When Joan Quartey first heard about the AFS Global STEM Academies, she wasn’t sure the program was for someone like her. Worried the applications would be too competitive, she initially decided not to apply. Then, just days before the application deadline, Joan gathered the courage to finally submit her application.
A few weeks later, she received her scholarship selection letter, marking the beginning of a journey that would shape her education, leadership skills, and understanding of the difference she could make in the world. To this day, she remains certain that applying to the AFS Global STEM Academies program was one of the best decisions she’s ever made for her future.
For Joan, the program offered more than just a new learning environment; it introduced her to new ways of thinking about herself and her role in driving a positive impact in her local community. Joan recalls one of the most meaningful activities in the virtual curriculum, the “Story of Self, Story of Us, Story of Now,” as pivotal to her time in the program. This public narrative framework guides individuals to articulate their personal values, connect those values with their broader community, and call others to collective action for urgent change.
”It helped me understand my own story, where I come from, what I have experienced, what I want to do, and how my story can connect with other people,” she explains. “It made me realize that our stories can inspire others and can also be a starting point for creating change.”
The program also introduced her to practical approaches to social innovation, particularly with tools like suspending judgement, design thinking, and prototyping. “I really enjoyed prototyping because it taught me how to take an idea and start turning it into something real.” These activities, centered around identity, innovation and personal purpose, inspired Joan to dedicate her path to supporting others.
After high school, Joan pursued a diploma in Youth Development Work and is currently working towards an undergraduate degree in Psychology and Sociology. What began with her participation as a scholarship recipient quickly evolved into a passion for community leadership, leading her to become an active AFS volunteer.
Joan became the Events Team Lead and later the Vice President of the AFS Accra Chapter in her home country of Ghana. She also seized opportunities to volunteer as an alumni mentor for the AFS Global STEM Academies virtual program, supporting a new generation of scholars as they grew and navigated their own journeys.
In 2025, Joan participated in the AFS Chapter Leadership Summit in Molina, Spain. This international gathering brought together AFS volunteers from around the world to propose solutions to their chapter’s most common challenges. This experience was pivotal to Joan’s journey as a leader, as she saw how these conversations with global peers could enable her to create local solutions and support her community.
”The summit reminded me that leadership is about serving others, not being above them […],” she explains. “It is about listening, learning, working together, and taking action.”
Most recently, in August of 2026, Joan’s journey with AFS reached a new milestone when she was selected to attend the 31st AFS Youth Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland, following her participation in the Chapter Leadership Summit. She recalls one particular element of her experience at this global event as being especially memorable: meeting in person some of the scholars she had mentored just a year before.
”I had always told them that I wanted to see their projects grow and make an impact in Africa, so seeing them there in person was very emotional,” she continued, “I was almost in tears.” For her, who had once been unsure whether she should even submit her application, being a part of this community and witnessing the achievements of young people she had supported and encouraged was a full-circle moment.
Today, she continues to pursue her passion for helping others, embodying so many of the core values of an AFSer. She leads with gratitude, expressing a heartfelt message for bp, the sponsors of her scholarships with AFS: “Because of this opportunity, I have been able to meet and mentor young people, grow as a leader, and discover the kind of future I want to build.” Joan takes action daily, knowing that a single opportunity can help a young person discover their purpose, build confidence and pave the way for future generations.
If you wish to share your story with AFS to be featured in a future blog, submit your story here. Read more Global STEM Alumni stories here!