Interested in Applying for Cohort 3 in January 2026?

Team Ubuntu in Ghana

Program Team

Doris Darkwah

As the Ghanaian Program Coordinator, Doris is responsible for executing all IYIP project coordination and oversight, ensuring the intern experience is both personally and professionally transformative. She collaborates effectively with diverse local stakeholders to align programs with the goals of Schools of Dreams and the IYIP project.

Doris is a highly organized, self-motivated, and results-driven professional with over 10 years of experience managing projects in non-profit organizations. As a critical thinker and creative environmentalist, Doris brings a wealth of expertise in program development, volunteer coordination, and strategic planning. Her passion for youth development and her entrepreneurial spirit have driven her to design and implement sustainable solutions that empower communities.

In her free time, she enjoys managing her farm, creating bespoke products, and volunteering with organizations that advocate for women, children, and marginalized groups.

Alex Sarpong

Alex Sarpong lends his experience as an elder within the community and his years spent supporting Schools of Dreams' vision to the IYIP Cohorts in the role of Community Liaison Officer.

An independent contractor for Alaro Engineering’s Road & Construction division and a retired Chief Technician Engineer of Ghana’s Ministry of Roads & Highways, Alex is a graduate of St. Paul’s Technical School in Kukurantumi and holds a City & Guilds of London certification in building construction, with a two-part Construction Technician certificate from Accra Polytechnic. He generously employs his knowledge and experience in construction, building engineering and surveying to bring projects from concept to completion.

With his own resources, Alex has helped countless children achieve a higher education from elementary to high school. He believes in education not only for his own children, but also for every child.

Alex Abooba Maclean Issah

Maclean Issah Abooba (Issah) is a local of Nsawam and serves as a caretaker and security officer at Schools of Dreams. His diverse skillset and strong work ethic make him a key asset to our interns.

Issah's Senior Certificate from the Normal Technical Institute laid a solid foundation for his career, which has included a supervision role at the Ghana Forestry Commission and security oversight at the Tema Harbour. Passionate about fostering a safe learning environment for the Schools of Dreams community, Issah is committed to helping the interns focus on work without safety concerns. This dedication fuels his ongoing commitment to the organization.

Beyond his professional life, he enjoys cooking, farming, cleaning, playing soccer, and socializing with friends, which contributes to his well-rounded character.

Research Team

Obed Assamoah

The Research Lead for program activities in Ghana, Obed Kissi Asamoah is a seasoned researcher and development professional with over 14 years of experience in quantitative and qualitative research methods. He has led high-impact projects funded by organizations such as the African Development Bank, Mastercard Foundation, NORC at the University of Chicago, and the International Cocoa Initiative, with foci including public health, climate change, and socioeconomic development.

Beyond his IYIP support, Obed currently leads the Development Research and Evaluation arm of a leading research institution. His work involves managing teams, stakeholder engagement, and delivering actionable insights to inform policy and program decisions across sub-Saharan Africa.

Obed’s professional accomplishments are complemented by his passion for community engagement, including volunteering in environmental initiatives and rural education programs.

Abigail Mortey

Abigail is a Researcher with a Master’s in Public Health, Monitoring, and Evaluation from the University of Ghana. She specializes in evidence-based strategies to address systemic challenges in agriculture, sustainable livelihoods, global health supply chains, and WASH programs.

Over the past 5 years, Abigail's work has focused on designing and implementing research frameworks that bridge gaps between policy and community needs. As part of her support to IYIP, she manages interns’ research training, field data collection, and reporting.

Outside of research, Abigail enjoys juicing, travelling, creative writing, and any activities that nurture her curiosity and passion for storytelling.

Dorcas Nawiene

Dorcas provides research support to interns and the program team in Ghana. A dedicated social worker and public health professional with a passion for empowering young people and fostering systemic change. Dorcas applies her Bachelor’s degree in Social Work and a Master’s in Public Health from the University of Ghana to extensive experience driving impactful initiatives in health, education, and youth development.

Dorcas has collaborated with organizations including the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Ghana, The Youth Bridge Foundation, Compassion International Ghana, and Ghana Health Service.

Among her contributions to research, Dorcas supported the University of Ghana's College of Health Sciences, in partnership with the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, on the Labor Study, advancing maternal health research. She also played a key role as a research assistant in the first clinical trial of the Jada Device outside the United States, marking a milestone in women’s health.

Partner Organizations

Schools of Dreams

Schools of Dreams (SoD) serves as the IYIP program partner in Ghana, providing direct support to the interns during their placement at the organization's premises in Nsawam. Being part of this program is an important boost to SoD's ability to meet its mission to create sustainable change in Ghana. What is the mission? In their own words:

"Our primary goal is to empower school communities; allowing teachers and students to prosper in the pursuit of education and learning. We firmly believe the opportunity to learn in a safe environment provides an invaluable foundation for children to succeed and invest in their own futures.

We believe in working alongside the communities we serve and respect their autonomy. We are inclusive and collaborative; embracing differing views, experiences, and strengths. We follow the ethos that we can achieve more working together, and recognize that our work as allies is to empower to the communities we serve."

Youth Bridge Foundation

The Youth Bridge Foundation (YBF) is an independent non-profit organization committed to youth development across the continent of Africa and the diaspora through cutting-edge and evidence-based youth research, sustained advocacy, training and mentorship. Headquartered in Ghana and accredited with the UN ECOSOC Special Consultative status since 2011, works with a network of youth across the continent with country offices in Zambia and the USA.

IYIP benefits from the expertise and leadership of YBF through their collaborative support in program design and logistical support, and through the development and delivery of custom training, like the acclimatization training that benefited Cohort 1 under YBF's diaspora connect pillar.

YBF is committed to pushing the youth agenda by connecting youth beyond borders!