Hello

I grew up and was born in Côte d'Ivoire, West Africa, where education is a privilege and a hindrance to so many kids like me. I had been attending Morning Glory International School up to 6th grade, which was full of friends who enjoyed learning just like me. I had ambitions grand, and I saw that same desire in my classmates—children as gifted, as motivated, but chained by the limits of our circumstance. The life of my family changed abruptly that summer. My parents were offered the opportunity to move to the United States, a step that would mean abandoning our lives behind in favor of a more hopeful future. It wasn't easy, especially for my siblings, as they struggled to adapt to a new culture and language. Luckily, I had already acquired the English language, which made settling into Sycamore Middle School and later Sycamore High School easier. Then, after my freshman year, I was accepted into the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy (IMSA), something that is a product of my parents' sacrifices and, in a way, God's plan for me.

Arriving in the United States was a blessing, but I never forgot the friends and classmates that I had to leave behind—gifted young minds who did not have the means or opportunities to chase their dreams. I never understood, Why was I so fortunate to receive this chance when there were so many others just as deserving? Where I am today is because my family had the means to take everything and venture to find something new. There are so many children in my homeland with the same abilities who are not permitted to pursue their dreams simply because of finances. That never sat well with me.

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That question, that feeling, was the beginning of Afro Dream Project. I wanted to create something for the kids in Africa who are as smart, as driven, and as full of dreams as anyone in this room. I wanted to help bridge the gap between dreams and reality for so many African students. Since I am in America, I hear the people talking about the "American Dream." But I have learned that dreams do not necessarily have a geographical boundary. Why must the dream of success, opportunity, and achievement be left for a privileged few? Why not a boy from Côte d'Ivoire?

I would like, on behalf of Afro Dream Project, to offer these kids, whom I call "Afro Dreamers," the ability to achieve their own definition of success, perhaps in America, Africa, or elsewhere. My Afro Dream Project vision is simple: "Empowering Dreams, One Child at a Time." I hope these children to have access, guidance, and educational opportunity so that they might be able to follow their desires and live out their dreams. This project is my way of making sure my story isn't just a freak occurrence—that children everywhere, regardless of where they are from and how much their family earns, can go for their dreams.".

In developing Afro Dream Project, I wish to provide others with what was provided to me—a means to believe in themselves and in a future not limited by boundaries. Empowering young African students, I believe we can create a ripple effect that reaches further than one child, one family, and even one generation. This is my dream, and this is why Afro Dream Project exists.