Launch of the Book “A Letter to My Younger Self”

DAKAR, SENEGAL – The pan-African initiative with a positive impact, A Letter to My Younger Self, announces the official release of its first bilingual collective work. Initiated by Aïda Diouf, an executive in the telecommunications sector and recognized as a Young Global Leader 2026 by the World Economic Forum, this editorial and social project is supported by the non-profit association ALTMYS, in collaboration with Nayé Anna Bathily, Stella Fumey, and Lamba Ka.

Prefaced by the international artist Angélique Kidjo, the book gathers the intimate and personal letters of 17 women leaders from Africa and the diaspora, from 12 nationalities. Among the contributors is the contemporary dance icon Germaine Acogny (Senegal), the writer and winner of the Prix Goncourt des Lycéens Djaïli Amadou Amal (Cameroon), the tennis champion Ons Jabeur (Tunisia), as well as major leaders such as Aminata Kane, Coura Carine Sène, Miriem Bensalah Chaqroun, and Julienne Lusenge. By sharing their journeys, doubts, and victories, these successful figures provide authentic benchmarks to encourage young girls to realize their potential.

Dakar, the first step in a continental deployment in several African cities

Beyond its publication in bookstores, the central ambition of the project lies in a field action program combining the free distribution of 10,000 copies and the organization of awareness workshops in more than ten African countries.

The event organized in Dakar marks the starting point of this continental tour:

At the John F. Kennedy High School in Dakar, 50 young high school girls received a copy during an initial exchange and transmission ceremony.

At the Sokhamon Hotel, an official launch evening (“Diotay”) brought together 60 civil society actors and committed partners – such as HEC Paris Executive Education, Shine to Lead, Les Cultur’Elles, and La Croisée des Chemins.

This intervention model for young girls will be gradually deployed in other cities and capitals across the continent, in partnership with schools, universities, and local associations, in order to create spaces for dialog and mentorship on a regional scale.

“This book is a step, not an end in itself.” Our ambition is for these words to circulate in many cities across the continent, to reach young girls who need them, and to be able to open up possibilities, spark conversations, or change trajectories. ~ Aïda Diouf, Founder of ALTMYS

“I want to commend the courage of each of the contributors to this book.” The courage to truly tell their story, to look at themselves from the most fragile and truest place of someone who once doubted. ~ Angélique Kidjo, excerpt from the preface

About A Letter to My Younger Self & ALTMYS

A Letter to My Younger Self is a pan-African editorial and social initiative dedicated to the representation, transmission, and empowerment of African female youth. Supported by the non-profit organization ALTMYS, the project reinvests the profits from book sales and royalties into the free distribution of the book and the organization of educational workshops in schools, universities, and associations across cities on the continent.

Website: www.alettertomyyoungerself.com
Contacts Press ALTMYS / Initiative
Sabrina Moutamanni
E-mail: contact@alettertomyyoungerself.com

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Author: Matthieu Hervé from tetra X africa on behalf of ALTMYS.

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