When Nicholas’ family lost everything in a fire, people stepped in to help. This experience shaped his outlook and direction in life. In his first year at FOA, Nicholas joined FOA as a volunteer to give back just like he was given. His bright smile and warm attitude made him a natural at coordinating activities with children in street situations and inspiring his peers from Ashesi to serve.
As a Mastercard Foundation Scholar, who pursued a BSc in Management Information Systems at Ashesi University, Nicholas exemplified hard work, academic excellence and leadership. He is a Chelsea F.C. fan and a fine soccer player himself. Under his leadership as the player/coach of the Ashesi football team, he was awarded the 2019 Ubora Sportsman of the year. When Nicholas wasn’t on the streets or the soccer field he could be found in classrooms tutoring his peers in Calculus. “I enjoy the feeling of meeting the needs of people”.
In his role as Programs Manager, Nicholas is responsible for planning, strategizing, and leading the team to execute bespoke programs that are tailored to meet the unique needs of each youth. His work involves designing impactful initiatives that empower street children, providing them with the tools and opportunities to realize their full potential.
Every moment a child is off the streets and in the classroom is another moment for the Future of Africa.
In August we hosted our Fresh Start Ceremony and it was one of those days that reminded us why we do this work. We celebrated exciting new beginnings of youth who once spent years on the street without hope and purpose.
We piloted art and music therapy during Wellness Wednesday and now street youth come attend outreach more often, stay engaged, and look forward to finishing projects and learning new dances.
Staff and volunteers recently underwent a professional development workshop where we’ve learned to respond with more compassion, understand trauma better, and support each youth in a way that helps them truly thrive.
