You can – That is my story.

In terms of getting an education, the odds were against me because I was born into poverty. I walked to and from school for many miles, sometimes with food in my stomach and other times without. I loved school because I had the opportunity to view the world outside my poor home and I learned the ability to read. Reading was my way of escaping the pangs of hunger. I graduated in the top five of my class. I was the first ever to graduate college in my entire family.


My dream to have an American education came true at the age of thirty-six, when I travelled for more than forty-eight hours with three young children to get my “dream” education. I am presently a graduate student of the Hugo Wall School pursuing a Master’s degree in Public Administration and a certificate in Non-profit Management. Breaking out from the cultural mode and expectations of being a woman in Africa is not something you do without its sacrifices. My story is a wakeup call to young girls and women all over the world, do not place limitations on yourself, do not let culture or the society put a limit on what you can be or what you can achieve. You can- That is my story.

Speaker Profile - Mercy Umeri

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