“When I received the acceptance of a scholarship from Watipa, I was able to not only pay my fees in full but to also perform well in my academics; I have peace now.”
My name is Emmanuel Boateng Duah. I’m from Ghana, the western part of Africa, and I am studying a Bachelors in Integrated Development Studies. I am about to begin my third year of study at the University for Development Studies in Tamale, Ghana.
When I was younger, I was a program manager for an organization called Teach on the Beach. The organization provided disadvantaged children with learning opportunities such as after school programs. Working with the organization sponsored me through high school. Here I grew passion for helping others and enjoyed developing ideas to solve situations. I decided to choose integrated development studies because it will help me develop and find solutions to the problems society and communities encounter.
After school I am going to be a community developer. I can facilitate communities with the help of NGOs, individuals or governments support to tackle their challenges. I have already begun this in two communities in the upper north of Ghana as school projects. This photo of me was taken in Jumo village, one of the communities where I have worked. I helped write a proposal to NGOs and the government for help concerning the provision of a school building for the young ones in the village. It was very successful!
Further in my future I can see myself with great critical thinkers from different backgrounds in an organization like UN, Free the Children and many more, helping societies, communities and individuals to find solutions to their challenges. I would love to help governments to draft policies that will solve or develop a particular situation.
Being a young person in this era is not easy at all. There are a lot of challenges in trying to rise up when compared to our predecessors. Young people today face a poor economy, global warming, unemployment and many more issues. With sustainability plans from governments and determination on our side we can make difference.
Earlier in my university journey it was hard for me to pay my fees fully. I normally struggled to pay half and then had the intuition chasing me everywhere with warnings for the rest. This had me worrying a lot, drifting away from the main purpose which I went to the university for, my studies. When I received the acceptance of a scholarship from Watipa, I was able to not only pay my fees in full but to also perform well in my academics; I have peace now. I am proud to share my results – all A+s, As and B+s – since I joined Watipa!
Emmanuel Boateng Duah, Ghana, Watipa Scholar 2016
You can read more about Manny and follow his journey through his previous blog in 2017: Meet a scholar: Emmanuel Duah, Ghana. We’re proud of you Manny! Keep up the good work and the courage of your visions for community development in the future!