day. My matriculation was not just about putting on a gown or standing before an audience. It was about looking back at where I had come from, recognizing where I was standing at that moment, and realizing that I had made it this far. And for that, I will always be grateful.
Story by Mohammed Musa, Norviwo Resident
transcribed by Hannah Otopah-Darko
21st September 2026