By William Muyuku
Toronto, October 12, 2026
Toronto’s Sankofa Afri-Canadian Mentorship+ Hub held its NextGen Sankofa Community Solutions Showcase and Award Ceremony, celebrating young people who turned lived challenges into practical community projects. The event also marked the launch of NextGen Sankofa, the organization’s fifth flagship program, created and curated by youth.
The initiative began in July, when young volunteers were challenged to identify a real problem affecting youth, newcomers, women, girls or families, then design and present a solution. With mentorship from
Sankofa, four teams developed projects addressing belonging, identity, STEM access and newcomer support.
Founder and CEO Alemayehu Konde Koira said the program was built on the belief that young people should not only be prepared for the future, but trusted to lead in the present. He told guests that the participants had moved from observing problems to becoming part of the solution.
Youth-led projects
Between Two Worlds, by Ruth Nigusse and Soliyana Abera, supports African newcomer students adjusting to Canadian school life while staying connected to their culture and identity. The project aims
to strengthen confidence, belonging and peer support.
Mosaic, developed by Isaac Seminew, addresses social-media pressure, identity and isolation among African newcomers. It proposes a digital platform focused on community, resources and reflection.
InnovatHER, presented by Subaita Zaniab, Lydia Bizuhen and Faith Thomas, seeks to open pathways for young women in STEM. The team proposed a platform offering mentorship, scholarships,
internships, certification and connections to employers.
BridgeAI, by Biza Fitamo and Ebenezer Gebeyaw, aims to connect newcomer youth and families with relevant information, opportunities and support networks. The project responds to the difficulty of
navigating unfamiliar systems in a new country.
Recognition and awards
A judging panel of Aissatou Diahaté, Mubarak Abdela and Endrias Nigatu evaluated the presentations on clarity, community relevance, feasibility, creativity, project knowledge and presentation skills. Final
scores combined ongoing participation and project progress with the live presentation.
Between Two Worlds was named the winning project. Organizers stressed, however, that all four teams produced ideas strong enough to be developed beyond the ceremony.
Recognition went further than the winners. Every volunteer was honoured for their contribution to the program, and the innovators who designed and developed the four projects were celebrated for creating
them. Those recognized were Biza Fitamo, Ebenezer Gebeyaw, Faith Thomas, Isaac Seminew, Lydia Bizuhen, Ruth Nigusse, Soliyana Abera and Subaita Zaniab.
Partners and guests
The program received support from the Mastercard Foundation. Duaa Mohamed said the initiative aligns with the Foundation’s goal of helping 30 million young people access dignified and fulfilling work by
2030 through education, skills development and pathways to opportunity.
Erica Mackloski, head of the Foundation’s Indigenous Youth Leadership program, said the young presenters showed how youth can navigate different cultural and social systems while creating solutions
for their peers. She encouraged them to keep investing in one another and to dream bigger.
A platform for the future
Sankofa says the four projects will continue through NextGen Sankofa. The organization is inviting partners, mentors, employers, institutions and community organizations to help develop the ideas into
lasting programs.
For AfriCanada Stream, the ceremony highlights the importance of creating spaces where young people from African and diaspora communities can lead, innovate and contribute to Canada’s social and
economic future.
As Koira told the audience, the participants did not simply walk through a door opened for them. They built one.
Here is the video of the Awards Ceremony
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Get in touch with Sankofa Afri-Canadian Mentorship+ Hub
sankofamentorship.org | info@sankofamentorship.org | +1 (647) 280-6727
