THE NEXT GENERATION (Training Africans To Think, To Serve, & To Lead)

“Our vision for the students, teachers, and workers are the same: We’re training leaders of integrity who understand the need to serve, to find solutions, and to bring about change.”?

Those are the words of Mr. Kwabena Danso—a visionary young African who is the driving force behind two social enterprises in rural Ghana: Boomers International and the Yonso Project Model School. The main goal of these two enterprises is to break the cycle of poverty among rural youth and women through educational and economic empowerment.?

Exactly a week ago (Jan 13-14, 2022), I was in the small rural town of Yonso, in the Ashanti region of Ghana. I was there for a 2-day leadership training for the staff of the two social enterprises that were founded by Mr. Kwabena Danso (of the bamboo bicycle fame).

KWABENA DANSO & THE YONSO PROJECT

Mr. Kwabena Danso has received global recognition for his work as a young African social entrepreneur. In the course of championing rural development, he has had the opportunity to meet and interact with some distinguished personalities including the current UK prime minister Boris Johnson, His Royal Highness Prince Charles, Canadian High Commissioner to Ghana, and the UK High Commissioner to Ghana. Besides several international awards, he has also been interviewed by BBC, Voice of America, CNN, and other international media.

I met first met Kwabena in 2005 when I went to the University of Ghana to give an inspirational lecture series on Excellence and “Living Without Fear.” He was at that time a psychology student at that university. A year later, he began the Yonso Project with some of his friends as a way to improve the educational resources available to students in rural communities like his village of Yonso.?

Since 2006, Kwabena has committed his life to educating the youth and women in rural Ghana in an attempt to break the cycle of poverty. He does so through scholarships for the needy, micro-finance for the rural women, building rural libraries and reading projects to improve literacy among village dwellers, and starting other innovative projects to provide opportunity to families and individuals in rural areas.

He has also created a subsidiary social enterprise of the Yonso Project called BOOMERS International which produces bamboo bicycles and other bamboo products as a means of providing rural Ghanaian youth with employment.?

(Because Booomers donates 15% of its profits to the Yonso Project, every bamboo bicycle purchased is also helping improve educational opportunities and empower youth and women in rural Ghana).

Kwabena’s latest endeavor is the Yonso Project MODEL SCHOOL (YPMS). It is a school that aims at bringing quality education to children in the rural areas. As he explains it,?

“the goal of the YPMS is to develop the next generation of critical, ethical-thinking leaders who will become problem-solvers and change the status quo of our nation and continent.”?

There are currently 401 students enrolled at both the pre-school and primary levels. The school currently employs 41 teachers/teaching assistants and 17 non-teaching staff (janitors, drivers, cooks, management). These are in addition to the 35 people he currently employs at Boomers.?

STAFF LEADERSHIP TRAINING

As indicated earlier, I was at the Yonso village exactly a week ago (Jan 13 & 14, 2022) for a 2-day staff leadership training of both the teachers at the Model School and the administrative staff of Boomers. In all, there were about 65 people in attendance. After breakfast at 8:00am, the leadership training began at 9:00am till 5:00pm, with an hour lunch break at 1:00pm during which time all attendees were served by the Principal of the School (Mrs. Benedicta Appiah).??

As in most of my transformational leadership training events in Africa, my approach to leadership training consisted of inspirational lectures that were informed by biblical principles and the ideals of Pan Africanism and the African renaissance (as expressed in the Africa Union’s Agenda 2063 document).

DAY 1: Being the beginning of the year and being the staff’s first meeting, I devoted the first day of the 2-day leadership training to providing a vision for the new year. I urged them to “forget the past,” discover their purpose in life, and expect God to do great things in their lives and in their work.

In the course of my presentations, I also shared the personal story of Mr. Kwabena Danso, and how our 2005 meeting at the University of Ghana led him to a discover his purpose and motivations in life. I then invited him to share his experiences, challenge the staff on what they can also do, and answer their questions.

DAY 2. On the last day of the staff leadership training, I addressed the specific topic assigned me by Mr. Danso—namely, to articulate the 3 core values of the motto of the Yonso Project Model School: “Leadership, Excellence, & Service.” In the course of the training, I urged them to read (instead of watching too much TV) to think (instead of letting others do their thinking for them), and to embrace excellence as a lifestyle (instead of the prevalent mediocrity).?

Below are the highlights of what I shared:

1. On LEADERSHIP.??

—I cited the Ghanaian proverb, “An army of sheep led by a lion can defeat an army of lions led by a sheep,” to emphasize that leadership matters;?

—Then, to drill home the point that we each must step up to the plate and become leaders in our spheres of influences, I stated:?“Leadership is not about you. But it begins with you.”

—I explained that the occasion for leadership is wherever and whenever there is NEED: “Where duty calls or danger we must rise up and offer leadership.”

—Finally, I affirmed that true leadership is characterized by excellence, humility, and service (best modeled by Jesus Christ).?

2. On EXCELLENCE.

—I stated: “Excellence is distinction, mediocrity is extinction. We must choose to be distinct, not extinct.”?

—As in several of my lectures on Excellence around the world, I gave the following reasons why we must pursue excellence:

—The God we serve is a God of excellence; He demands only the very best, and He’s displeased by mediocrity—anything less than excellence

—People everywhere expect excellence; respect it and reward it.

—Excellence is a strategic asset; it cannot be ignored. It’s always recognized—even if at a later time.?

—Excellence is a chain reaction. “Your excellence inspires excellence in others. When you excel, you become a role-model to others. Excellence is a mark of true leadership”?

3. On SERVICE

—I explained that true service is giving responsibility to our ability.?

—It is the distinction found in doing things that others might consider beneath them;

—It is being a slave, serving whoever, whenever, and in whatever.??

—It serves all in need, regardless of their status.?

—True service is always public-service, never a self-service.?

—Such a service is costly because people take us for granted, step on us, or treat us as if we’re inferior or fools.?

—Those who serve is in such a manner must be deaf to derision, blind to slander, and be unaffected by applause or censure.

—True service—giving without expecting to receive—is a blessing; it’s also the antidote to the corruption in Africa.?

IMPACT OF THE LEADERSHIP TRAINING.

Perhaps the best way to measure the impact of the 2-day leadership training is to share some testimonies I received from the Administrative Assistant at Boomers. I will also conclude with the assessment from Mr. Kwabena Danso, the Executive Director of the Yonso Project & Boomers International.?

SAMPLE TESTIMONIES:?

?“I will begin by thanking you for honoring our invitation … This training session has empowered the management staff of Booomers both physically, psychologically and spiritually, to be a better version of themselves.”?– Anasthasia Maud Saniba (Administrative Assistant, Boomers)

Collectively, below were some of the personal testimonies shared by the management staff after the training:

“I have decided to read at least an hour a day, before going to bed. Also, not just reading the Bible but other learning materials that will inspire me to do my utmost best in every aspect of my life. I will also meditate on what I read during the day in order to put into practice and achieve excellence.” – Christiana Arthur

“I have decided to remain positive in everything I do, being it my thoughts, work, life, etc. And I can do more for the society, nation and the world at large.” – Keith Otchere

“During the training session Dr. mentioned his book HOPE THROUGH THE DARK and said that without darkness one cannot clearly see the star. This made me say to myself that even in the darkest days of my life I’m a star and should shine. Therefore no matter what I face I will always have in mind that I can shine through it.” – Angelina Akomea

ASSESSMENT FROM THE DIRECTOR:

?“Dear Dr,?

?“I must say the training has had a huge impact on the staff, and they are more energetic to deliver their mandate.?

?“Sharing my personal story has also changed the way people perceive things about me and about the work they do.?

?“Almost everyone is ready to do their part to ensure the vision and mission are achieved.?

?“Your first presentation about “forgetting the past” seems to have empowered everyone to focus on the great things ahead.?

?“The staff now understand why I am always insisting on excellence.?

?“Thank you for all that you do to ensure that our work succeeds.?

?“God bless you. I have been thrilled by the outcome am seeing. Thank you.”

?—Kwabena Danso

I believe that the Lord richly blessed the staff leadership training. More than merely learning about some theories on leadership, excellence and service, the training also impacted the spiritual lives of the attendees, challenging them to be better versions of themselves. I pray that as a result of the leadership training in Yonso, the next generation will be able to think, to serve, and to lead. This is my hope for Africa!

For Facebook photos from the 2-day leadership training at Yonso, click: https://tinyurl.com/sehsr349.

—Samuel Koranteng-Pipim, PhD

Director, EAGLESonline

January 20, 2022.

Samuel Koranteng-Pipim, PhD,?is a US-based Ghanaian author, inspirational speaker, leadership trainer, and advocate for youth empowerment. He is also an executive & personal growth coach. He was trained in engineering and systematic theology. Author of more than 25 books, he promotes excellence and “mind liberation” as the basis of transformational change. He currently directs EAGLESonline and its two Centers for Leadership Development (www.EAGLESonline.org.)?Dr. Pipim regularly publishes short inspirational thought nuggets "to inspire, encourage, and challenge." (For previous nuggets, visit:?https://eaglesonline.org/weekly-nuggets/nuggets-archives/.)