The hit Ghanaian TV series, ‘YOLO – You Only Live Once,’ has garnered international recognition at the USAID Creative Bridges Youth Conference in Washington DC. The conference, themed ‘Creative Bridges: Exploring New Models, New Partnerships, and External Outreach to Advance Youth Development,’ aimed to promote ways to advance youth strategic programs in various areas such as arts, civics, sports, STEM, and faith-based partnerships.
Farmhouse Productions, the production company behind ‘YOLO,’ showcased the success of the show and shared key learnings from the seven seasons aired so far. The event brought together practitioners, organizations, and adolescents from countries worldwide, including Jamaica, St Lucia, Colombia, Barbados, Rwanda, Kenya, Nigeria, and Ghana, to discuss youth development and leadership skills.
Ghanaian filmmaker and CEO of Farmhouse Productions, Ivan Quashigah, emphasized the impact and reach of ‘YOLO,’ which has garnered a substantial audience both on social media and television. The show, known for its engaging storylines and valuable life lessons, has gained over 70 million views on YouTube across all seasons. Season 7 even featured a special cameo by the Second Gentleman of the United States, Mr. Douglas Emhoff.
In a presentation at the conference, Ivan Quashigah highlighted the importance of the event in increasing youth awareness and knowledge on international affairs and development. He noted that the conference aimed to engage youth in tackling global challenges through mentorship and collaboration.
Actress Akosua Asieduaa Asare-Brewu, a star of ‘YOLO,’ stressed the urgent need to empower the girl child and address period poverty in Ghana. She emphasized the role of empowering youth as a strategic investment in building a brighter future for all.
The conference provided a platform for participants to collaborate, share ideas, and develop actionable strategies to address youth needs and aspirations. The YOLO team’s participation was made possible through support from the USAID/Ghana office and the ASBC Activity funded by USAID and implemented by FHI360.
