Welcome to our series of introductions to African Leadership Academy’s 2018 cohort – and meet Amir Touil from Tunisia…
Amir is a promising young scientist with a strong sense of social awareness that has driven him to encourage others to pursue their passions as keenly as he does. A Yale Young Scholars Program participant who was also selected for the European Union Contest for Young Scientists, Amir participated in various major STEM events such as Dev camp and Science Expos, while also actively pursuing various other extracurricular activities such as debating and the arts.
As Vice President of his school’s student council, Amir started the school’s first radio station, and was instrumental in helping other students start up clubs that resonated with their interests and passions and allowed youth to feel that they, too, could contribute meaningfully to society.
He also organized events and club sessions to help students improve their skills and prepare them to national and international competitions and colleges. “That’s how we can directly enhance the quality of education and adapt it to the student’s interests and sense of creativity, so that they can build their character and find their own path to start a successful career after school,” he explains.
Amir’s commitment proved fruitful: within the first year, the club grew from five to fifty students, and the variety of clubs founded range from theatre and debate to programming and personal development.
“Students are able to learn real-world skills and develop stronger networks; thanks to these clubs, our school became one that participated in the most number of competitions in Tunisia, such as The Tunisian Olympiad of Programing, and Intel ISEF,” Amir ventures proudly.
The experience, he says, provided an opportunity for his own self-exploration, and led to him discovering new interests himself. “It helped shape my personality, taught me how to clearly communicate and be more confident – and I gained the value of teamwork,” he adds.
He believes ALA will enhance and add to these skills, and looks forward to joining a likeminded network that will aid in contributing to Africa’s growth and transformation.
