Kezia Sanie, a global humanitarian figure supporting underprivileged in society
Ms Sanie in a group picture with some of the students
Kezia Asiedua Sanie, a young entrepreneur has set out to create a safe haven for the less privileged in society with the goal of becoming a global humanitarian figure through her charity works.
With a passion for supporting the less privileged, Kezia at age 16 together with her Senior High School (SHS) mates in Wesley Girls started the journey to touch lives.
In 2016, they made their first donation to some needy children in Ashaiman. In the same year, Kezia and friends presented some items to about 100 children in James Town, Accra.
Kezia then formed the ‘For the Future (FTF) Ghana, a charitable organisation dedicated to addressing child poverty and educational inequalities in Ghana. Before completing SHS, Kezia and her friends managed to donate to five different schools.
The 23-year-old has since become a beacon of hope and inspiration within her community and beyond.
Kezia, a law student and advocate for quality education recognises the transformative power of education and the importance of respecting children’s rights.
She believes that every child deserves access to quality learning opportunities and through FTF Ghana, has provided essential support and opened doors of opportunity for over 4,000 underprivileged children.
Ms Sanie also teaches and mentors about 15 children from the slums who have shown massive improvement. That includes a two-year-old Elizabeth Botwe and young Prince Kojo.
Her innovative and holistic approach to addressing the challenges faced by these children has garnered widespread global recognition and support.
Ms Sanie is a trustee for the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award known in Ghana as The Head of State Award Scheme which empowers young people to explore their full potential and find true purpose, passion and place in the world, regardless of their location or circumstance. She is the youngest member on the board.
She is also a member of the Global Shapers Community of the World Economic Forum and a sought-after speaker at events and schools, where she shares her experiences, inspire others, and encourage them to take action.
Through other initiatives spearheaded by Ms Sanie, including Click4Change, EmpowerHer Period and others, she had impacted over 5,000 children in education and livelihood support.
She received some recognitions for her work including the Female Entrepreneur of the Year 2020 by the Young Achiever’s Awards and the Pan African Community Influencer of the Year 2022 by Pulse Africa.
In 2023, Ms Sanie was named a Top 10 finalist by the Chegg.org Global Student Prize and a Top Five finalist for the .ORG Impact Awards Rising Star Category by Public Interest Registry. She also won the Agent of Change award by Women’s Choice Africa and the Unsung Hero of the Year award at the Federation of African Law Students (FALAS) Annual Conference and Dinner in Kigali, Rwanda.
Ms Sanie’s story is a testament to the transformative power of one person’s dedication and vision. Through her work, she has become a driving force for change, inspiring over 500 other young people to join in the pursuit of a more inclusive and equitable society where every child can thrive.
Ms Sanie believes that every child has a unique gift and only requires support to unearth and polish it for the good of the society, hence positioning herself to support thousands of children around the world.
Ms Sanie is looking forward to building a resource centre that would assist children across Africa and beyond and provide them an enabling environment to unearth their talents and grow.
She loves listening to gospel music, reading and visiting the beach when she is not engaged in charity works.
By Michael D. Abayateye