I grew up in the Central region of Ghana as the 5th child to my parents. As a family we had to do our best with the limited means after my father left us midway.

I spent most of my childhood reserved and stayed by the family as stepping out of the house was never an option apart from attending school.

The family was under constant pressure of moving the children to the father’s side(family). But my mother knew very well that the kids will not get the opportunity to grow & get a better future.

Through it all, my mother stands as my pillar of strength, inspiration and my first role model.

Thankful for all the lessons learned through her, I felt the undying need to be my own person, fueled by passion and independence.

Getting food on the table was the topmost priority, so after school I had to help my mother sell produce in local market.

That was a good learning experience for me.

Eventually growing up with my single mother, I saw she ensured that all her children received the best.

My mother somehow managed to move me to a different school.

New school, new teachers, new environment & a shy girl hesitant to even enter her new classroom, forget about making new friends.

A teacher passing by helped me get into the classroom, but the class teacher made a joke by making me sit next to a boy named Joseph, as I was Josephine. Soon this became a joke throughout the campus.

Phases of being teased at school made it difficult for me to make friends as I kept to myself during recesses and periods of interactions.

Not having my father around always made me feel helpless.

Though my mother spoke to the teacher about the issue but that changed nothing much.

When asking for help was mentioned, it wasn’t easy to go out and approach a member of the community to explain my situation.

A part of the problem was the fact that the community may deem my single mother incapable of raising her children & they may force us to be taken care by the father’s family or a foster family.

My mother’s constant fear of her children being taken away played on my mind as well.

At such a tender age, it affected my communication skills and how expressive I could potentially be, as children tend to be imaginative and curious.

I fondly remember spending time with my siblings at home, which was all my interactions.

As a teenager, the pressure to stick to stereotypical norms was felt at a higher degree, to conform to duties that are viewed as feminine.

The culture was that the girl child is to be made into the perfect home maker; and I found myself being absorbed into the unending system.

Upon asking my mother if I could pursue a university degree, my mother had to reason with me and tell me that she fell short on the resources required to provide a university degree.

Hence after high school, I moved further away from my village to look for opportunities and met the woman that I hold close to my heart like my own mother.

My manager at work stood out as my mentor and my best friend, as she took on the role to help guide me through adulthood and through workplace hurdles.

My turning point as an adult was when I completed Senior High School, I was eligible to educate myself in the field of teaching nursery children.

Although I went through inappropriate comments and behaviors from my colleagues at my workplace as well where I taught children, I found guidance in the principal of the school.

Important pieces of advice ranging from how to dress, what to say as a professional and how to handle inappropriate behaviors gave me the much-needed belief in myself.

As a result, I could reach out to Evolvin’ Women and land in Dubai. My primary driving force was that I saw my younger self in my siblings, introverted and hesitant to speak up.

And to bring change, to motivate them and allow them to feel empowered to become the best version of themselves, I took on this stance, decided to receive help and build a better future for myself and my family.

I believe in taking out the positives of every situation, the silver lining in the clouds. My “can-do” attitude and happy spirit along with all the guidance from Evolvin’ Women & support from D’NOUR DUBAI lead me to land a job opportunity with one of the leading hotel chains in Dubai, where I reside today.

Coming out of my shell & challenging myself every day is the most liberating feeling.

I feel healed.

I feel confident.

I feel determined to take on the world.

I look forward to a better future for myself & my family.

All thanks to my mother, my mentors, Evolvin’ Women, D’NOUR & most importantly all thanks to you for your purchase and making everything possible for me.