Joyous Trainings & Consult has successfully hosted a three-day virtual bootcamp designed to equip Senior High School (SHS) leavers with the knowledge, skills, and mindset required to navigate life after secondary education, while firmly grounding them in African heritage, identity, and personal development.
Held from Wednesday, December 10 to Friday, December 12, 2025, the virtual programme brought together faith leaders, development practitioners, academics, creatives, and corporate professionals, who shared practical insights on pathways into tertiary and vocational education, as well as holistic self-development.
The bootcamp featured a diverse line-up of speakers, including Joyous Ocran (Youth Development Facilitator and Team Lead, Joyous Trainings & Consult), Amma Odamea Amoako (Founder, The Generation Shift Africa, and Digital Transformation Professional), Rev. Obed Jim-Annan (Coordinating Pastor, Youth Secretariat, ICGC Head Office), Amanda Gyesi (HR and Communications Professional; PhD Communications Candidate), Grace Osei (PhD Higher Education Candidate), Joshua Eyram Wordey (Author of Eyram’s Ponder and PR Professional), Naomi Koomson (Minister of God in Arts and Music), Alison Gyimah (Writer and Beacon of Excellence, Central Leadership Programme), Mrs. Lordina Cobbinah (Finance and Investment Professional, Nottingham), and Ps. Raphael Koomson (CEO, Raphael Impact Global; Chairman, Real Life World Inc.).
Throughout the three-day engagement, participants were taken through carefully curated sessions aimed at preparing them for tertiary education and the responsibilities of adulthood.
Topics ranged from strategies for excelling in higher education, building self-esteem, identifying God-given talents, and developing an intimate relationship with God, to exploring leadership opportunities and practical skills such as CV writing and responsible social media use.
Central to the discussions was a strong emphasis on African heritage and identity. Touching on this theme, Ms. Amma Odamea Amoako sensitised SHS leavers to the richness and depth of the African story.
She encouraged young people to resist the uncritical imitation of Western lifestyles, accents, and value systems, urging them instead to appreciate and embrace their own cultural identity. Drawing historical insights from the Berlin Conference of November 18, 1884, which marked the formal beginning of Africa’s colonization, she explained how the partitioning of the continent led to the exploitation of African manpower and a gradual erosion of African identity. According to her, the widespread adoption of Western ideas fostered a mindset that caused Africans to perceive their own ways of life as inferior.
She concluded that Western domination succeeded largely because earlier generations lacked sufficient knowledge of who they were and what they possessed. “Our culture is very rich; our only problem is the lack of awareness of who we are,” she stated.
To bridge this gap, she challenged participants to actively learn about their heritage, participate in cultural activities, and continuously educate themselves to better understand and appreciate African culture. In a bold effort to reshape prevailing narratives, she emphasised that “as Africans, we are not poor,” noting that Africa’s wealth extends beyond material resources to include knowledge systems, values, and a rich cultural heritage.
She further advised SHS leavers to leverage the internet positively by engaging with credible content on African culture, history, and personal development. “Be curious, read widely, and intentionally seek knowledge that will help you understand your value and identity,” she urged.
Joyous Ocran reminded participants that while valuable information and guidance had been provided, the greater responsibility rested with them.
According to him, the real impact would be determined by “how you apply what has been shared to your life.”
About the Virtual SHS Session
In an interview, Mr. Ocran explained that the idea for the bootcamp was inspired by a sermon preached by Dr. Mensa Otabil, titled “From Roots to Fruits,” at the Greater Works Conference 2024. He noted that the message sparked a desire to help SHS graduates become firmly rooted in foundational knowledge and values that would support their long-term growth and success. “I sought to help SHS graduates build a foundation of knowledge that will support their progress in life,” he said.
He expressed confidence that once young people are grounded through intentional capacity building, they would eventually bear fruit in the form of transformed lives capable of driving positive change in the country. Looking ahead, Mr. Ocran revealed plans to expand the initiative into an annual, free, in-person event, with the aim of developing it into a camp-style programme where SHS leavers can be groomed, mentored, and nurtured for the journey ahead.
He also acknowledged the visible impact the bootcamp is already having on participants and extended his heartfelt appreciation to God, TEMPLE Advisory, Beacons of Excellence Association, and The Sikaman Times for their sponsorship and support, which contributed to the success of the programme.
