DIANA'S STORY
Home and Family.
Having been born in a family of six, 4 elder brothers and one sister [late by now], my childhood and growing has been hectic all through. Varying from hunger, inadequate basic needs, sickness and most crucially school fees for my brothers and I, our schooling and personal upbringing has been completely a depriving effort on our wellbeing. This forced my mother to attempt selling some local brew so that we would be able to survive all through but this worsened the situation.
To make it worse, when my parents later on separated when I was 10 years old, I had to be partially shifting so that I could stay both with my mum and then with my dad for some time at home. This fully interfered with my academic progress.
Often we’d have a meal once a day in hope of saving for tomorrow. Acquaintance of sanitary pads was a deficit of which I’d rely on using a piece of mattress or blanket during my menses. My homestead being situated in red soil, jiggers are our commonest invasion.
During my final year in primary school, Lugulu A.C
Primarily, my personal studies wavered but I could try my best to stabilize it.
Having to stay with only my dad at home, basic girl requirements was a strenuous acquaintance to me because I couldn’t uphold myself in front of my dad to ask for toiletries from him. I had to look for some personal solutions towards such issues by depriving myself on some like, missing school suppose I was having my periods.
Primary schooling.
There came a time when jiggers evaded our village, this really affected me too because I was also infected. With all the pain in the soles of my feet, it was really difficult walking to my primary school which was miles away from home. Paraffin for lighting our lanterns at night was difficult to get too that during my final year in primary, studying for my national exams became a deficit but suffice to it all my results were well enough to take me to high school.
High school.
I couldn’t get school fees for joining high school so I had to plead from every source around me but this was really tough, my parents tried to their best but nothing was bearing any fruit. But later on, I managed to join Koyonzo Secondary school. This made me very happy but it couldn’t last long because of lack of school fees. Having joined late, my results were really discouraging, I had a D and this was more irritating to me which made me strive higher. Due to even lack of fare to school, mostly my mother would escort me where we would walk for a longer distance together, where then, I would be saving a little of money at the same time for my pocket money.
Koyonzo High School administration block, Secondary school I attended.
Buying stationery became a big problem too but this didn’t stop me from working harder so that I could improve on my performance which I later did. When sent home for fees, I would find my dad at home with nothing even to eat so this scared me on worrying him more about my school fees so preferentially I would persistently be sent home for fees every now and then. But luckily, a new face arouse on me.
At my final year in High school.
After FAWE came in to support my schooling, everything became perfect and even my stay in school became happier leading to an increase in my academics too.
While in Form Two, Forum for Africa Women Educationalist, {FAWE} started paying for my school fees, things levelled and my performance stabilized. Im grateful to FAWEK for the shift they brought into my life.
FAWE’S AID
It provided my school fees which stabilized my performance making my stay in school perfect and intact.
It gave me personal training for my sharpening as a girl child by educating me on girl child rights, adolescence and sexual rights.
Boarding provisions were availed to me from FAWE and some basic monetary expenditures.
During the fervent conferences we had, I was able to participate in prose talking to my fellow peers, I managed to meet my personal mentor in FAWE, Madam Hendrina Doroba and my core visionary mentors who really inspired me in both aspects.
One of my happiest moments ever when our adored mentor, Madam Martha visited us at KNUST.
This made us feel more than loved and cared for by FAWE. It reminded me how much I still need to do not to let FAWE down but to adhere to its mission and vision.
Bahrom International Program at Seoul Women’s University in South Korea.
In June 2015, FAWE nominated me to participate in an exchange program at Seoul Women’s University. This was the best transitional experience ever. For the first time in my whole life I had to board an airplane and stay with Asian and white people around me.
Participants in the program.
During my stay in Korea, at first it was challenging because I felt out of place as the only African person, black person, around. Varying from the accent and environmental differences from my homeland, I felt restless but after getting used to the environment the experience became the best.
During one of our practical lectures at Seoul Women’s University
Together with Korean students and some other international students, we toured Korea, we were lectured on Korean life style, art, language, politics, history, religion and traditions, martial arts and how to interact and deal with people of different ethnics
At Gyeongju in Korea
With such an experience, it strengthened my worldly understanding, personal courage, national knowledge and best of it all, it helped me develop self-confidence and superiority in my own self. Having to interact with different races, I literally learnt how the outside world roughly operates.
It was such an enormous experience that really changed my life by inspiring me till to date.
Having to witness all their cultures and beliefs, I happened to understand how each of us is special in a way. Together we can build a strong foundation.
University.
Basing on my brilliant performance in high school, FAWE then opened the gate for my university studies by enlightening and conjoining me on a scholarship program, MasterCard, which interviewed me and granted me the chance to study Medical Laboratory at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, KNUST, Ghana, where I’m currently pursuing my degree in complete awe. I’ve got to experience leadership trainings all founded by MCF. This has been a perfect inspiration on my leadership skills.
Just after an Anatomy lab
During personal study in the DB Block
KNUST has provided a quiet peaceful environment for my studies.
Having a review on my Physiology basics.
With all the experience I’ve had from FAWE, occasionally I’ve been giving prior talks to girls on their educational and societal rights. With the belief that children are the foundation of the future, I’ve been teaching younger children onto the correct paths, how to keep their environment clean and how to be aware of their sexual rights.
Mostly whenever I visit primary schools, such are the chances I always look forward to. To almost all girls I’ve encountered, I’ve made sure they understand that their personal effort and capabilities shouldn’t be limited on their societal upbringing or present environment but they should try everything they are capable of. No one is responsible for their failure but everyone is responsible for their success.
At my high school. One of the times I had to give an inspirational talk to my peers.
During this encounter, I advised them on study skills and mechanisms of consistent best performance per individual level.
During thanksgiving in my High school.
Gratitude to FAWE and MasterCard Foundation {MCF}
My full gratitude goes to FAWE and MCF for the far they’ve brought me, stabilizing, guiding, advising, supporting, and providing for my needs. FAWE has traded me onto the path that I can never slide come rain or sunshine, it has made me understand the basics of education as a whole.
It has widened my understanding on being humane and helping the needy. With the little knowledge I’ve gained and more that I’m still gaining from them, I’ll live to uphold FAWE’S mission on gender equality and education to all. To MCF, I’ll help in both ways to create change as an African leader.
Personal Dreams and Vision.
As a medical student, I intend on providing basic knowledge on health maintenance to everyone around me so that preventable ailments can be evaded prior. With my dream of being a doctor, with all possible techniques I’ll make sure health defects are stabilized for a healthy living more so in the rural areas where from personal experience during my sicknesses during childhood, there are poor hospital facilities.
I believe that every disease has cure because there is nothing new under the sun. There is no occurrence that man can’t handle, it’s just a matter of believing, being patient and looking for remedies.
As a partial personal writer, I’m portraying human rights and their needs as basics in my fictional stories so that whoever happens to read them can be aware of human rights and the consequences of abolishing human rights. With this, I hope and believe that awareness can be created all through.
Advice to fellow peers.
To be successful, one is rewarded for an extra mile you take towards your ambition for if you only work per your limits, then generally you’ll only receive a mere salary from it,
Before a fight, prepare with all effort to win but after the fight, while waiting for the outcome, be prepared to both win and lose. With this expectations, you’ll have prepared for each next step suppose any of the occurrences happens.
During your livelihood, no one will notice your tears or sadness but they’ll all notice your mistakes but surprisingly, everyone has a right to your success.
Allowing food to cool is part of eating, so is accepting your failures and moving on.
Perfect leaders lead themselves first. A perfect leader doesn’t create followers but he creates more leaders.
A polar bear in snow can’t equivalent to a camel in a dessert, so is life, just suit and grow out of your situation, avoiding or running away will often bring you back to the problem. It’s just like looking for a signboard when you’re already at your destination.
DOREEN'S STORY
My first flight
I remember vividly my first flight was on 18th august 2016 at 8:30 am. Can I tell you how it was: In the evening I packed all my things and went to the bed. I could not sleep because I spend the whole night thinking of how my flight was going to be. That was the longest night I have ever had in my life. By 3:00 am I was already up. I prepared and by 4:00 am I was ready. We set off to the airport with my uncle. When we arrived, I went for check-in leaving him at the entrance not knowing that I will not see him again. My heart was pounding when I went through the doors of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. I looked so confused and not knowing where to start from, because that was my first time. I just followed people who were also doing the check-in. Though I did not know anything, I completed successively and got so proud of myself. When I got into the plane I was so surprised with what I saw. It was very big and spacious with luxurious seats. It looked so royal, impressive and wonderful. I was really excited and full of many expectations. My seat was at the window, which gave me a fine view of outside world. The pilot started the engines which gave out a loud roar, and then it began to move, soon it was airborne and flew higher and higher, here I lost my breath and felt like I was fainting. I looked through the window and enjoyed the panoramic view of the city, people looked like dots and the buildings like toys. I was filled with great joy and thrill. It flew smoothly and glided through the air like a bird. The trees, houses, buildings etc. seemed flying away backward with a great speed. Small woolly clouds floated around as making the view that of a fairyland. The landscape bellow presented an enchanting sight. After the travel of two hours they presented food to us which was so delicious. After my first bite I got a toothache and I got so scared. After the travel of another three hours I had the announcement that in 10 mins we will be landing in Kotoka international airport in Ghana I got so excited and in no time, we arrived at our final destination. The landing was smooth and comfortable. It was a pleasant and beautiful experience. It looked like a short but wonderful dream that can never be forgotten. It left an indelible impression on my mind.
My first time in Ghana.
When I walked out of the airport I was overwhelmed by all the unknown impression. Everywhere were people looking at me and calling for me. Some came and started asking me questions like where are you from? What brings you to Ghana? Are you running away from home? Don’t you have nice universities there in Kenya? When I was still waiting for my guide to school, I was simply welcomed by a text: “Safaricom welcomes you to Ghana”. When my guide arrived, she took me to a wedding she was attending. It was so amazing, I used to like Ghanaian weddings on the movies but that time it was a real-life situation, I was so happy. In the evening she took me to a quest a house where I speed my night, it was so beautiful, oh my God I was so uncomfortable because I felt like I don’t belong there, I just thanked God for such I wonderful opportunity.
.
The guest house where I spent my night.
The following day by 11am we set off for school, the place was as hot as 2pm in my country.
My life at school.
My first day was like a whole year, everything was new. The first thing I was taught was the currency, of Ghana, the Ghana cedi. It was somehow confusing and I guess the people in the market might have lied to me, but with timed I got used to it.
At school my life was not easy, right from the accent, my conversation with other students was not easy because I could not hear them and they were not hearing me too, the pronunciation of words was totally different. I could not understand in class because of this difference the lecturer could teach for the two hours but I will only go with 10%. It took me time to catch up with them, I was just reading ahead, doing group discussion and listening to video notes before going to class. In addition to this our education system is much different from that of Ghana. The Ghanaian students goes through A level to specialized in the courses they are going to do at tertiary level but we do that while in the university which is a very big disadvantage to us, because some lecturers will just come to class and skip some topics or give one example and move forward, claiming that they were taught in senior high school.
The food was totally different from our own, the only food that I could eat was rice, plantain and spaghetti.
Their culture really differs from my own sometimes, this made me feel home sick and I wanted to come back to Kenya. Due to my experience I started to understand the culture and the way of living, I became very grateful that I was born in Kenya. I was amazed by how Ghanaians handle their problems and how they always try to remain positive. It gave me an insight into a whole different culture and its problem and benefits, my own culture became definitely clearer to me.
What I love about Ghana is the crowded life on the streets and markets. The beautiful fabrics, the Ghanaian music and moves, empty beaches with coconuts. I have learnt a lot about myself, but even more about different cultures. In addition, most of them are Christians, and I have also learned a lot about Grace. My Christian life have really changed now I only see Jesus and am so grateful. Lastly most Ghanaian people are kind and honest.
Some things that I was learning in high became real to me for example, in history we used to learn about slave trade across Atlantic Ocean. I used to think that it was just imagination of someone but I saw the place with my own eyes. I felt sorry for our ancestors because of the hardship they went through. The place where the slave trade was being carried was like hell there was no ventilation. In addition, in Geography I learnt about Cocoa in Ghana and some Lakes like Botsumtwi, this also became real to me.
Atlantic Ocean.
During our trip at Cape Coast.
The places I like.
My second time in Ghana.
The second time I went to Ghana I was not scared about anything because things became clear to me.
At the airport I was much comfortable because I knew all the procedures, and in addition I was with my friends.
Life in school became easier, because I could now understand in class and communicate with others clearly. The only thing that I have not been able to adapt is their food but all in all I can say so far so good.
For the two twenty months I have been in Ghana I can say, Ghana is a country of freedom and people are always positive. There is so much peace.
My life has really changed. I am living with a purpose not just living because I have to. Am so much proud of FAWEK and MASTERCARD, through their impartation I am a transformed person from within, and I have learned that life is complete when you help others.
At the blessed showers. After delivering a motivational speech to students.
My first flight
.
I remember vividly my first flight was on 18th august 2016 at 8:30 am. Can I tell you how it was: In the evening I packed all my things and went to the bed. I could not sleep because I spend the whole night thinking of how my flight was going to be. That was the longest night I have ever had in my life. By 3:00 am I was already up. I prepared and by 4:00 am I was ready. We set off to the airport with my uncle. When we arrived, I went for check-in leaving him at the entrance not knowing that I will not see him again. My heart was pounding when I went through the doors of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. I looked so confused and not knowing where to start from, because that was my first time. I just followed people who were also doing the check-in. Though I did not know anything, I completed successively and got so proud of myself. When I got into the plane I was so surprised with what I saw. It was very big and spacious with luxurious seats. It looked so royal, impressive and wonderful. I was really excited and full of many expectations. My seat was at the window, which gave me a fine view of outside world. The pilot started the engines which gave out a loud roar, and then it began to move, soon it was airborne and flew higher and higher, here I lost my breath and felt like I was fainting. I looked through the window and enjoyed the panoramic view of the city, people looked like dots and the buildings like toys. I was filled with great joy and thrill. It flew smoothly and glided through the air like a bird. The trees, houses, buildings etc. seemed flying away backward with a great speed. Small woolly clouds floated around as making the view that of a fairyland. The landscape bellow presented an enchanting sight. After the travel of two hours they presented food to us which was so delicious. After my first bite I got a toothache and I got so scared. After the travel of another three hours I had the announcement that in 10 mins we will be landing in Kotoka international airport in Ghana I got so excited and in no time, we arrived at our final destination. The landing was smooth and comfortable. It was a pleasant and beautiful experience. It looked like a short but wonderful dream that can never be forgotten. It left an indelible impression on my mind.
My first time in Ghana.
When I walked out of the airport I was overwhelmed by all the unknown impression. Everywhere were people looking at me and calling for me. Some came and started asking me questions like where are you from? What brings you to Ghana? Are you running away from home? Don’t you have nice universities there in Kenya? When I was still waiting for my guide to school, I was simply welcomed by a text: “Safaricom welcomes you to Ghana”. When my guide arrived, she took me to a wedding she was attending. It was so amazing, I used to like Ghanaian weddings on the movies but that time it was a real-life situation, I was so happy. In the evening she took me to a quest a house where I speed my night, it was so beautiful, oh my God I was so uncomfortable because I felt like I don’t belong there, I just thanked God for such I wonderful opportunity.
.
The guest house where I spent my night.
The following day by 11am we set off for school, the place was as hot as 2pm in my country.
My life at school.
My first day was like a whole year, everything was new. The first thing I was taught was the currency, of Ghana, the Ghana cedi. It was somehow confusing and I guess the people in the market might have lied to me, but with timed I got used to it.
At school my life was not easy, right from the accent, my conversation with other students was not easy because I could not hear them and they were not hearing me too, the pronunciation of words was totally different. I could not understand in class because of this difference the lecturer could teach for the two hours but I will only go with 10%. It took me time to catch up with them, I was just reading ahead, doing group discussion and listening to video notes before going to class. In addition to this our education system is much different from that of Ghana. The Ghanaian students goes through A level to specialized in the courses they are going to do at tertiary level but we do that while in the university which is a very big disadvantage to us, because some lecturers will just come to class and skip some topics or give one example and move forward, claiming that they were taught in senior high school.
The food was totally different from our own, the only food that I could eat was rice, plantain and spaghetti.
Their culture really differs from my own sometimes, this made me feel home sick and I wanted to come back to Kenya. Due to my experience I started to understand the culture and the way of living, I became very grateful that I was born in Kenya. I was amazed by how Ghanaians handle their problems and how they always try to remain positive. It gave me an insight into a whole different culture and its problem and benefits, my own culture became definitely clearer to me.
What I love about Ghana is the crowded life on the streets and markets. The beautiful fabrics, the Ghanaian music and moves, empty beaches with coconuts. I have learnt a lot about myself, but even more about different cultures. In addition, most of them are Christians, and I have also learned a lot about Grace. My Christian life have really changed now I only see Jesus and am so grateful. Lastly most Ghanaian people are kind and honest.
Some things that I was learning in high became real to me for example, in history we used to learn about slave trade across Atlantic Ocean. I used to think that it was just imagination of someone but I saw the place with my own eyes. I felt sorry for our ancestors because of the hardship they went through. The place where the slave trade was being carried was like hell there was no ventilation. In addition, in Geography I learnt about Cocoa in Ghana and some Lakes like Botsumtwi, this also became real to me.
Atlantic Ocean.
During our trip at Cape Coast.
The places I like.
My second time in Ghana.
The second time I went to Ghana I was not scared about anything because things became clear to me.
At the airport I was much comfortable because I knew all the procedures, and in addition I was with my friends.
Life in school became easier, because I could now understand in class and communicate with others clearly. The only thing that I have not been able to adapt is their food but all in all I can say so far so good.
For the two twenty months I have been in Ghana I can say, Ghana is a country of freedom and people are always positive. There is so much peace.
My life has really changed. I am living with a purpose not just living because I have to. Am so much proud of FAWEK and MASTERCARD, through their impartation I am a transformed person from within, and I have learned that life is complete when you help others.
At the blessed showers. After delivering a motivational speech to students.
I noticed your internet page from facebook and its pretty cool. Thankx for giving out this kind of an incredible blog post