Ibrahim Jalloh

Content created by Virtual Intern Shayna Canty

Ibrahim Jalloh was an educator and the founder of the Volunteer Action Network (VAN), a non-profit organization that helped bring the concept of volunteerism to the general population in Sierra Leone.

Jalloh's first exposure to the United States was on an International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) in 2017. He traveled with youth leaders from 22 countries and gained exposure to youth engagement and leadership activities in the United States. Jalloh said that the IVLP exposed him to many diverse ideas to develop a civically engaged society.

Jalloh's IVLP experience provided ideas to build the leadership capacity of youth in his home community. Shortly after returning to Sierra Leone, he was inspired to create VAN as an organization to help youth. VAN helped distribute school supplies to youth in need, equipping them with the tools to continue their education. The organization also implemented two non-violence campaigns that provided youth across the region with opportunities to engage their own communities.

Prior to his passing in 2021, Ibrahim Jalloh was a community leader who improved the livelihoods of hundreds of families in Sierra Leone and developed a culture of community service through volunteerism. He exhibited remarkable passion and leadership during his lifetime and fostered the ongoing spirit of volunteerism in Sierra Leone.

Edited by Virtual Interns Regina Navarro-Gomez and Kristin Mitra