Aly Diakhate

- Student; On campus

When Aly Diakhate enrolled in the School of Community Economic Development at Southern New Hampshire University, he knew only that he wanted to help people in need.
 
“I was raised in some difficult conditions by a single mom who struggled,” says Aly, who was born and grew up in Senegal, Africa. “Until I got admitted into this program, I never thought about how much I can do just in the field of economic development. (The School of CED) is allowing me to focus on some specific skills and essential, crucial skills that I need to get the work done.”

Professionally, Aly is working with Faith Fund and Neighborhood Housing Service of Baltimore on a unique mortgage and small business lending program for members of Baltimore’s Islamic community.
 
Having been away from home for seven years, he looks forward to returning to Senegal, where he will apply all that he has learned and rejoin his “supportive” – and patient fiancée.

“Everything that I am doing from school to work is designed around the idea of going home one day. If I can help a woman who, in the midst of an African village where there’s not much hope or expectation ... to provide to her own children and to herself and have activities that will be self-sustained, I would say that I have made a big change in a life,” Aly says. “Even if it happens with one single person in my lifetime, I think I’ve succeeded.”