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Rose Affum Gyimah: An Exemplary Scholar

I first met Rose a couple months ago on one of my trips to the Millennium Villages in Africa. Immediately she struck me – Rose was an engaging and thoughtful girl, and I enjoyed speaking with her, learning about her experiences at school and her excitement about starting secondary school and dreams of becoming a food nutritionist. Rose shares the same dreams as many other girls around the world for an education and to contribute to her community.

I was grateful that so many of you shared Rose’s story and took a little time to get to know her. She is truly an inspiration. Now, as we announce our first groups of scholarship recipients in Ghana and Tanzania—37 in total—we hope you will get to know each of them and share their stories, too. With your help and the support of additional organizations as partners we can help thousands more girls (and boys) with similar ambitions for their lives.

Read about our students here. You can also read Rose’s interview again, below: 

Name: Rose Affum Gyimah

Q: How were you chosen to receive your scholarship and what does having an education mean to you?

A: I earned this opportunity through my interactions with John Legend, who is a supporter of the Millennium Village Project at the Community Centre at Watreso. The gift of education is a big time opportunity in my life since I want to achieve education to its highest level in life.
 
Q: What are your hopes and dreams after you have completed your schooling?

A: My biggest dream is to become a food nutritionist.
 
Q: Who is your most revered female role model?  What woman that you know or know of inspires you most and why?

A: My most revered female role model is the Honorable Mrs. Georgina Woode, Ghana’s current Chief Justice.  She’s an inspiration for occupying such a prestigious position.
 
Q: How different would your life be if you did not receive your scholarship to attend school?

A: My ambitions and dream of becoming a nutritionist would not be achieved at the end of the day.
 
Q: What advice would you give to girls and boys who would receive a scholarship to complete Secondary School?

A: My advice is that they should study hard.
 
Q: What do you think are the biggest obstacles preventing girls in your area from excelling in school and how can those obstacles be solved?

A: The biggest obstacles preventing girls in my area from excelling in school is that they do not see the importance of education.  Opinion leaders, chiefs, teachers and other important personalities in the community should talk to them in an open forum about why it’s important to be educated.
 
Q: How far away do you live from the school you attend? What form of transportation do you use to get to and from school?

A: Where I live is very far from the school.  It is about 360km away (200 miles) and I take the Neoplan buses to get back and forth from school to home.
 
Q: What inspires you most in life and what are your favorite activities?

A: I get my inspiration from listening to my favorite gospel singers and enjoy reading storybooks.  My favorite activities are playing football and swimming.