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Both my father and I have an unmapped “WWEA” gene. I first discovered it at the age of 18, when my “worldwide excellent adventure” gene took us to an African village, where my father worked in agriculture and I volunteered at a hospital. Since then I’ve had Africa in my blood, and my work in Africa continues to be the most inspirational part of my life.
More than 70 Ghanaian girls continue to feel the gene’s influence. The Canadian Teachers’ Federation, the Alberta Teachers’ Association and many Alberta families support the education of girls through Tools for Schools Africa Foundation scholarships. The girls we support have the potential to be the future leaders of their communities. For example, Sophia is on the dean's list in accounting at the University of Sunyani, and Alfreda is top of her class in electrical engineering. And what about Aloysita?
A few years ago, when I was interviewing a girl about what she wanted to do after high school, she replied in a lacklustre voice: “Well, I guess I could be a nurse.” I was surprised at her lack of enthusiasm and questioned her. She had a faraway look in her eyes and said quietly that she didn’t really want to be a nurse. “Well,” I said, “what do you really want to do?” She looked down at her hands folded on her lap and replied quietly: “I really want to be a doctor.” I said: “Then, why not be a doctor?” The girl’s eyes immediately met mine and with awe in her voice she asked: “You mean GIRLS can be doctors?” The thought had never occurred to her that it was possible. Aloysita is now completing her fourth year of medicine.
Marilyn Pottage is a Bentley farm girl who taught with Edmonton and Red Deer public schools and now chairs Tools for Schools Africa Foundation.
