I Am, We Are

The Morafe Leadership Development Programme

I Am, We Are's Morafe* Leadership Development Programme (Morafe) brings together American and South African youth to build life skills, leadership skills, and strong cross-cultural ties to support each other's dreams and ambitions. Over six months, in bi-weekly virtual workshops, program participants or ambassadors deepen their cross-cultural relationships.  At the same time, through experiential activities they build their leadership skills. Recent university graduates or fellows teach the virtual workshops to the ambassadors.

Morafe ambassadors are ambitious, passionate, and committed secondary school students residing in Prince George’s County, Maryland, USA and the Royal Bafokeng Nation, North West Province, South Africa.  Prince George’s County has been a Sister County to the Royal Bafokeng Nation for more than two decades, positioning both as ideal communities to forge strong relationships between youth. This year, 20 tenth graders from the Royal Bafokeng Nation and six from Prince George’s County were selected to participate in the inaugural cohort. 

*Morafe means community in Setswana

Join Our Community

We are creating a Pan African community that supports youth across Africa and her diaspora in achieving their dreams. We invite you to partner with us to invest in unlocking the potential of youth. As the African proverb states, “it takes a village to raise a child.”  

We are seeking your support with the Morafe program expenses including but not limited to: procuring data/internet service for our program participants, providing one-on-one wellbeing and trauma support counseling sessions, paying stipends to fellows, and purchasing petrol to visit families so we can continue providing these services at no to nominal cost to our ambassadors and their families.

• $25 provides data/internet service for one month for a fellow
• $50 covers the expenses for one wellbeing session for an ambassador
• $100 provides data/internet services for ten ambassadors for a month 

Support IAWA today to help liberate a generation tomorrow.

About I Am, We Are

I Am, We Are (IAWA) envisions a world where all youth are socially engaged, globally aware, and economically free.  We focus on empowering youth with the mindset and skills necessary to become self-sufficient adults. Our holistic approach to youth and leadership development supports the organizational goal of improving the social, emotional, psychological, and spiritual well-being of youth across Africa and her diaspora.

Through our culturally responsive programs rooted in community, participants shift how they view themselves and our anticipated impact is that our youth grow their: 

• personal consciousness
• global awareness
• entrepreneurial mindset
• sense of social responsibility 

Our work prioritizes under-served communities where we can augment community understanding and support the dreams of Black children. We work with African and African diaspora communities and allies to bridge the systemic gaps, manifesting as poverty and adverse childhood experiences, preventing equitable access to educational, economical, and social opportunities.

Hear From Our Alumni