Festus Agoabasa ’12, who attended Ashesi on a full scholarship, says, “I am grateful for the education I received and thankful for the donations that made it possible. Looking back on the past four years, I am amazed by how much my education has transformed how I understand the world and the responsibility I have to improve it.”
Says Festus, “At Ashesi, for the first time I saw that I could – and should – be part of creating solutions for Africa. For my senior thesis, I researched and wrote about the effects of alcoholism on poor women in rural communities, analyzing a problem that no one else was addressing.”
Festus grew up in a very poor region in Ghana. His family could barely afford food, shelter or clothing. He raised money to support himself through high school by hawking on the streets and working on small farms, while still earning good grades. After high school, he moved to Accra to support his family. After finding only low-paying odd jobs around the city, he joined Ashesi to work as a gardener.
Festus dreamed of being a student at Ashesi but never considered applying. An Ashesi education seemed far beyond his means. Besides, he thought, “I had never touched a computer – how could I possibly succeed there?”
A tutor at Ashesi took the time to get to know Festus. She told him about Ashesi’s generous scholarship program and convinced him to apply. To his surprise, he was accepted on a full scholarship. “I was elated, but also nervous about how I would measure up to my peers in such a rigorous academic environment.”
At Ashesi, he took his studies seriously and was encouraged by the dynamic and supportive community. “My peers and professors challenged me to think critically about the issues facing Africa.” Having earned a degree in Business Administration, Festus writes, “Now, like my fellow graduates, I feel a deep sense of responsibility to give back to my community and make effective use of the education that donors so generously sponsored.”
Festus currently works for the global development firm, Development Alternatives Inc. (DAI). As Programs Assistant, he analyzes key data to help ensure that DAI programs like Feed the Future build long-term capacity in West Africa. His ultimate goal is to set up a rural agricultural support center to empower poor farmers to grow their business. “I want to do for them what Ashesi did for me – help them create a better life for themselves. I hope to touch the lives of people in Ghana and beyond.”