Baati Linguere is taking a back-seat today to allow us get a very important message through. Linguere is excited to share this great news with her faithful readers. I got selected together with a colleague and friend, Aisha Keita to represent The Gambia and Morocco at the MILEAD Institute 2012! The main (but definitely not the only) reason for sharing this is to ask for support to get through with our dreams of getting equipped with enough skills to change lives around the world. Please read the official announcement to know what the Institute is all about and check out ways in which you can help support us!

Aisha Keita and Jama Jack from The Gambia and Morocco selected among Africa’s Most Outstanding Emerging Women Leaders

Moremi Initiative for Women’s Leadership in Africa proudly announces the 2012 MILEAD (Moremi Initiative Leadership and Empowerment Development) Fellows. The 25 selected MILEAD Fellows are some of Africa’s most extraordinary young women leaders with the courage and commitment to lead and shape their communities and Africa’s future . The Fellows were chosen through a highly competitive selection process and criteria for their outstanding leadership promise, community service accomplishments, and commitment to the advancement of women in Africa.

Miss Aisha Keita was selected for her passion, vision and commendable achievements on girl child education and health care for women and children in developing countries. Ms. Keita is a young Gambian at the University of The Gambia, majoring in Political Science. Aisha’s experience as a girl child, growing up in The Gambia and the many obstacles she had to overcome fuels her drive and passion to become a journalist fighting for the rights of the younger generation especially women, with the vision to create a sustainable and conducive environment in The Gambia and Africa in general. 

Miss. Jama Jack is a 22-year-old activist of Gambian origin. She was selected for her passion, vision and commendable achievements on issues on the development of youth and women. She is a 2nd year student of Journalism and Communications at the Institut Superieur de l’Information et de la Communication in Rabat, where she is the current President of the Gambian Students’ Association in Morocco. Jama loves reading and shares her gift of writing on her blog, Linguere.

Both Aisha and Jama have continuously volunteered with non-profit organizations like Lend A Hand Society, Gambians Against Rape and Molestation, Tuta Pack Action Group, Think Young Women etc. Their activism coupled with their academic success, have helped mould them into dependable, tolerant and independent-minded young women. 

The 2012 MILEAD Fellows represent twenty-five African countries and the Diaspora, the 2012 Fellows represent a Pan-African diversity with multi-disciplinary academic, professional and social backgrounds. The 2012 Fellows are between the ages of 19 and 25, but are already actively leading change on pertinent issues both at the grassroots and international level. They will become part of the growing MILEAD community of young women leaders.

The fellowship will kick-start with the 2012 MILEAD Fellows Institute. The MILEAD Fellows are to converge in Accra, with a three-week intensive training program, which will be hosted by the Institute of African Studies, University of Ghana, Legon. The Institute will serve as a platform for Fellows to cross-examine concepts of leadership in a broad African context, cultivate the skills and experiences necessary to occupy and excel in leadership positions, and gain knowledge on cutting-edge issues critical to African women and their communities.

Both ladies have been awarded partial scholarship to attend the three-week Institute in Accra, Ghana from 10^th July to 1^st August, 2012. An additional sum of $2,750 is required to cover for all their expenses including travel, accommodation, feeding, tuition etc. They therefore call for support from all stakeholders, government departments, private companies and individuals alike to help in making their trip a possibility. All contributions are highly welcome, as they strive to represent their country in the best ways possible.

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So there you have it. We call on everyone to throw it their moral and financial support. Please share this with any people or organisations you feel will be willing to help in even the smallest ways possible. Share the link to this post on all your social network pages and pass the message across to as many people as possible. We can be contacted on the following numbers and e-mail addresses for now:

yajamaj90@yahoo.com

aisha_keita@yahoo.co.uk

Sait Matty Jaw: 7623726/3850321

Remember to share and support our cause. It is only through our concerted efforts that we can make it to our destination! Like the Wolof say , ‘Lu kena mun, nyaara koko daaha’. We can do this! 🙂