The Inception: 35 Trainees. 5 Volunteers.
Inspired by the visionary mentorship of Mr. Moses Baffour Awuah, YAO began as a movement to professionalize youth leadership. Starting with just 35 trainees and 5 volunteers, we planted the first seeds of the Leadership Diary Training Program in 5 core communities.
Expansion into Axim, Tarkwa, & Techiman
A breakthrough era marked by our partnership with USAID. We scaled to 250+ trainees and expanded our reach across Ghana. By 2017, we celebrated our 5th Anniversary, diversifying into 5 training programs and establishing our presence in Axim, Tarkwa, and Techiman.
Rallying 1,500+ Trainees Annually
This period saw exponential growth, reaching 1,500+ trainees annually. We solidified our footprint in Tamale, Sunyani, and Ho, while introducing the "Age of Work" and "Regenerative Health" modules to our curriculum.
Forging relationships in Morocco & Togo
YAO officially went global. We forged meaningful relationships in Morocco, Togo, and the USA. 2022 marked the "End of an Era" as we prepared for our next decade of impact, focusing on networking, educational tours, and cocktail alliances.
Participants from Ghana, Benin, & Nigeria
Introduction of the Orange Youth Festival to celebrate youth gifts. Expansion continued into 14 regions, with Koforidua and Cape Coast SALCs evolving into full LDTPs by 2025.
Marking the 10th Anniversary in Kumasi
Moving to cover all 16 regions of Ghana. Our journey comes full circle with the 10th Anniversary in Kumasi. Step into the movement.
Join the 10th Anniversary Cohort →
Every idea starts with something unusual. Our story was inspired by Mr. Moses Baffour Awuah, who as a student of Central University, Ghana, saw the benefit he had from mentoring relationships and organized a group of high school leavers to teach them about leadership and mentorship.
As with any other idea, this has evolved to become a global leadership conference, fueled by the mission to raise a cadre of leaders through information and knowledge sharing and skill development.
Strategic Implementation & Regional Coordination
The 10,000+ Strong Leadership Cadre
The Engine across 16 Regions of Ghana