ABOUT US
ORPHANS LEAD THE WAY
The Blood Diamonds war of Sierra Leone was infamous for child soldiers and horrific violence. It not only destroyed so much of the country, but also traumatized the population. The United Methodist Church founded an orphanage to protect children during the War. I ended up there unplanned, and while there I met orphan youth who had vision and hope waiting to be actualized. Seeking to empower one of the orphan youth with an ambitious dream, some friends and I funded and organized the construction of homes for widows in his remote village. When I went to see the houses, I brought the CRC youth with me to run a Vacation Bible School for the illiterate children of the village. We all saw that these kids were missing an opportunity, a good education. So YVA was born by starting with the education of five village
Although we have fixed wells, opened a solar powered health center and helped protect the area from the Ebola epidemic, we have come to focus on empowering youth through education and God’s hope and compassion. Our original scholarship program with the five children has developed into a comprehensive leadership and character development mission utilizing the village church community and weekly American mentor sessions. Our primary school has triggered amazing,
Young Vision Africa has always been about the vision of young Africans.
-Alan Chorun
OUR MISSION
Our mission is to empower young leaders in Sierra Leone to fulfill their dreams of helping and changing their country. We would never make a pretense to be successful in this without the Grace of God, which we seek to submit to. Whether it’s in our small room where our five high school boys grow, or in our crowded one-room schoolhouse, or through our young adult orphan employees, or through the commitment of weekly U.S. mentors and volunteers who break barriers by traveling to the ‘below third world’ of the Salone bush, we believe in humility, spontaneity and the future!
We are also a tremendous opportunity for any American looking to give to something hardcore, real and effective. If you realize that you have a responsibility to help those in need, then you need to join us.
PERSONNEL
Meet our team that makes it possible.

Alan Chorun
Director/President
Alan also teaches philosophy and elementary and middle school students in NJ. He serves various functions at Trinity UMC, Highland Park and participates actively in attempts to reveal and deconstruct racial, environmental and institutional injustice.
Some of our Sierra Leone Staff

Ishmael K.
Intern
Ishmael has facilitated the construction of our new six-classroom elementary school and currently coordinates our efforts for entrepreneurial self sufficiency

Malikie
Intern Assistant Head Teacher
Malikie, teaching 2nd grade, has been serving the school since the beginning with sincerity, humility and reliability.

Princess
Intern Early Childhood Teacher/ Asst. Pastor
Princess is a born educator – naturally animated, creative and engaging. Besides that she’s fully committed to the work of the school. She also serves as our worship leader and Asst. Pastor at our church, setting an example for our younger girls of an independent, self sufficient young woman.

Kutumu
Intern Teacher
Kutumu has taught 1st grade for two years.

Kon
Intern Teacher
New to Tato, Kon comes on as the 3rd grade teacher. Like most of our other staff, he is attending Teacher Certification classes through Freetown Teachers College (Distance Program).

Harry
Intern Teacher
Our newest teacher, working in Grade 1
U.S. Personnel

Reverend Enid Brotherson Benjamin
Board Member
Reverend Enid has an amazing story of Providence in finding Sierra Leone and YVA. From Guyana, South America Enid has committed herself to YVA’s future, taking an amazing role in our April ’16 trip and blazing the trail of staying long term in rural Sierra Leone for 5 months in ’17.

Roy Martin
Board Member
Roy is currently serving in the U.S. Military. Roy has always displayed an interest in philanthropy and mentorship. Traveling throughout the world to include places such as Israel, Hong Kong, Scotland, Malaysia and Bahrain. Roy has taken the opportunity to help wherever he could with community relations to improve the quality of life for those who are in need. Roy has earned a certificate in counseling and computers and is continuing lifelong learning studying accounting. Roy was exposed to the YVA family through his lifelong friendship with Alan

Jessica Mills
Medical Director

Robin Ramey
Mentor/Educator/Leadership Team

Sue Warnasch
English Curriculum and Evaluation
Sue brings her expertise as an ESL educator along with an incredible creative ability to bring lessons to life in a country where there is typically no engagement in education. Sue works hand in hand with our teachers and puts a huge amount of effort into her weekly lessons. Additionally the wisdom and compassion she brings to the Leadership Team is indispensable to YVA.

Brian Olea
Leadership Team
Originally from Argentina, Brian is one of the original LA members. He came on our trip team to see his longtime mentee Richard. Since then he’s been involved in our whole effort. He’s sensitive to indiginous integrity and he kept the team laughing throughout the trip.

Cami Forero
Leadership Team/Fundraising

Jo Lynn Robinson Deal
Publicity/Leadership Team

Jessica Pak
Volunteer Coordinator
Interfacing with all our new volunteers, Jessica is involved with most of the facets of our work. She has an incredible instinct for what’s important and what works for YVA – all her ideas for our people there seem to turn to gold. Representing a core group of important young yva educators and mentors, Jessica is proof that young vision in America can make a difference.