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Ghanaian women conquer Cambridge against odds
9 Jun
Summary
- Three Ghanaian women will complete master's degrees at Cambridge.
- They overcame poverty and faced risks of dropping out of school.
- Support from Camfed and Mastercard Foundation made degrees possible.
Three women from Ghana are achieving a significant academic milestone, set to complete their master's degrees at the University of Cambridge this week. Francisca Arhinful, Fadila Issah, and Jemimah Mensah have pursued postgraduate qualifications at the university's Faculty of Education.
Fadila Issah, 26, from northern Ghana, aims to inspire girls in similar circumstances after becoming the first from her community to attend Cambridge. Her education was supported by a Camfed teacher-mentor who covered her fees and costs when her family faced severe financial difficulties.
Francisca Arhinful, 25, and Jemimah Mensah, 29, also overcame considerable obstacles, including family financial struggles and Mensah’s temporary departure from school to help her family business. Camfed provided scholarships and connections to a support network.
All three women were initially funded for university in Ghana and later secured full funding for their Cambridge studies through the Mastercard Foundation Scholars' Program. They have since trained as Camfed learner guides to mentor marginalized girls and help them stay in school.
