29-year-old Abdoulaye Samete is a creative, social entrepreneur whose work environmental and business activities impact lives by being a positive change in his community. After making the difficult decision to discontinue his studies in American Literature at Cheikh Anta Diop University he was guided to other avenues to cultivate a more sustainable world. He is the co-founder of PermaSchool, a non-profit ecological organization that plants trees in schools. He also co-founded Teranga Legacy, which promotes academic and cultural exchange programs with students from over 100 American Universities and High Schools with the Council of International Educational Exchange (C.I.E.E). He also owns a fashion brand called Sam_And_Jo, which emphasizes local consumption. Having earned a diploma in business and entrepreneurship at the US embassy Dakar, he had the opportunity to become part of a training session at the American Center Dakar (ACD). That experience led him to his participation in the YALI (Young African Leaders Initiative) program, an entrepreneurial leadership training program for young people between the ages of 18 and 35. With more than 60% of the population in Senegal being under the age of 25, the YALI program in sub-Saharan Africa provides in-person and online training, networking, and professional development opportunities.
