ReWrite: Equipping Young Africans to Rewrite the Storytelling Narrative | Serena-Axelle Nga Ebode
Some visions are born from inadequate lived experience, others from keen observation of others' struggles, and others from being inspired by another's work. ReWrite was born from an amalgam of the above-mentioned, and today has carried its pioneer batch to fruition.
In May 2022, when Abigail Ndikum returned to Cameroon to host a book club centered on Chimamanda's short book, We Should All Be Feminists, I providentially found myself attending for the first time. We read excerpts and discussed feminism, perceived masculinity, and ideologies. This experience marked my exposure to writing and reading.
Four years down the line, I met Christopher, an Ashinaga scholar, at the ENC Conference in Florida, who shared his desire to return to Cameroon over the summer and implement a project that would be pivotal for the youth, and it bore a burden in me—the burden to give back to my community in Cameroon. The vision found completion after attending the Tsudoi Conference, where Chike Nwuoffiah spoke on Decolonizing the African Mind by Going Beyond Diplomas.
One premise he set forth, which resonated deeply, was the wrong—handicapped, even—narrative of Africans in the diaspora and around the world, because there is a limitation to how much young Africans write and how much they are being read. After some brainstorming and research, I found relevance in founding ReWrite, an initiative that equips young people with unique creative writing skills that allow them to hone confidence in their stories and narratives, write authentic stories that represent their heritage and background well, thereby improving the global narrative, and ultimately making use of these skills in drafting college application essays, resumes, and more.
Open Dreams was the perfect place to implement this vision. It seems all dreams are valid there, and there is the right community of people to help carry those dreams to completion.
I reached out to Joyce Forkou, TechGirls '19, and she immediately thought it was a great idea. We shared it with Terry Nanje, Arthur Djiomou, Kamga Manuela, and Kerry Pride, and brought Daniellita and Junior Fotsa on board.
The application form was drafted, dates and curriculum mapped out, and within five weeks, we received 59 applications from young people across Africa. On May 26, 2026, ReWrite kicked off with 15 dedicated students who all shared a common hunger—to write authentically.
Every session was intentionally crafted to address the gaps often encountered in writing: understanding and mastering one's writing voice, overcoming overthinking while crafting the first draft, and writing a dedication that speaks volumes about the kind of writer you are before the reader even engages with the full story.
One thing that has left me in awe was the exponential growth of the students after just four weeks of biweekly workshop meetups. They became less afraid of daring to write within a short period of time when prompts were unexpectedly provided, and they grew increasingly confident in their writing voices. One scholar, Andrea, said, "ReWrite gave me a ladder in writing I hadn't realized I needed." Another scholar, Neba Favour, said, "I've always wanted to write, but now with ReWrite, I have the push I needed."
People outside Yaoundé reached out, saying, "I look forward to joining the online edition, if there is one."
ReWrite did not only transform the scholars. Among the amazing team is Junior Fotsa, Batch of Triumph '24. His role, centered on content creation and digital communication, allowed him to be at the forefront of designing the logo that ReWrite prides itself on being represented by. ReWrite's transformative ethos was felt not only by the participants but also by the program facilitators, as we can deduce from Junior's journey through the program. He's writing a fictional novel inspired by his journey as an ambitious scholar navigating Cameroon's societal realities. "The novel I'm writing is a journey of self-discovery; I've begun owning personality traits I never comprehended, holding my values with fundamental steadfastness, and pursuing aspirations I had never dared to concretize—ReWrite has truly helped me own my voice."
On June 26, 2026, ReWrite Cohort 1's closing ceremony marked the end of a five-week program and the beginning of fifteen new writing journeys. There were speeches from distinguished guest speakers: Sir Akaba James, the Country Director of Open Dreams; Evans Nomboh, author of THE GEN Z ENTREPRENEURS OF AFRICA: FROM CONCEPT TO COMPANY; and Ms Nanne Tube, an award-winning poet, who encouraged all the scholars to just write and keep writing.
I'm grateful to Mr. Akaba James for nurturing ReWrite and reminding students of the craft's importance. A heartfelt thank you to Abigail Ndikum for providing a listening ear and constructive feedback as I shared the vision and drafted the proposal, and for sharing her own experience in hosting similar initiatives and her recommendations for making it a success. A big shoutout to my team for supporting me in every aspect of making this edition a success, and to my friends for supporting me behind the scenes.
It's the most rewarding experience I've had – realizing that investing time and resources in young people can cultivate a drive that takes them to greater heights. I'm grateful to Open Dreams, Ashinaga, and the University of Miami for seeing potential in me. I will be paying it forward by welcoming more cohorts and equipping them with the tools to tell their stories.
- Serena-Axelle Nga Ebode | ReWrite | Ashinaga | Open Dreams ###
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