Askia the Great

Abu-Hassan “Askia” Koroma is the founder of the Twenty-First Century African Youth Movement (AYM). He currently serves as its CEO and President with an AYM leadership team. The team consists of capable volunteer staff, online volunteers, and support networks worldwide to empower and mobilize rural Africa youth through multiple engagement channels. AYM is redesigning economically viable operations, focusing on creating Social Enterprise Centers and good jobs across Africa – starting in Sierra Leone!

Askia founded the first African Chapter of the United Nations of Youth (now the United Network of Young Peacebuilders (UNOY) Sierra Leone in 1989. He served as its first National Coordinator until April 1991. As UNOY National Coordinator, Askia was the youth representative on the UNICEF National Taskforce Committee for the World Summit on Children held in New York in 1990. The UNICEF National Taskforce Committee designated UNOY to coordinate the National Candlelight vigils before and after the Summit.

Askia was elected member of the 1992 UNOY International Working Group at the second International Conference of UNOY in Schrool, The Netherlands. He was re-elected as a member of the International Working Group in Minsk, Belarus, in 1993.

Askia holds a Higher Teacher’s Certificate (HTC) in Art from the Milton Margai Teachers College (now Milton Margai College of Education and Technology) in Sierra Leone. He also holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from the University Of Wisconsin -Madison, a Masters in Diplomacy (International Commerce) and, an MBA from Norwich University, Norwich, Vermont.

Askia combines the creative potentials of visual Art and the humanities to mobilize young volunteers worldwide to support AYM and contribute to reversing Africa’s social and economic marginalization. He believes in active engagement with the global community for ideas, financial and material support. Askia also believes in cultivating volunteer commitment to creating employment for rural African youth, increasing their income and quality of life, and contributing to peace and stability in Africa.

From November 1993 to November 1994, Askia was a Volunteer in Service to America (VISTA). VISTA is a U.S. Corporation for National and Community Service program that “places individuals in a variety of situations where the application of individual talent and dedication bring an added dimension to federal, state, and private nonprofit organizations assisting low-income communities.” Askia was hired as a Youth Business Mentoring Program Assistant to focus on intensive three-week pre-employment training and job placement of youths.

Askia is a Humanist, Artist, and Poet. His painting has been exhibited in the Porter Butts Gallery, “67Th Annual Student Art Exhibition” at UW-Madison. His poem on the “Waters of Wisconsin” was published in the Spring 2003 Wisconsin Academy Review. He was also a nominated semi-finalist in the 5th Annual Volvo for life Awards in 2007.