By Ibrahim Garba, Founder Sela Foundation

My name is Ibrahim Garba Garba, and I was raised in a middle-class family in Cameroon. As one of six children, my life was sheltered and happy, full of the support and security that comes from a loving family. But my world changed in 2014 when, at the age of 14, a tragedy struck: my father passed away. This was the most painful experience of my life, and it completely altered my path.With my older brother just 16 and my youngest sibling only 10, the responsibility on my mother’s shoulders was immense. My heart broke as I watched her take on this new burden, and I began to worry about what our future would hold. Just three days after my father’s death, his family called a meeting to divide his belongings. This gesture was devastating for my mother, and soon after, the house I had grown up in happen to not be in our possession. We were given a deadline to leave in the middle of the school year, adding incredible pressure to our grieving family.

From Adversity to Academia

We were forced to find a new home and start a new life in a different part of the region. Despite the struggle, my mother never gave up. She worked tirelessly every day to take care of us and ensure we could stay in school. Watching her unwavering strength was my biggest motivation. I became determined to excel in my studies so that one day, I could make her proud and repay her sacrifices.That determination paid off. Today, I hold a master’s degree in International Decentralized Cooperation from the Institute of International Relations of Cameroon. My journey through hardship fueled my academic pursuits and taught me the true meaning of resilience.

Forging a New Path for the Next Generation

My personal journey taught me the importance of taking initiative and developing self-reliance from an early age. I realized that I didn’t have a mentor to guide me toward entrepreneurship and leadership when I was younger, and I now know what a significant difference that can make.This is why I founded the SELA Foundation (School of Entrepreneurship and Leadership Alliance). My goal is to empower young people to take charge of their destinies by equipping them with the skills needed to support themselves and their families. I believe that providing these tools can help prevent the kind of dissatisfaction that can lead to deeper social problems. As the philosopher Thomas Hobbes would say, one of the reasons people make war is because of dissatisfaction.My journey began with immense loss, but it has led to a mission of creating change. Through the SELA Foundation, I am not only honoring my mother’s strength but also building a new path for the next generation of Cameroon’s leaders.