Our Heritage
For over three decades, SYTO Ghana has promoted Africa as a source of knowledge and global exchange, moving young people in both directions between Africa and the world.
A radical idea, 1994
SYTO was founded in 1994 as a subsidiary of the M&J Group of companies by Dr. Edmund O-T. Prempeh, now Nana Adu Tutu, Adontenhene of the Ashanti Region, and Ms Marian Thompson. It began with Summer Study Abroad and the Student Work Abroad Programme (SWAP) to the UK, USA, Norway and Canada, among the first organisations to introduce these opportunities in Ghana.
The founding idea was simple but radical: that Africa is a source of knowledge and exchange, not only a destination for aid.
Three decades of growth
From 1998, SYTO expanded internships and volunteering in Ghana with international partners. Between 2000 and 2014 it ran Ghana–UK and Ghana–Canada youth exchanges, and from 2008 to 2016 it partnered with Opportunity Education-UK and the Ghana Education Service across more than 150 schools.
Today SYTO's philosophy and framework reach six or more African countries, including Benin, Côte d'Ivoire, Nigeria, Senegal, Togo and South Africa.
What we've achieved
Over 10,000 students have travelled abroad through SYTO, and around 5,000 international volunteers and interns have been placed in Africa. Our programmes have reached more than 100 rural and urban communities and over 100 educational institutions.
SYTO works with 20+ partner universities abroad and 50+ global partners, delivered by a team of around 100 staff across the network.