Ayisha Ahmed

Ayisha is a research student whose work explores how students navigate the school to work transition in the contexts of Christianity, uncertainty and economic change in Ghana.

She enjoys the study of anthropology because it encourages people to ask interesting questions about the world around them and helps increase human self-awareness and mutual understanding; potentially bringing people together.

Ayisha is passionate about social justice and sees the potential within anthropology to help address inequality, discrimination, and alleviate human suffering.  Ayisha’s research explores the landscape of contemporary secondary schooling in Ghana alongside, young peoples’ work aspirations.

She is interested in history and how this shapes the present. She is also curious to know how young people seek to fashion their lives in contexts of multiple forms of uncertainty.  Whilst all basic education has become free in Ghana, graduate employment is not guaranteed, and unemployment remains a prominent issue in the country. In response to this, Ayisha’s research examines how students navigate the school to work transition in the context of economic change, unemployment and waithood in Ghana.

Ayisha explores the intersection between Christianity, education reform, aspirations and gender among youths in Senior High School using a qualitative, ethnographic approach. Her research methods combine archival work and educational ethnography.

• Anthropology of education, 
• Aspiration and hope, youth in Africa
• Waithood, and missionary history in West Africa.