Talent into Action
From Local Stories to Global Stages
When young people are trusted, empowered, and given the right support, they become the storytellers, changemakers, and leaders our world needs. Talent Into Action is a shining example of that truth. This powerful three-year youth engagement project has connected young creatives across Sierra Leone, Ghana, and Ireland through storytelling, theatre, and community activism, building a bridge between African youth and their international peers.
Young Voices of Africa proudly joined in the second and third years of the project, with participation from YVA Ambassadors in Sierra Leone and Ireland. The project was facilitated by YVA President & CEO Kelvin Akpaloo and coordinated by Creativity and Change (Cork, Ireland) with generous funding support from Irish Aid.
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Year Two: Mires of an African Woman—Honouring a Trailblazer
In the second year of the project, YVA Ambassadors from Sierra Leone and Ireland joined forces to create a local project inspired by African Youth Goal 4: Female Empowerment. Their contribution took the form of an original audio drama titled "Mires of an African Woman."
The drama tells the compelling story of Madam Ella Koblo-Gulama (1921–2006), the first female Paramount Chief in Sierra Leone and the first woman in sub-Saharan Africa to serve as a cabinet minister. Born into the royal Mende family in Kaiyamba Chiefdom, Madam Ella was a formidable advocate for women's rights, education, and national development.
Through immersive storytelling and rich historical detail, the audio drama celebrated her legacy, giving today’s youth a role model whose strength continues to inspire. This project was part of Talent Into Action, founded by YVA President and CEO Kelvin Akpaloo and supported by Creativity & Change Ireland.
Year Three: The Blood Diamond Project—Giving Voice to the Silenced
The third and final year of the project aimed to deepen international collaboration. Although a planned youth exchange between Ireland and West Africa was not possible due to financial limitations, YVA embraced the spirit of cross-border storytelling by developing one of its most emotionally impactful initiatives: The Blood Diamond Project.
Led by Kelvin Akpaloo (CEO/Project Facilitator), Vice President Alhassan Kallon, and Women’s Forum President Fatima Ismail, and supported by YVA ambassadors in Sierra Leone and Ireland, this initiative gave voice to the survivors of the 1991–2002 Blood Diamond Civil War in Sierra Leone.
Focusing on the Amputee and War-Wounded Camp in Panla-Makeni, the documentary and theatre project shed light on untold stories of war, trauma, and resilience. These stories were later transformed into a theatre performance by Irish youth and diaspora ambassadors, and premiered during Africa Day in Ireland—a powerful cultural exchange that highlighted the strength of African voices.
Project name
Blood Diamond/Africa Day
Year
18/05/2025 - 24/05/2025
Powered by Youth, Rooted in Community
Talent Into Action was not just a project; it was a movement of voices rising across borders. Through Creativity and Change's coordination, Irish Aid's support, and the passionate leadership of YVA, this initiative enabled African and Irish youth to work together in shaping narratives of empowerment, heritage, and justice.
At Young Voices of Africa, we believe in the unstoppable power of youth-led storytelling. These projects are proof that when we invest in young minds, we unleash waves of change.
