In 2016, Asma was selected to participate in the Mandela Washing Followahip for Young African Leaders, the flagship program of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) that empowers young people through academic courses work, leadership training, and networking.
The fellowship provides up to 1,000 outstanding young leaders from Sub-Saharan countries with the opportunity to honor their skills at a U.S college or university with support for professional development after they return home.
Asma is passionate about women and girls issues and therefore founded the Asmaa James Foundation (AJF) to promote teenage sexual reproductive health and rights, with the objective of raising awareness, mobilizing women and girls to advocate and influence policies of sexual health in Sierra Leone.