The Honor Roll: In Africa, an aspiring physician helps create a new generation of women scientists
In part 2 of the Honor Roll series, Kwadwo Sarpong discusses his work to increase the number of West African women in STEM
[Editor’s Note: In October, President Bill Clinton and Chelsea Clinton convened the 10th annual CGI University meeting , which brought more than 1,000 student leaders from around the world to advance new Commitments to Action that address climate change, gender inequality, the refugee crisis, and other pressing issues facing their generation. Over the next several weeks, our Q&A series — the Honor Roll — will highlight 10 exceptional CGI U alumni who have confronted global challenges through their commitments and careers.]
Kwadwo Sarpong was born in Ghana, where he discovered a passion for science early on. His success in the classroom and the encouragement he received from others seemed to confirm his calling. However, a question ate at him as he prepared for a promising future in the health sector: Where are all the girls?
In 2009, Kwadwo came to the United States to pursue an undergraduate degree in neuroscience at Emory University — but he never forgot the young women he left behind in West Africa, who had the aptitude to excel in the sciences but lacked the exposure and support that he’d received. During his senior year, he came to CGI U with a commitment to develop something that had never existed in Nigeria before: a two-month, all-expense-paid program for women that would help Nigerian undergraduates pursue scientific research at local universities. Since emerging as a nonprofit based on Kwadwo’s CGI U commitment, the African Research Academies for Women (ARA-W) has helped 50 female students envision themselves as scientists by providing them with hands-on research experience.
Today, Kwadwo is a medical student at Georgetown University and serves as the board chair of ARA-W, which continues to bridge the gender gap in Africa’s STEM research pipeline. Kwadwo received the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016 for his volunteer service. We asked him about his inspirations, his CGI U experience, and his advice for other student change-makers.
CLINTON FOUNDATION: You came to CGI U with a commitment to create a pipeline of women scientists in Nigeria and Ghana. Why was the topic so important to you?
KWADWO: My mother serves as my inspiration and the reason behind my involvement with the African Research Academies for Women. She always wanted to be a midwife nurse but this was not possible with a fourth grade education. Secondly, her father believed that investing in a woman was not worthwhile because she will eventually marry and carry the last name of another family. Yet, she encouraged my brothers and I never to forget her story wherever we find ourselves.
Growing up, I questioned everything around me after seeing my older brother, Kwame, paralyzed since birth. So, I became fixated on finding the cause of paralysis in infants. At Emory University, I realized the vast difference in fully funded research opportunities that were available that simply do not exist in Ghana. I was also fascinated by how engaged my female colleagues were in science. They were driven and yearned to make groundbreaking scientific discoveries. Growing up, girls tend to be discouraged from pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), making them question if they have the capacity.
These experiences and reflection on my mother’s story served as the fuel for me to address the lack of women in STEM. Thus, I collaborated with friends to start a nonprofit that provides fully funded research and mentorship opportunities to low-income female undergraduate students in Ghana and Nigeria. Additionally, we partner with institutions to bring together women who are passionate about using their skills in STEM to solve current global health challenges.
CF: Can you remember the moment when you realized the impact that you were making through your CGI U commitment?
KWADWO: Recent studies in the Ghanaian society are observing a slow but progressive shift in gender role expectations. Men are slowly taking on roles that were traditionally reserved for women and vice versa. This is gradually helping breakdown the barriers young women faced in relation to being the change agents in their respective communities and in the Ghanaian society as a whole. In light of this, we have been impressed by the outpouring of support for our female fellows from the mostly male-dominated research community and the government of Ghana.
A perfect example is the government working with ARA-W to provide one-year paid research fellowships to our fellows who after graduating from college want to pursue research-related careers. Our impact as an organization has gone beyond the young women we train in our programs and has reached the faculty members we work with and the respective communities they serve. For instance, two of our fellows are currently working on developing a device that will convert plastic waste in Ghana into bio-diesel for electric power generation that will serve a rural community.
CF: What was the most important lesson from your CGI U experience?
KWADWO: The biggest lesson I have learned is that it really does take a village. Being a student, and an integral part of ARA-W, it took a lot of time and dedication to achieve the mission set forth. Secondly, it is one thing to have a dream, but it is another dimension to live the dream. I am only one person and by default, my reach is limited. The only way ARA-W has been able to impact communities is through extensive reach and that has been made possible by having a solid team. Teamwork makes the dream work.
CF: What’s the biggest piece of advice you would you give to college students looking to make their mark on the world while they’re still in school?
KWADWO: My advice is simply “start small.” The desire to leave the world in a better place than we found it is innate and I always knew I wanted to make a change, especially in Africa. My drive stems from being an avid proponent of creating gender parity where both men and women have equal opportunities to succeed in any career of choice. Like many, blending my dreams and dealing with the reality of not knowing how to execute was the main challenge.
I was in my sophomore year, working multiple jobs, and I had no prior experience in management. However, I knew co-founding ARA-W was where I wanted to begin. With the support of our team of dedicated students, professionals, and faculty advisors, I was able to hone my leadership skills and learn the importance of communicating and getting a diverse group of individuals to work with a common goal.
My other advice to every young person is to surround themselves with mentors and peers who share their vision and are willing to guide them towards achieving that goal. Whilst we make progress, we should not be blinded to mistake our progress to be success. Being a catalyst for change is hard, but I have a strong belief that we will get there one day if we learn to work together and learn from one another.
CF: What was your favorite moment as a member of the CGI U community?
KWADWO: My best CGI U moment was when I saw one of my executive team members, Dr. Efe Chantal Ghanney, on stage at the Clinton Global University in Berkeley, California last year, talking about our work during the CGI U lightening round. Not only was I happy that one of our very own had the opportunity to share the progress we have been making together as a team and as an organization, but it was also fulfilling to know that the Clinton Foundation recognizes the impact ARA-W is making in Ghana.
Some of the most defining moments for me are when our fellows give us their feedback. Their reflections about this life changing experience continue to inspire me and my team to improve the program each year.
