Oumou H. Cherif

What A Pencil And Notebook 

Can Do For A Child

Give a pencil and notebook to the average person, she'll build her own future. Give a pencil and notebook to Oumou H. Cherif, she'll build the future of an entire nation.

From the get-go, Cherif's parents invested in her so that she could grow to become an educated woman with choices. But she has always felt a tingly itch within her soul to help those whose parents lacked the financial stability to give their son(s) and daughter(s) access to an education.

"Education is a pathway to better your life and the life of others," she expressed. "Education doesn't make life perfect, but it does guarantee you respect."

Respect is all that Cherif has been getting since she founded her not-for-profit organization Children Education Alliance Inc. (CEA) in January 2012. Her organization has, since, "given [the children of Guinea, Kindia] a lot of hope" by providing them with academic supplies. 

Some speak of wanting to make a difference,  but do not act upon it. Cherif speaks of wanting to make a difference and acts upon it. Abass Dieng, Vice President of Guinea Conakry United of Massachusetts (GCUM) --an initiative that strives to integrate the Guinean community in Massachusetts, Boston-- said that his encounter with cherif led him to unhesitatingly believe that "she understands what the meaning of life is...she sets goals and is  very committed to fulfill the goals she set."

As an only child, one can only imagine the endless attention Cherif has been spoiled with all her life. But she has not kept all to herself the love she has been showered with. She has found ways to transfuse her love by empowering the youth. By showing them that "someone out there cares."

In the early stages of CEA, raised funds were sent to a representative in Guinea, supplies were purchased there, and then  distributed to  a myriad of students in Kindia who were eager to get a hold of their school supplies. 

Now, with a campaign that aims to assemble 10,000 notebooks and pencils, CEA isn't taking money from its supporters. The Massachusetts-based organization is giving its supports the opportunity to purchase pens and notebooks during their own time and then donate.   This creates a bond. This creates movement.

Cherif could  have distributed other tools to the youth in Guinea (perhaps rulers, compasses, calculators, etc.), but she chose, instead, to give them two sacred tools: a pencil and notebook. A pencil and notebook? What can a pencil and notebook do for a child that no other tools can? 

According to the this young, committed, education-advocate Guinean-born, a pencil and notebook will give a child the power to full-hardheartedly express his or her thoughts on paper and be able to pass on a knowledge, wisdom which will empower another.

A Glimpse of Cherif's World

"As much as people see me as a strong person,I would also like them to know that I am vulnerable...I make mistakes...I am human."-Cherif

(L-R) Natacha Gwet (Executive Director at US-Africa Synergy), Assiatou B. Bah (Guinean Activist), Cherif, Saran Kaba Jones (founder and CEO of Face Africa)

"My number one mentor is my mother... my other three mentors are Natacha Gwet, Saran Kaba Jones and Assiatou B. Bah. Mentors are people who can help you make better decisions. Sometimes when you're too proud, they tell you to calm down...they keep you humble."-Cherif

CEA Annual Fundraising Event in Massachusetts (2013)

"I have always believed in sharing when I learned something."-Cherif

Cherif sharing her story on "Every Women Has A Story"

(L-R) Eunice Onwona (host), Cherif

"We all need each other. I have something that you don't have, and you have something that I don't have...God did not give us everything so that we can help each other."-Cherif

Children Education Alliance Recipients

"Kids are the future of tomorrow...CEA have sponsored close to 2000 children with school supplies since its creation."-Cherif

  African Youth Excellence (AYE) Launch in Boston (05/10/14)

(L-R) member of AYE, Cherif

"Leadership is being able to influence others positively without ruling them...leadership is working together."-Cherif

Cherif's (right) rally in Boston, MA against Boko Haram's abduction of the 200-something schoolgirls in Nigeria (05/08/14)

"I  never thought there was a person like that [Boko Haram's leader Abubakar Shekau] that existed. I am heartbroken by this...that's taking away 200 dreams, 200 goals...that's taking away future doctors, lawyers...school is supposed to be a safe environment for kids."-Cherif

A Proud Guinean

   "Our goal is not to forget where we came from."-Cherif

Ways to reach Cherif:

Instagram: Oumoucherif

Facebook: Children Education Alliance / Oumou H. Cherif

Website: www. Africacea.org

Email: oumou.cherif@gmail.com

Amara Dioubate

'I Am going to Be the First Person to Open A Digital Media Design School in Guinea'

Putting hopes on winning the lottery is like throwing a coin into the ocean and expecting to find it; chances are very slim. People who win the lottery are, undoubtedly, lucky people. Amara Dioubate is one of those people, for his array of luck widened when he won a Green Card lottery (DV1 Visa)  to come to America and further his skills as an Artist.

"I am going to be the first person to open a digital media design school in Guinea," announced Dioubate with confidence. It is a bold statement for anyone to announce that he will be the first to do anything. But Dioubate has made a bold announcement, that he plans on backing up with expertise.

He is currently studying Digital Design Animation at Hostos Community College (HCC). And, has made it clear that he would only open a digital media design school in Guinea, after having completed his Masters, because he believes that, "to give a message, you need to learn about the message, first." His plan is: become an expert, and then utilize his expertise to teach in Guinea. The art school he plans on building  in Guinea will have traditional illustration, and also introduce to aspiring artists a technology which he did not have access to at the time he resided in Guinea. Digital design. 

Rocio Rayo, adjunct at HCC, and researcher for a grant that is funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), said that Dioubate has "integrity and the willingness to keep going back to a job regardless of how many times it might take."

When people see Dioubate today, they see an individual with immense talent, but what some don't know is that, had he never emigrated to America, this talent would have been limited.

Dioubate always wanted to learn digital design and animation while he was in Guinea, but the country's lack of advanced technology prevented him from doing so; only traditional illustration was taught.

Before the Artist won the lottery to come to America, in 2008, he studied art at Institut Superieur des Arts de Guinée (ISAG), in Guinea, Conakry. He, then, worked for 3 years driving public transportation to save money so that he could further his studies.

Once he was able to raise enough money, Dioubate left for Dubréka, Guinea (where he went to further his studies). Life there for him was hard at the time. For 3 consecutive months, he would sneak in to classrooms, sleep there throughout the night --because he couldn't afford to have a place of his own-- hoping that no one would discover him. It was "hard to make it in Guinea," but he did whatever it took to get the education he needed.

Right around the time Dioubate was preparing to come to America, he also won an art contest, where out of 50 people, he was selected to illustrate content for an animation movie that was to be shot in Burkina Faso.

Art becomes more meaningful when it can be used to make a difference in the world. And, with corruption surpassing the African continent, Dioubate believes that art can be used to change Africa because "only an Artist can illustrate a story without using words. It makes people believe things, it makes people fight for things."

A Glimpse of Dioubate's World

Dioubate's Drawing

"People don't understand the difference between an artisan and an Artist. An artisan repeats patterns over and over. An Artist does not repeat; he can not re-create the same thing because art is unique and can only be done once."-Dioubate

"Art is something I do because it makes me happy.I don't think I can see myself without art...I don't want to be a president,I just want to be somebody who can help people, through art."-Dioubate

Dioubate's drawing of American basketball player LeBron James

"I admire other people's work, but I admire mine the most. You have to believe in what you do."-Dioubate

"The United States braced me and gave me everything I needed in order to achieve my dreams."-Dioubate

 Dioubate's Work

"Art is unique. You can copy it, but it will never be the same."-Dioubate

 In 2013,Dioubate worked at Hostos Community College as a teacher's assistant for a semester-long, in which he taught students how to paint and draw

Dioubate and Wife

"Next to every strong man, stands a strong woman. I love my wife, she's always there for me. In the worst times and good times."-Dioubate 

 Ways to reach Dioubate:    

Twitter: @Adioubate
Instagram: amarahaw
Facebook: Amara Dioubate
Email: masseamara@hotmail.com / masseamara@gmail.com

Souadou Dramé

2012-2013 Miss Guinee North America On the Importance of Going Back Home

Souadou Dramé isn't just bestowed with beauty, charisma, and the grace to rock the runway. She is a queen with a big heart, willing to use her education to help her country, Guinea, Conakry, develop.

Raised in Saramoussaya, a village situated in central Guinea, Dramé not only has goals for the children of her village, she knows of  a tool  that if Guineans in the diaspora use, intentionally, Guinea forever will be transformed. It is clutched in the hands of many educated Guineans. It is a degree. 

"We had the opportunity to come to America...,we have interacted with different communities and we have what it takes to go back," said the crowned 2012-2013 Miss Guinee North America (MGNA).

Dramé, 21,  is currently a student at the University of Montreal, studying International Business and Civil Law. When she earns her degree, there is one thing she plans on doing: to go back to Guinea and use her degree to help her people.

But before that, she wants to do an internship next year in Guinea to get hands-on experience. When it comes to doing internships, very few consider Guinea as a place to go to to get hands-on experience. Well, not Dramé. She is willing to take the first leap; she is willing to be a leader.

The pageant queen explained that if Guineans have been fortunate enough to come to America to get an advanced education, after having completed their studies, it is only right to go back home and apply what they have learnt. Adding that people in the medical field, for in instance, are needed in Guinea.

Dramé explained that Guinea needs change, and that change ought be fostered by people with a different mentality. The aspiring diplomat addressed a question which many Guineans in the diaspora need to be aware of in order to bring change to their native land: "how do you want Guinea to change if it's always the same people, the same generation?"  

"Some of the best qualities in Souadou (because she has so many) is that she is very humble, respectful, driven, kind and willing to learn and be corrected when she makes mistakes. And those are truly some of the qualities that will lead anyone on top, which is exactly where she is headed as a young leader," said Dramé's mentor Hawa Barry-Diallo, founder of MGNA.

When lauding about bringing change to Guinea, Dramé pointed that many initiators "always help the city, and forget about the village." She added, "when you count how many people there are in the country, they [the people who live in the village] are part it." The need to give attention and education opportunities to underprivileged children of the village inspired Dramé to initiate her own not-for-profit organization called "Hope For Angles."

In 2010, Dramé was the first runner-up of Miss Guinea Canada. Today, she is the Executive Director for Miss Asia Pacific World-Canada, "an international beauty platform dedicated to nurturing talented beauties around the world into becoming future stars in the global entertainment industry."

Dramé was shy before joining the world of pageantry. Now, she has become a confident, outspoken young woman, who is not shy about pointing out what needs to be done for her country.

A Glimpse of Dramé's World

"To me, beauty is someone who is humble and respectful...If you're humble, you can get along with anyone...If you're respectful, you'll always think twice before doing something."-Dramé

"When you're out there [in the public eye], you have to think  about your name. I have to protect my name...I like to protect my image."-Dramé

(L-R) Dramé, John Dumelo (Ghanaian actor, director, entrepreneur, and philanthropist)

Model:  Dramé

Photographer: Sébastien Robillard

Designer: Arfie Lalani

Hair: Laura Masson

"If you respect, you get respect."-Dramé

  In 2013, Dramé had the opportunity to travel to Asia to represent Guinea in Miss Asia Pacific World (MAPW)

Dramé in O'Mack Designs by Uche

"They [Guineans] take it like a competition. It's not about us, it's about the future generation; it's about the bigger picture."- Dramé

A Proud Guinean

"[Guineans] need to start appreciating Guinea more...it's a beautiful country."-Dramé

Ways to reach Dramé:

Instagram: Queen Dramay

Facebook: Hope for Angels / Thequeen Dramé

Email: Drames13@gmail.com / infohopeforangels@gmail.com 

Ibrahima Diallo

Education: The Hope that Guinea needs

At 26 years old, Ibrahima Diallo is not concerned about purchasing the most exotic, eye-catching, high-speed car available on the market. His concern is finding ways to open doors for the youth in Guinea, Conakry to have access to education. 

"I feel that it is my responsibility to do something about it, and to make sure that others see what I see," expressed Diallo --President and Executive Director of Maryland-based 501c3 non-profit organization, Hope of Guinea (HOG)-- about his vision for promoting education in Guinea, Conakry.

HOG provides financial and moral support to underprivileged children in Guinea from elementary school to high (tuition coverage, tutoring and any necessities that'll help them excel). The organization has  rewarded 12 children, thus far, with scholarships (60 percent of whom are girls). And, just how is the selection done? HOG seeks the "best." Students with high grades, but whose parents are not able to finance their education. 

Diallo got involved with HOG when the organization was just founded in 2010, because he saw a way he could help stir it in  the right direction while it was still anew. And he has.

Hope of Guinea's founder, Saloumba Cherif, admitted that when Diallo jumped on board, the Hope of Guinea ship took off, because of his professionalism, dedication, optimism and "strong character." Adding that, "when [Diallo] decides to do something, he'll do it to the end... he is someone everyone wishes  to have on their team."

Who wouldn't want on their team someone with a stern character, who is full of life, passionate, easy-to-get-along-with and a mentality of putting others first? 

Diallo's philosophy is very straightforward, "how can I go through you to impact others?" It is built upon the idea that helping one person can work like a ripple effect; if one person is touched and empowered, that person can do the same for others.

Diallo is very proud of his educational background. He holds two degrees from  the University of Maryland (in Government and Politics, and Business) and in December 2013, completed his Masters in Information Technology at Georgetown University. At the moment, he is Manager of Accounts Receivable and Payable for "one of the biggest National Associations in the United States."

One of the things that HOG is most proud of is the public library the organization is currently building in Dixinn (in Conakry). And now, they are taking things up a notch by inaugurating a new venture, which  brings the library to the people. How? Through the use of mobile libraries. With the 30, 563 French books that HOG received from "Books for Africa" through a partnership in November of 2013, HOG plans on decorating vans with these books and have the books delivered to several schools. 

After the infamous virus, Ebola struck the Guinean populous in March, many have canceled their plans of visiting the country. That is not the case for Diallo. "Ebola or no Ebola," Diallo said that he is going to land in Guinea this month with full-force to inaugurate the recreation facility that his organization has been working to implement. It seems like not even a deadly virus can stop someone like Diallo, a man who is devoted to his mission despite complications that arise.

This leader, proponent of education wants to "bring about global change." He insists that by the time he is done doing all the things that he is passionate about and is no longer alive, he doesn't want people to say that he was the "richest guy," he wants people to say that he was someone who lived his life to the fullest while making a difference in the lives of others.

A Glimpse of Diallo's World:

"I am a stress-free person. I am always happy. What's there to be stressed out about? If there's a problem, go find a solution."-Diallo

Hope of Guinea's 2013 Gala

(L-R) Alpha Sylla (Director of Membership at Hope of Guinea), Diallo

      Hope of Guinea's 12 scholarship recipients

Diallo photographed this photo during his trip to Guinea in 2012, because it reminds him of what reality is like for some. This is the photo he glares at everyday, because it pushes him to keep striving to make a difference.

 Inauguration of Hope of  Guinea

"I have an amazing team...There wouldn't be a Hope of Guinea without them."-Diallo

"Whatever I do, if i'm not going to give my 200%, I'm not going to do it."-Diallo

(L-R) Diallo, Saloumba Cherif (founder of Hope of Guinea) 

"Education means light. It's what drives society."-Diallo

Ways to reach Diallo:

Facebook: Hope of Guinea / Mr. Ibrahima 'Abe' Diallo 

Email: abra20033@gmail.com