Projects

Ambitious Women: Activate Your Potential

Project Lead | February - June 2023

The Yale University Thomas C. Barry enabled Abigail to return to Cameroon and contribute toward community development initiatives. Part of her work included working with the Cameroonian non-profit Hope and Rehabilitation Organisation (HaRO) to economically empower the internally displaced. More specifically, in collaboration with HaRO, Abigail organized a one-week training program on income-generating skills for internally displaced single mothers and widows.

Throughout the program, they learned key details on how to launch a small business and how to make high-demand street foods such as puff puff (beignet), chin chin, cupcakes, and more. At the end of the program, each participant was awarded a certificate of attestation, and the top ten business plans were awarded 100,000 CFA each as start up capital to launch their small businesses. After the training program, each of the 10 businesses were monitored and mentored to ensure sustainable growth.

We Should All Be Feminists x Open Dreams

Instructor | February - May 2023

Open Dreams (OD) is a non-governmental organization that “works with high-achieving low-income students in Cameroon to help them achieve their dreams.” During her time in Yaoundé, Cameroon, Abigail hosted seminar workshops with OD Scholars to share her experience as a Yale student and enrich them with professional development skills. She assisted OD scholars in redesigning their LinkedIn pages so that they could better engage with various industry professionals and companies online. Not only did they get new headshots, but also received support in re-writing their experiences.

The best part about Abigail's time with Open Dreams was leading a book club on Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s book, “We Should All Be Feminists.” Within the four walls of their classroom, she once again found my love of teaching. Together scholars and Abi examined feminism within the Cameroonian and overarching African context. She challenged the scholars to think beyond the provided materials and articulate thoughts based on their experiences. Through debates, skits, and group discussions, they confronted stereotypical narratives and emphasized the need to value African women socially, culturally, politically, and economically.

Yale Africa Innovation Symposium

Founder | November 2022

The Yale Africa Innovation Symposium is designed to move beyond the standard discussion of Africa’s challenges and, instead, focus on creating actionable solutions. At the YAIS, young, bright minds and African field experts convene to deconstruct issues and produce resolutions across various African industries.

Accomplishments from the inaugural event (Nov. 11-12, 2022) include:

Hosted 70+ participants and 11 African field experts to address case studies and produce resolutions across various African industries (Representation from Harvard, Columbia, Princeton, Stanford, Oberlin, Babson, etc)
Arranged a panel discussion of 5 panelists focused on "Ways to Work With and On the Continent"
Organized lunch chats with Founder of Daba Finance, Boum III Jr, a BCG Africa Consultant, and Victor Oti
Welcomed approx. 300 attendees at the conference’s closing gala
Coordinated an all-women YAIS Committee of 11 members, average member age: 20 years old
Fundraised approximately $60,000 from various university departments to hold the conference on Yale’s campus

Lorant Fellowship: Ghana

Fellowship Recipient

The Lorant Fellowship is granted to a member of the high school junior class "who demonstrates the ‘most earnest endeavor’ at Phillips Academy.” Upon nomination and selection for the fellowship, Abigail Ndikum traveled to Ghana to partake in a self-designed independent project in collaboration with the NGO, Mother's Heritage International.

Over the course of her stay, Abigail worked with primary and secondary students in a local school in Hohoe in theLake Volta Region. Together they read through Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's book, "We Should All Be Feminists", and delved into understanding the true definition of feminism and its space within West African/Ghanaian culture.

In addition to this, she volunteered in the antenatal unit of a hospital to engage with pregnant adolescents. Abigail assisted in speaking with the pregnant adolescents one-on-one to learn their stories, advised them leverage the hospital's family planning services with their partner, and encouraged them to consider their lives post-birth and how they can empower themselves to live stables lives.

Find below the various projects Abigail has helped to design and executive over the years.