How Efua Quarm is Transforming Lives across Ghana

BY: JAEQWON SUAREZ / EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

(Students from the Free Flow Project. Photo Credits: Youth Arise Organization)

The Youth Arise Organization (YAO) has been making an impact across the continent of Africa, providing resources to the youth to build a “poly-centric institution that proves African solutions can be self-sustaining, data-backed, and globally influential,” as stated by Moses Baffour Awuah, the CEO of the organization. 

They offer different programs for kids to participate in, and one of LIU Brooklyn’s own students has been spending her time helping with kids across Ghana, assisting with YAO’s cause.

“It has been incredibly fulfilling,” Efua Quarm starts. “Watching young people discover their potential and step into opportunities they once believed were out of reach reminds me why this work matters. Every success story reinforces our commitment to creating pathways for growth, confidence, and leadership. It gives me joy to be able to have an impact on the lives of young people like myself.”

Quarm shared some of the initiatives that are essential to YAO’s programs, ranging from teaching women’s health to exploring STEM. She currently serves as YAO’s Resource Mobilization and Grants Officer, where she conducts research, identifies new resources, creates proposal templates, and more. She describes it as a role that needs consistency, creativity, and strategic thinking.

With so many programs, it can feel overwhelming for anyone when volunteering for these programs. For Quarm, however, she describes it as an investment for future generations, and knowing that her work now affects thousands of kids is what keeps her going.

“Before each program, I take time to review our goals, reflect on the impact we want to make, and center my mind on service rather than pressure. It’s also important to stay flexible, because every community is different and every outreach comes with its own challenges. What keeps me steady is remembering that we’re not doing this alone, we move as a team, we support one another, and we show up with the mindset that we’re here to uplift, learn, and grow alongside the youth we serve,” Quarm states.

Exploring YAO’s website, you’ll find various programs to learn about, but Quarm also shared some stories from kids a part of YAO whose lives changed for the better. 

Joana Adodadjie, Audrey Naadu Banie, and Dara Tekpertey are just a few of the stories she shared in our discussion of YAO. She acknowledges that with YAO, they’re able to pursue a passion that they didn’t know existed.

“It’s not easy to influence people, and the work comes with a lot of effort, patience, and consistency. Sometimes you pour your heart into a program, and the outcome doesn’t match your expectations, but that doesn’t mean you’ve failed,” Quarm discusses some of the mental challenges that come with working in such a huge organization with diverse programs.

(Photo Credits: Youth Arise Organization)

But slowly, Quarm is noticing the difference already. Not only does she play a huge role in these kids' lives when she leads workshops, but she’s also changing the narrative of Africa to other parts of the world.

 CEO Awuah's vision for this organization is to reclaim the narrative about Africa, showing the world that it can be self-sustainable and globally influential. 

“Creating a better future for the generations tomorrow,” Quarm continues. “It’s a space to grow and become stronger, learning both soft and hard skills that will equip you in your career as well. YAO gives you room to stretch yourself, try new things, and build confidence through real experience.”

To these kids, it’s an opportunity of a lifetime, and Quarm provides an example of when she ran into one of her mentees, who happened to be in college at the time.

“I was privileged to lead a team for a group project during one of our workshops, and with the knowledge and expertise I know, I was able to guide them to come out as winners of the presentation event. After the program, they went to college, and after some time, one of my team members ran for SRC president and won. It was an amazing experience for me to see one of my mentees excel in the field of leadership,” she says “It encourages me to keep doing more for young people.”

She continues to describe the fulfillment she has since working for YAO, seeing children and teens discover their potential and explore other opportunities. 

As she states, “The work we do reaches young people in communities that often have limited access to resources, so I remind myself that even small efforts can create real change.”

YAO is organized across Ghana, with over 25 locations serving the underserved communities. Quarm works closely with YAO’s Center for Holistic Health, Wellness, and Nutrition, as that closely relates to what she wants to do in the future when she enters medical school.

Quarm ends by saying that those interested in helping should not shy away from it. YAO is built on learning and growing, and as Quarm comments, it’s all about showing up with a willing heart and the courage to make these kids successful in their future.

“When I first joined, I didn’t know much about resource mobilization at all, but I’ve been learning every day through hands-on experience, mentorship, and teamwork. Youth Arise is a space where you grow as you serve, and every contribution, big or small, helps move the mission forward.”