Fatima Jeylani
Spring 2019 Engagement Scholarship Recipient
Receiving the PES Engagement Scholarship has not only allowed me to study abroad and gain academic knowledge, but has tremendously impacted the way I perceive the world. Through the program, Social Entrepreneurship & Diplomacy in Ghana, I was able to directly experience how social enterprises are shaping the country in creating systematic change. By empowering underprivileged communities, these organizations are influencing a generation by equipping them with needed resources, emphasizing community building and values in their business structure. One of our program’s visit was to Soronko Academy, a school designed to teach young girls how to code and create technological skills for future economic value. Speaking with the founder, Regina Honu, we learned of the importance of teaching young women technology and the gender divide issue faced globally. Through her strong dedication and passion, Honu is able to run nonprofit programs such as these, along with her for-profit enterprise, Soronko Solutions, showcasing a business structure that relies on self-funding.
In addition, studying abroad in Ghana has allowed me to engage with the local Ghanaian culture, opening my eyes to the deep traditional values influencing its society today. From the bustling markets, touring the slave castles, to walking around the beautiful campus that is the University of Ghana, Legon, I was able to immerse myself in the country’s past and present. I am extremely grateful to PES for allowing a first-generation college student like me to experience the world as I definitely found a home in Ghana.