SHELLINGS FRIDAYS

The Young CEO Motivates

I am Eugene Elikem Tornyeavah, I hail from Atiavi in the Volta Region of Ghana. Managing Director and Co-founder of CLITH NGO-(Changing Lives Through Health)

Early life / Education:

I grew up in a family of 5. I have 2 siblings; an elder brother and a younger sister.

I first saw the classroom in Afife, a rural community where my Dad taught for a while before going back to school. I was years at the time.

 My Dad's time away in School and my Mum's business would move my brother and I to Akatsi where we had our basic education in Wisdom Preparatory School. I proceeded to the renowned Keta Senior High School where I read General Science from 2004 to 2007.

I taught for some months before studying Nursing between 2008-2011 in Ho Nurses Training College. I took a scholarship to study Applied Psychology (Clinical) in the University of Delhi, India between 2012-2015. While in India, I also took a diploma program in United Nations and International Understanding from the Institute of UN Studies, New Delhi in 2013/2014.

How it all started

This is tricky 

I can think of several beginnings! Nonetheless, I would highlight the entrepreneurial journey. 

I attended a workshop organized for African students in India by the All India Management Association (AIMA) in 2014. 

I had the privilege of touring few industries and SMEs and saw the illustrious work been done by the small and medium scale enterprises out there. I got fired up and one of the things I thought of was a solution for unemployment which was on the rise in every corner of the globe. What I did was to put friends together online to harness skills. That was the birth of my first start up: "Experts Consolidated". Fast forward, I became part of an awesome team of young entrepreneurs and development enthusiasts from all walks of life, from whom I learned a lot of things. I would meet the CEO of Helpost India through these meetings and become the face of his innovative start up expansion in Africa. 

I have always been fascinated by the possibilities teaming up with like minded people. There is more to this story than what meets the eye right now.

On my return to Ghana in August 2015, I tried fusing my experiences into Experts Consolidated which later became "Accra Fridays". At one of those Friday meetings, I reunited with Dr Akiti and Mr. Dogbey - friends from Ketasco. One thing led to the other and together we gave birth to CLITH, a health NGO poised to change lives of people through health. It's been an interesting journey so far and everyday feels like a new beginning for me.

Achievements

Ooh I haven't achieved anything, my team did. With the help of volunteers of CLITH NGO, I can boast of carrying out over 30 outreaches, screenings and mobile clinics and interacted with about 10,000 people over the past 2 years. 

The only achievement I can remember is helping others smile. That, I can take credit for.

I represent a few brands including

1. Helpost Africa, Experts Consolidated, Positive Vibes by telikemeugene , CLITH, a health NGO.

Inspiration 

I draw inspiration from several wells. I was privileged to have met great men and been to awesome places. My parents inspired me with honesty, hard work and determination. Nature inspires me daily to show love and be kind to the smallest of mankind. Role models, movies, etc inspire me. And life gives me the perfect inspiration everyday when the sun rises the new day!

Dreams 

Yesterday I would have said my dreams were for CLITH to be great and great at charity health services but that's not a dream anymore. We are doing great work in Rural Ghana. I dream of the day UN will recognize CLITH and engage us in international humanitarian services. A day is coming, and you will bear me witness.

Advice

That depends on who the advise is for lol.

Well, my advise to everyone out there is simple; be yourself, do right by people, smile often, never take an entrenched position on every issue. Strive to make the world a better place than you found it. Always consider yourself privileged and in position to give a part of you for the development of others. Love truly and love everyone. The grace of God has been sufficient, share it with everyone; Christian and Atheist alike, Hindu and Muslim alike. We are all humans, tagged by society. Let's do right by each other, and live in harmony.