Isatu: determined to stay in school
Isatu has overcome challenges and refused child marriage to stay in education and is determined to make her dream of becoming a teacher a reality.
“Education is important to me, and I want to become a teacher in the future so I can help other children receive an education,” says Isatu, 15. “Even though there are challenges, I am determined to continue my education and achieve my dreams.”
The dream of becoming a teacher
Isatu is a young girl who has faced many adversities in her life at only 15 years old. She has already lost both of her parents and must rely on her elder sister for care and support. Despite these challenges, Isatu is determined to succeed and to help others achieve success as well.
Education is important to Isatu, and she dreams of becoming a teacher in the future so that she can help other children receive an education. However, her path to achieving her dreams has not been easy. Isatu’s community lacked a primary and secondary school, so she had to walk 3 miles every day to and from school. Her sister could only afford to pay 35 Leones ($1.55) towards her school fees, which was not enough to cover all her expenses.
Despite these challenges, Isatu remained dedicated to her studies. When Plan International built a new school in her community and the secondary school opened she was encouraged by her teacher to continue her education. Seeing the new building gave hope to the community.
“Education is the key to unlocking a brighter future for these children and the entire community.”
John Amara, local teacher
Isatu made it this far even though her journey has been challenging. Before enrolling in secondary school, she woke up early in the morning, fetched water and got ready for school. She didn’t have any food to eat before school, but her friends sometimes shared their food with her.
After school, Isatu joined her sister at the farm, helped with the farming, and then cooked and ate dinner before studying and going to bed.
She didn’t have a bag, shoes or school supplies, and sometimes she had to sell things around the market to make money to pay for her schooling.
Isatu’s situation took a turn for the worse when she had to drop out of school after taking the National Primary School Examination because there was no secondary school in her community. Her guardians threatened to stop paying for her education if she refused to get married, but Isatu refused the proposal and was left out of school.
When the secondary school, built by Plan International, opened in her village, she was able to go back to school thanks to the encouragement of her teacher.
“Education is the key to unlocking a brighter future for these children and the entire community. We must do everything in our power to ensure they have access to it,” says Isatu’s teacher, John Amara
Education is power
John Amara is Isatu’s teacher and was one of the few people in the community who recognised the importance of education and was committed to making sure that every child has access to quality education despite the lack of school buildings.
John is committed to his motto for the school: “Education is power.” He encourages the people in the community to send their children to school and to take care of their responsibilities so that there will be more educated people in the community.
Isatu’s determination to continue her education in the face of adversity is inspiring, and her dream of becoming a teacher so she can help other children is a testament to her commitment to creating a better future for herself and her community.
With the support of her teacher and organisations like Plan International, Isatu and her classmates are well on their way to breaking the cycle of poverty through education.
