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Download the Scholarship Application Marianne D. Ndao
Location: (Dakar, Senegal)Field: Business Management
Since her father died in 1999, the family has been struggling to make ends meet. She had to stop school several times due to a lack of funds. “Having seen my mother’s conditions, I want to go to higher studies in order to help my family. I want to fight for the cause of women and marginalized people like orphans and children at large. I wish to get involved in politics in the future in order to defend the cause of poor people. But to do so, I need to pursue my studies and find a decent job that will help me position myself in society and be able to stand up for what I believe.”
Gilbert Sagna
Location: (Dakar, Senegal)Field: International Commerce
One of eleven children, Gilbert’s father is a retired school teacher and his mother a housewife in a small village in rural Senegal. He is a certified camp counselor and volunteers teaching children “life skills, songs, and arts and crafts” with the CV/AV movement, a Catholic organization. “The economic situation in Senegal is very difficult and many young people are fleeing the country, but I do believe that we should remain and succeed in our own country and be useful to our people.”
Benoit P. Coly
Location: (Dakar, Senegal)Field: Transport and Logistic Management
One of eight, Beniot’s father is retired and his mother is a housewife, so there is very little extra income for school fees. He currently serves as the assistant treasurer of the Dakar Medina YMCA Senegal branch. Benoit is extremely motivated to succeed. “The objective I have fixed for myself has seen progress and I do not have the intention to stop now. The work is far from being achieved.”
Victoria Galley
Location: (Cape Coast, Ghana)Field: Business and Management
Victoria was our first scholarship recipient. From Kopeyia, a small village in Ghana, Victoria is in her second year at Cape Coast Polytechnic where she is studying business administration. While Kopeyia now boasts its own elementary and junior high school, few girls in Kopeyia continue past junior high. Victoria was able to attend secondary school with the help of an American friend, but after completing secondary school was unable to find the resources to continue her education. Once finished with her degree, Victoria hopes to find a job that will provide her with the means to help support her family. In particular, the education of her younger brother and sister.
Akoeallah Gedzah
Location: (Ho, Ghana)Field: Business/Accounting
Akoeallah is from the rural farming village of Kopeyia, Ghana. The son of a local weaver, Akoeallah graduated from Saint Paul Secondary School in nearby Denu in 2004, where he studied business. Unable to continue his studies as he hoped to, due to a lack of funds, Akoeallah moved back to Kopeyia where he volunteered as a teacher at the local elementary school and enrolled in computer classes. With the assistance of a WMF scholarship, Akoeallah is now in his second year at Ho Polytechnic, where he is studying business. Once he completes his degree, Akoeallah hopes to one day start his own business.
Issac Gedzah
Location: (Tema, Ghana)Field: Adom School for Medical Laboratory Technicians
Issac grew up in Kopeyia, where there was no school when Issac was young. Once completing secondary school, like many other young people in his village, he lacked the means to continue his education, but not the ambition. He wanted to work at the hospital, but since he didn’t have the qualifications to get a job, he decided to volunteer. His hard work was noticed and it was decided he would train as a laboratory assistant. After five years as an assistant, Issac wanted to go to school to learn how to become a laboratory technician himself. Dedicated to using his knowledge to improve the lives of people in his home village, Issac will be running a diabetes clinic and awareness session in Kopeyia early next year.
Victor (V-Jay) Galley
Location: (Accra, Ghana)Field: Studio Art
V-Jay always knew that he wanted to be an artist. In addition to being a painter, he is an excellent dancer and has performed with Sankofa, a troupe based out of Kopeyia, as well as taught dance to local and foreign teenagers. Painting is his real passion. V-Jay decided that if he was going to progress as an artist he needed to go to school. With the help of a WMF scholarship, V-Jay is now living in Accra, attending Ghannatta School of Art and volunteering at JAC.
Marianne Ndiaye
Location: (Dakar, Senegal)Field: Business Administration Management
Marianne had to stop school in 2006 due to a lack of financial means. With the help of the WMF scholarship, she plans to return to school in January where she will complete her Master’s degree. Her hope is that when she finishes, she will be able to continue her work at the YMCA, but as an employee rather than a volunteer.
Jean Francois Toure
Location: (Dakar, Senegal)Field: Management
A YMCA volunteer since 2002, Jean is dedicated to helping his fellow Senegalese. Once he finishes his masters in organizational management, he hopes to use his skills to help grow and strengthen his country’s NGO’s and community organizations.
William Sekou Diedhiou
Location: (Dakar, Senegal)Field: Human Resources
As a member of the student government at his school, a Boy Scout since fourteen, a YMCA volunteer and a youth coordinator for the Mulumba Christian Youth Association, it is clear that helping others is a significant and important part of William’s life. With the death of his father, William has struggled to pay his way through school, barely making ends meet with a part time job as a telemarketer and a partial government scholarship. When his scholarship ended he had to stop school. With a WMF scholarship, William hopes to complete his Master’s in Human Resources Management and use his skills toward one of the non-profit organizations he currently volunteers for.
Gaspar Edmonds
Location: (Port-au-Prince, Haiti)Field: Pre-Med
Gaspar is studying to be a doctor. He comes to us as a result of his work at the Project Hope Orphanage and School (Theo’s Work) in La Caye, Haiti. Gaspar has been a dedicated volunteer at Project Hope. Once Gaspar finishes his schooling, he hopes to be able to help the people of Haiti. Haiti is one of the poorest countries in the western hemisphere and in desperate need of qualified doctors.
Jean Francois Oumar
Location: (Dakar, Senegal)Field: Electrical Mechanics
A Boy Scout and YMCA volunteer Jean is passionate about helping others. Due to his father’s job loss, Jean’s family couldn’t continue to support his studies to become an electrical engineer. When he finishes his studies, he hopes to be able to support his family and help put his brother through school.