Youssouf Ouedraogo/ Burkina Faso

From selling snacks on the streets of Abidjan to walking 10 kilometers for classes in Burkina Faso, Youssouf Ouedrago’s journey has been marked by resilience.

Despite the hardships, he managed to complete high school, but his journey to higher education was not smooth. In Burkina Faso, he enrolled in law school at Université de Ouaga II, but the burden of tuition fees, long walks to school and a lack of electricity for studying made it nearly impossible to continue. After dropping out due to financial constraints, he worked various jobs, including as a security guard, in search of another opportunity and still never losing sight of his dream to one day lead his country.

In 2021, everything changed when he received The Patoranking Foundation Scholarship to study Governance at the African Leadership University. ‘I first learned about the Patoranking Foundation Scholarship while I was advocating for student rights at the University of Ouaga 2 in Burkina Faso. An ALU alumnus recognized my leadership potential and suggested that the foundation’s scholarship could be a perfect fit for me.’

The opportunity transformed his life, earning him the nickname Mr. President among peers. At ALU, he became a student leader, helping fellow Burkinabe students integrate into Kigali.

As conflict displaced his own family from their village, Youssouf took action, developing Anka Baanem, an app that allows citizens to anonymously report security threats anonymously, aiming to bring safety to areas affected by violence. The concept was validated by security experts and submitted to Burkina Faso’s Ministry of Security for implementation. “It’s a project I’m deeply proud of because it has the potential to save lives and rebuild trust between citizens and security institutions,” he says.

Currently, Youssouf is balancing several roles aligned with his passion for leadership and community service. He works as a Library Assistant at ALU, managing the electronic database and contributing to campus projects.

Additionally serving as the Public Affairs officer for the Burkinabè community in Rwanda, where he assists the community with administrative matters and acts as a bridge between them and the Burkinabè embassy in Nairobi, Kenya.

“The scholarship allowed me to improve my leadership skills… I’ve learned a lot about governance and building a strong network with people,” he says.

With a vision for change and a heart for service, Youssouf is on his way to making a lasting impact.