14/09/2026
From the slums of Sierra Leone to a Fulbright scholar at the United States, education has been the bridge, for Rtr. Ivan Tee Jay🌻
Ivan’s educational journey is rooted in humble beginnings. Growing up in a slum community in Sierra Leone, opportunities were not always easy to see, but education gave him something powerful, the ability to dream beyond any circumstances.
Starting school at the Bilingual Elementary School, to the Prince of Wales Secondary School, where his aspirations continued to grow.
He later gained admission to the College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences, University of Sierra Leone (COMAHS-USL), where he pursued pharmacy. Each stage of his education reinforced a lesson that has remained with him, where you begin does not have to determine where you end.
He believes that education did more than prepare him for a profession;
“It created an opportunity for me to give back. I returned to the academic environment as a Demonstrator at the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences, University of Sierra Leone, contributing to the education and development of the next generation of pharmacy professionals. “
Today, his educational journey has taken him to Brandeis University in Massachusetts, USA, where he is pursuing a Master of Science in Global Health Policy and Management as a Fulbright Scholar, with a focus on Data Analytics.
Rtr. Ivan is also contributing to a better world, through his Rotaract membership- at our club, he is the membership director, supporting onboarding of new members. He always invites his Rotaract students to club meetings 🌻
Join Rtr. Ivan and other young professionals changing the world through service at the Rotaract Club of Freetown!