Xpect Leadership Program

Equipped with values of their Ghanaian and American upbringing and the passion to give back to their global community, Pichon P. Duplan and Peter F. Yobo were inspired in December 2007 to form the iStandAbove Organization (iSA). iSA is a registered innovative non-profit organization that firmly believes that one’s determination to convert any adversity in their life to a positive learning experience and their fight for success in all endeavours of life must be fuelled with the needed resources to make the achievement of these goals not only a reality, but also a way of life.

In December of 2009, iSA launched a two day leadership Camp dubbed the “Xpect Leadership Program” for twenty-three carefully selected boys and girls from Junior High Schools (JSS) in Accra, Ghana. The program offered Leadership, Teamwork and Creativity games, Networking and Presentation Skills workshops, interaction with invited successful business executives, professors, and a corporate tour to acquaint the participants with the skills and resources necessary to fulfil their dreams and aspirations. The Xpect Leadership Program is a program designed to establish and develop the three core values of iStandAbove: Leadership, Teamwork and Creativity, so that the participants can stand above all adversities and become great leaders of tomorrow, and in doing so embody the culture of iStandAbove.

During this program, the students also learned the importance of giving back to one’s community through the community service aspect of the Xpect Leadership Program. The students were instrumental in donating books and decorating book boxes that will be donated by iStandAbove to children at the St. Mary’s Anglican Church of Jamestown, the Osu Children’s Home and other youth organizations throughout Ghana.

The Xpect Leadership program is the first of its kind at the JSS Level in Ghana and will help provide our young leaders of tomorrow with the resources needed to overcome any obstacles they may face in their pursuit of their success. iSA believes that targeting the youth at such a young age and keeping them engaged on what it takes to be a leader, an entrepreneurial thinker and a team player, will ensure effective personal growth.

At the end of the program, the students graduate into the yearlong mentorship program dubbed the “iStandAbove 360Degrees Mentoring Program” to maintain the momentum of the program and keep the participants engaged throughout the year. Each participant will receive two mentors; one based in Ghana and one based abroad. The participants will work with their mentors on case studies throughout the year.

The Xpect Leadership Program was a tremendous success and iSA plans to make it an annual experience.

The iStandAbove Organization would like to congratulate the following Xpect Leadership participants.

“This is your first step to Standing Above.”

Pictured Above:
Ahmed Ibrahim Asare
Sarah Adukyen
Angela Akoto
David Doh-Coffie
Nafisat Enyonam Ahmed
Nicole Nana Antwi-Darko
Hawa Shamwana
Prince Opoku
Dede-Nakoh Appiah
Vanessa Donkor
Nana Araba Torson
Betty Boamah
Appiah Maame Nyarkoah
Jessica Quaye
Maame Akua Koduah
Stanley Akanni
Stacey Osei
Naana Dompreh
Darteh-Adjei Adwoa Adoma
Yasmin Mimi Iddriss
Nana Ama Akowuah
Kezia Lamptey
Selase Doh-Coffie