With nowhere else to go, my mother made the brave choice to leave him and return to her parents’ home. But life there was no easier. In a community where girls are seen as burdens, I grew up feeling small, inferior—like I had to apologize just for being born a girl.

As the eldest child, the weight of our survival fell on me. I worked endlessly to support my mother and younger siblings. But school fees? They were a constant mountain we couldn’t climb. My mother, a humble peasant farmer, tried everything she could, but we were always behind. I fought to stay in school, scraping by, one term at a time. I convinced myself that if I could just finish Senior Six, that would be enough. University? That was a luxury I could never afford to dream of.

All the while, my dream of becoming a nutritionist quietly faded. My mother, even in her failing health, never stopped encouraging us. She believed in the possibility of a better life for us, even when the odds were stacked high. But the weight of reality was crushing. I felt stuck—trapped between responsibility, poverty, and a future that seemed to be slipping through my fingers.

And then—just when I was ready to surrender—something miraculous happened.

One day, I received the news that changed everything: I had been selected for the AGF internship program, which would sponsor my university education. I was speechless. It was a moment I will never forget—like the sun breaking through after years of darkness. A door I thought would always be closed had finally opened.

AGF gave me more than just a scholarship. They gave me back my voice, my confidence, and the belief that I mattered. That my dreams mattered. Today, I am walking boldly toward my goal of becoming a nutritionist—not just for myself, but for my community. I want to return to my village and challenge the mindset that girls are less. I want to prove that we, too, can be leaders, changemakers, and professionals. That we are not a burden—we are a blessing.

This opportunity is bigger than me. It is a symbol of hope for every girl in Millo Village who was told she couldn’t. Thanks to AGF, I now know that I can—and so can they.

To AGF, thank you for believing in me. You have given me the courage to rise—and I will carry other girls with me as I climb.