Salford alumna wins Study UK Alumni Award for Social Action
A graduate from the University of Salford has received international recognition for her work advancing women’s leadership and youth empowerment.
Maudlyn Akosua Awuku, who graduated with an MSc Project Management in 2021, has been named the winner of the Social Action category at the Study UK Alumni Awards.
The awards, run by the British Council, celebrate international graduates of UK universities who have used their UK education to make a positive impact in their communities, industries and countries. Maudlyn received the award in recognition of her work supporting women and young people through leadership development, education and community initiatives across Ghana and the UK.
She is the Founder of the Anijie Global Foundation, a youth-led non-profit focused on education, leadership development and community impact. Through its programmes, the organisation has supported more than 100,000 women and young people.
Reflecting on the recognition, Maudlyn said: “This award proves that the young woman who was told she was ‘doing too much’ was actually doing exactly what was needed. My ambitions were never too big; the systems were just too small.”
She added: “It also opens doors for Anijie Global Foundation to secure partnerships advancing women and youth leadership even further across Ghana and the UK.”
Maudlyn began developing the foundation shortly before starting her MSc at Salford and says the degree played an important role in helping her scale the initiative.
She explained: “My MSc gave me the practical tools to turn ambition into strategy: structuring programmes, managing stakeholders, measuring impact and scaling operations. This transformed Anijie from a small project into an organisation currently reaching over 100,000 beneficiaries.”
Dr Stylianos Sapountzis, Programme Leader of the MSc in Project Management at Salford Business School, commented: “Maudlyn’s recognition at the Study UK Alumni Awards is a moment of immense pride for all of us at the University of Salford. It has been a privilege to witness her journey from an ambitious Master’s student to a globally recognised leader in social action.
"By integrating the learning, practical insights and global outlook of our interdisciplinary MSc Project Management, Maudlyn has successfully transitioned the Anijie Global Foundation from a localised project into a high-impact organisation serving over 100,000 individuals. Her success perfectly illustrates the core mission of our programme: equipping students with the dexterity and pragmatic methodologies necessary to develop a vision turning aspirations into sustainable, life-changing realities.”
Maudlyn hopes her journey will inspire current students and fellow alumni to pursue their ambitions and create meaningful change: “I hope students and alumni see themselves in my story, not the awards, but the uncertainty, the self-doubt, the moments of being told your vision is too big.”
“My hope is that you don’t wait for permission to lead. Your community, your country, your generation is already waiting for what only you can build.”
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