The Stories of Sama and Eve
For many young women in West Africa, education is more than a pathway to a career—it is a chance to transform the future of their families and communities. Through the West Africa Initiative’s Girls Scholarship Program, students like Sama Conteh and Eve C. William are turning their dreams into achievable goals.
Seventeen-year-old Sama Conteh lives in the Kadubaya community in Sierra Leone’s Bombali District. A student at the United Methodist Church Senior Secondary School, she hopes to graduate in 2027 and become a medical doctor. Sama is the first person in her family to reach high school. After her father died when she was eight years old, her mother became the sole provider for Sama and her four younger siblings. To help support the family, Sama spends weekends assisting her mother, a market trader, while attending school during the week.
Without assistance for books, supplies, uniforms, and shoes, Sama says she would not be in school today. The scholarship program has allowed her to continue her education and pursue her dream of helping others through medicine.
“May all those who made this possible be blessed forever,” said Sama.
Across the border in Liberia, 18-year-old Eve C. William shares a similar story of determination. Eve is a tenth-grade student at Yen quoi Bee Junior and Senior High School in Bong County, Liberia, and hopes to graduate in 2027. The first girl in her family to reach this level of education, she dreams of becoming a professional midwife.
When Eve’s father became ill and lost his memory, her mother was left to care for the family alone. Through her mother’s involvement in a West Africa Initiative farmers group, Eve has received educational support for the past three years. She credits the program with keeping her in school and giving her hope for a brighter future.
Sama and Eve’s stories are powerful reminders that when young girls are given the opportunity to learn, they gain the tools to build stronger futures for themselves, their families, and their communities.
See our Testimonials for more on Sama and Eve.
