Youth Arise Organisation has launched the Community Impact Project (CIP) as part of the 2025 Leadership Diary Training Program (LDTP).
The launch, held at the CLOGSAG National Headquarters in Accra, was led by the Global CEO of YAO, Moses Baffour Awuah, and Engr. Emmanuel Tetteh, the Regional Director for Urban Roads, Savanna Region.
The initiative is designed to help participants turn their leadership training into meaningful community transformation.
In his address, Mr. Moses Baffour Awuah explained that the Community Impact Project was introduced to ensure that leadership goes beyond the classroom and finds expression in real-life change.
“We speak often about leadership development, but what is leadership if not the willingness to move from inside to impact?” he asked. “Genuine leadership is not forged in the comfort of a lecture hall; it is forged in service.”
He emphasized that the project represents the next phase of the LDTP’s mission, bridging the gap between theory and practice.
Under this year’s theme, “Igniting the Future: Youth Leading Global Change,” the initiative will challenge participants to become problem-solvers and changemakers in their communities.
“This brings us to one of the most vital components of your journey,” he said. “The Community Impact Project is the non-negotiable proof that we have mastered the principles this conference stands for.”
Mr. Awuah revealed that the idea for the project originated from a conversation with Engr. Tetteh. “He called me one day and said, ‘Moses, can we get the people to come up with initiatives and solutions, not just community service?’” he recounted. “I said that would be a great idea. And from that simple discussion, the Community Impact Project was born.”
Taking his turn, Engr. Emmanuel Tetteh shared that the inspiration behind the initiative came from his reflections on the need for young people to take action rather than complain about challenges.
“We hear everybody complaining about what’s going wrong,” he said. “So the question is, what can we do to change the narrative? We have a wonderful youth generation, and we can start the change. If each of us asks, ‘What can I do?’ we can make our environment better.”
The CIP is designed as the practical capstone of the LDTP, requiring participants to apply the skills and values they have gained during their training. It will encourage young leaders to identify pressing issues within their communities and design solutions that are sustainable and impactful.
“The CIP will demand that participants move from theoretical problem-solving to implementing real-world solutions,” Mr. Awuah said. “It will force you to use your collaborative training to manage diverse tasks and deliver verifiable results.”
He described the project as “where the rubber meets the road,” noting that it will take participants out of their comfort zones. “Some of you will visit offices and engage institutions for the first time,” he stated. “True leadership is defined by responsibility. Show up, follow through, and persevere when the project becomes difficult. Collaborate relentlessly and remember that two heads are always better than one.”
Closing his remarks, the Global CEO encouraged participants to embrace their roles as agents of change. “The future is no longer an aspiration; it is an active process, and you are its designated custodians,” he said.
“Take this light you are receiving, go forth, mobilize, and ignite the future.” The launch of the Community Impact Project thus marks a new phase in LDTP’s mission to raise leaders who not only dream of change but actively create it within their communities.
Written by Samuel Nii Adjetey
