The GU-Q alumnus has launched a bridge program at Lamin and Kadie Bah Academy in Sierra Leone.
Doha, Qatar: Ousman Camara’s journey from The Gambia to Georgetown University in Qatar (GU-Q), and back again is a testament to his deep faith, resilience, and the power of education to transform lives. “I memorised the Qur’an, and it shaped my whole life path, opening a way to not only pursue higher education, but to give back to communities across Africa.”
With only a year left of high school, Ousman won a Qur’an recitation competition that landed him a fully paid scholarship to the Institute of Religious Studies for Boys, run by the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, Qatar.
After graduating high school, a fortuitous encounter while at the Masjid opened the way for him to attend the Academic Bridge Program (ABP) at Qatar Foundation, and his eventual application and acceptance at GU-Q.
At GU-Q, he immersed himself in initiatives that aligned with this mission of service to others: Mentoring peers, providing emotional support, and advocating for educational equity. His selfless insight into others even earned him a reputation as a matchmaker: “A few friends got married on my advice,” he recalled fondly.
As his own academic dreams came true, his thoughts always returned to how to improve the underfunded schools of his home country. At the end of 2018, he heard that his Qur’an school would not last through the rainy season, and he began his first educational fundraising campaign. “My plan was to raise QR100,000 to build a brand new school.” Through personal donations from friends, he collected QR60,000, more than enough to start construction.
Since graduating from Georgetown in 2019, Ousman founded the Educate a Generation Foundation in The Gambia, and serves as an educational consultant across Africa, leading initiatives like “Kids in Technology” to integrate digital literacy into African schools.
He recently designed and launched a Bridge Program at Lamin and Kadie Bah Academy in Sierra Leone.“It’s a deeply personal project inspired by my own transformative experience at the Qatar Foundation’s ABP,” shared Ousman. “I understood firsthand how a structured preparatory programme could empower students with the skills, confidence, and knowledge to excel in top universities.” He developed the curriculum focused on English proficiency, research and writing, critical thinking, and leadership skills, trained teachers and mentors, and set up mental health counselling. “Ninety percent of the students at the academy lost their parents during the Ebola outbreak and COVID-19. For these students, the Bridge Program is more than an academic initiative; it is a lifeline, a chance to rebuild their future and believe that they, too, can aspire to something greater.”
Ousman’s work is deeply influenced by the values instilled in him at GU-Q: ethical leadership, a global perspective and critical thinking, and a commitment to service.
His advice to young people looking to give back? “Start where you are. Lead with purpose and integrity. Believe in the power of education. Stay resilient. As young leaders, our greatest God-given responsibility is to empower the next generation. The future of Africa and the world’s progress depends on how well we educate, inspire, and uplift those who come after us.” Now celebrating its 20th Anniversary in Qatar, GU-Q is proud to have played a role in cultivating values-driven leaders with a service mindset like Ousman.
