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About Sama Mentor
Sama Mentor is dedicated to empowering youth through international cultural exchange, with a special focus on intercultural experiences through study abroad programs in Senegal. Our organization fosters personal growth and development by providing young individuals with the tools and opportunities they need to thrive in an interconnected world. Through various initiatives, we aim to inspire, educate, and support the next generation of leaders, making a significant impact on their communities and beyond.
We believe that every young person has the potential to change the world, and we are here to help them unlock that potential.
Our Mission
Sama Mentor empowers youth through education and mentorship by providing guidance, opportunities, and supportive learning environments that help them reach their full potential.
Our Vision
Our vision is a world where young people are heard, cultures are understood, and Africa plays a central role in shaping global education and international collaboration.
Dr. Korka Sall
Founder & Managing Director
Dr. Korka Sall is a seasoned international educator, researcher and change maker with more than 15 years in international education, international development, gender and child protection.
Invested in creating spaces in the Senegalese educational system for children to grow and thrive to their full potentials, Dr Korka is the Founder and President of the Association SamaMentor which promotes mentorship within schools, expands African solidarity systems to children and facilitates intercultural learning and understandings. She thrives in creating spaces of dialogue for African women to fight gender inequality. A huge advocate of wellness and well-being for Black women leaders, Korka is the Founder of the plate form Black Women Directors, a plate form that brings together black women leaders in Africa and its Diaspora and builds solidarity systems. She is a certified translator with the Senegalese Ministry of African Integration and Foreign Affairs and is the co-founder of the Language Teaching and Translation Cabinet (LTTC).
She is currently the Director of Yenne Kids’ Academy, an international bilingual school in Yenne, Senegal. She has served as Academic Director of MSID-Senegal, a study abroad program in Senegal for the University of Minnesota for the past five years.
Korka came back to Senegal after nine years in the U.S. teaching and conducting research at different universities including UMass Amherst, Mount Holyoke College, and Harvard University. She holds an MA and a Ph.D. in English from the University of Massachusetts Amherst (May 2021) and her research interests include Caribbean studies, gender studies, feminist studies and African diaspora studies.
Korka has collaborated with various institutions and partners from the US for study abroad programs and training in intercultural competences. A fervent, passionate international educator, she has contributed articles in magazines on international education such as NAFSA international educator magazine.
A militant of human rights and activist invested in promoting contributions of African Women in liberatory movements such as Negritude, Harlem Renaissance, Feminisms, and Pan-Africanism, her scholarship focuses on post-colonial studies, languages and cultures, black studies, and gender and development.
Dr Maguette Diame
General Secretary & Programme Coordinator
Dr Diame has a PhD in International Education and Development at the University of Massachusetts, UMass, Amherst in 2020. He also received a Master's in International Studies and a Graduate Certificate in Not-for-Profit Management at the University of Oregon in 2011.
He is an experienced Researcher in development and education in African contexts. With a Master's in Language teaching received in 2007, he has over 15 years of experience teaching languages in Senegal and in the U.S; among which are English, French and Wolof.
His research are mostly on culturally relevant education and children's education in Africa.
Coumbare Wague
Program Assistant
Currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Linguistics, Coumbare holds a dual Bachelor’s degree in English and Applied Foreign Languages in Business, a background that has shaped her global perspective and deep understanding of cross-cultural communication.
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Alongside her academic journey, she works as a Program Assistant in the study abroad field, where she contributes to creating meaningful international experiences and engaging with diverse cultures and perspectives.
Driven by a strong entrepreneurial spirit, she dedicates her time outside of university to developing creative projects and brands, guided by authenticity, innovation, and purpose.
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At the intersection of language, business, and cultural exchange, Coumbare building a path defined by openness, curiosity, and a commitment to meaningful impact.
Abdoul Aziz Sy Malick Niang
Program Assistant
Abdoul Aziz Sy Malick Niang holds a bachelor’s degree in American literature and Civilization from Cheikh Hamidou Kane University. He is fluent in English, French, and Wolof with expertise in translation, language acquisition, and study abroad programming.
Since 2019, Abdoul has worked at the West African Research Center (WARC) as program assistant. Beginning as a language partner for the African Flagship Languages Initiative (AFLI) and later transitioning to a program assistant role for several study abroad programs affiliated with different universities such as Harvard University, University of Chicago, Princeton University and many others.
Through this experience Abdoul has developed strong skills in group management, communication, study abroad program management, and in supporting individuals as they adapt to new cultural and academic environments.