Walla Elsheikh and Diallo Shabazz founded Birthright AFRICA, a free educational program sending U.S. scholars to Africa, in 2015. The heritage-based non-profit organization promotes confidence, creativity, and pride in US citizens of African descent.
“The mission of Birthright AFRICA is to inspire youth and young adults of African descent to explore their cultural roots and legacy of innovation,” says co-founder Walla Elsheikh.
Birthright AFRICA introduces scholars to an African history and legacy that is not provided by the American school system. The educational leadership program bases itself in New York City.
Birthright AFRICA touches and inspires youth
“Studies have also shown that knowing your history, studying your culture, actually does reflect on your academic achievement,” says co-founder Walla Elsheikh.
Birthright AFRICA works with sponsors like HBO to provide free 10-day trips to explore African history and legacy. The organization partners with high schools, colleges, and community organizations to select participants and the country they will visit. In order to be eligible, applicants must meet a few requirements. Mainly, they must be a US citizen between the ages of 13 and 30 of Black or African descent, and cannot have traveled to an African nation after 12 years of age.
Before traveling abroad, scholars visit local cultural sites. They also travel to national institutions and organizations led by individuals of African descent. While exploring the African continent, scholars engage in project-based learning with organizations like the African Center for Economic Transformation, an economic policy think tank in Ghana’s capital. They also visit sites such as the Cape Coast Castle, built by European slave traders in Ghana.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, Birthright AFRICA operated via virtual exploration programs as a result of travel and safety restrictions.
Walla Elsheikh and Diallo Shabazz specialize in business and education
Co-Founder and CEO Walla Elsheikh earned her Bachelor’s in Finance and Economics from Pace University in 2002. Next, she earned her Master’s in Business from Indiana University in 2010. Finally, she worked in finance for Goldman Sachs before consulting for and directing many artistic and educational programs. Before Birthright AFRICA, she worked as NYC Interim Executive Director at the urban school network Schools That Can.
“I was born in Sudan to parents who were born and raised in Sudan, but lived a very global international life as a child.” Elsheikh shared in an interview. “My dad was a diplomat placed in Sweden…we lived there before we moved to Uganda where I went to an American international school. In between we would be in Sudan…before we immigrated to America.”
Diallo Shabazz is a sustainability expert and global strategic advisor. Currently, he works to support the growth of P-TECH, a digital learning platform for students in STEM, in New York. Shabazz also advises large organizations on economic and social policy initiatives as manager of Braven Solutions. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin Madison.
Birthright AFRICA addresses racial disparity in the workforce with education
“Black people comprise only about 2% of corporate board executives in the United States. At Birthright AFRICA we believe that youth and young people of African descent and the diaspora need to feel like they can seek opportunity and thrive outside of a system of racism and oppression,” says Shabazz. “Africa presents that opportunity and Birthright is exposing them to the possibility to explore what the continent has to offer in terms of business and innovation.”
“It wasn’t until I got into corporate America that I realized the starkness was really apparent, especially at leadership levels,” Elsheikh explained. “You start recognizing that there is a perception of you because of this Black identity. It is something you are conscious about and you start second-guessing yourself and what you’re perceived as…there’s an imposter syndrome that has a lot to so with you lacking self-knowledge.”
“I was exposed to the concept of connecting to cultural heritage through two friends of Jewish decent that were getting their Birthright Israel at the time that I’m working at Goldman Sachs,” Elsheikh elaborates. “I’m recognizing I don’t know my history and have been shying away from African-Sudanese culture…if I need this, a whole bunch of us must need this.”
“My Birthright experience freed my mind,” says alum Shaina Louis. “It made me realize that the possibilities for me are truly limitless.”
“Our vision for them is that they become these global leaders and entrepreneurs that are proud of their African heritage, really confident in pursing their creative aspirations with that continues connectivity to the continent,” says Elsheikh.
Learn more at https://birthrightafrica.org/.
