Do you believe that all children have the ability to change the world?
During the holiday season, we asked our community members that question in an end of year mailer, along with a request to help us finish 2023 strong by considering a donation towards our annual fund. Financial gifts provide a world-class education to the 475 students we serve each year.
We firmly believe that the impact of each of our supporters’ gifts are as unlimited as the potential of each of our scholars.
There’s no better person to exemplify this unlimited potential than Youjah, a first-generation American with family from Liberia.
Youjah has attended ICS for his entire life so far, from Kindergarten to 5th Grade. While we’ve seen him grow inches and inches, the shadow he leaves as a leader is even taller.
Youjah came to ICS as a quiet, shy kindergartener, but he leaves ICS six years later as Student Council President with a goal of changing the world!
“He’s performed well academically across content areas, but I think when I think about Youjah, I think about him more as the global citizen that he is,” says Principal Diamond Jefferies. “Over the years I’ve seen him grow more as a leader and become more vocal and confident in the person that he is.”
Whenever ICS hosts tours or special visits, we know we can always count on Youjah to be a great host. In the past year, he’s sat down to chat with DeKalb County Superintendent Devin Horton, and shared his school experience with future educators from Morehouse College.
As Student Council President, Youjah organized our school’s first-ever initiative to give back to our surrounding community through a winter clothing drive at ICS for the homeless and low-income families in our neighborhood.
Throughout the month of December, Youjah and the other student council members collected hats, scarves, and gloves to donate to those in need!
Watch an interview with Youjah about his work as Student Council President, about his ideas of leadership, and more!
“What being a leader means to me is giving other people a voice and just guiding people who need help,” said Youjah. “It’s not me just totally being the boss of everything, but it’s guiding people to where they can be able to think for themselves and to lead them to where they have to capability to be able to become a leader themselves.”
Many of the children that ICS serves face significant social and financial hardships themselves that would create obstacles to academic success. However, those same children are learning, thriving, and becoming beacons of hope to others in our own community.
“Two things I always tell Youjah and his brother Isaiah is that as long as they put in the effort I will always be proud of them,” Youjah’s mom Rose wrote in a recent message to the school.
“ICS has transformed Youjah’s life by giving him many opportunities to be the best he can be through all the extracurriculars he does and the events he participates in…My dream for my child Youjah is that he will always do his best and never give up.”
This story of Youjah was first shared in the 2023 End-of-Year Newsletter. As you know, ICS is a school unlike any other — a special place where local, immigrant, and refugee students from more than 25 countries speaking 30 languages all learn together under one roof, and this is made possible in part through individual donations. With each gift, we continue to provide special programs and services that are not available in traditional public schools.
Tax deductible donations towards the ICS Annual Fund can be made online at bit.ly/GiveICS. Thank you for your continued support!
Congratulations Youjay!! What an impressive young man you have become. Your compassion for others, leadership qualities will allow you to exceed in whatever you desire to become. So very proud of you!! Excited to see what the future holds for you
Congratulations Youjah. I am so proud of you. Keep being you.
Congratulations my dear son I am so happy for you continue to shine the sky is you limit
Congratulations Super “UU” thanks for making me a proud Father..
My sweet boy, you are growing into an extraordinaray young man. Congratulations and may the grace of God continue to shine upon your life.
Congratulations Youjah Jr. They say charity begins at home. Indeed you are a unique young man with a purpose and density. Keep up with good work.
Turning Point International Church is proud of your accomplishments. Keep up with a good work. We love you.