Growing up in an internally displaced family of 15 living in the IDP camp of Teso, Uganda—where nobody believed in me—was the greatest challenge in my education. I have carried my backpack as the sole provider for my son, younger siblings, and parents. As such, my responsibilities wouldn't have allowed me the opportunity to further my education. Nevertheless, my everlasting wish has always been to reach greater heights and prove to the world that being a woman is never a limitation to career growth and leadership.

Back in my country Uganda, I work as a midwife leader, coordinating the Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV, Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights, as well as Young Adolescents and Peer Support, where I mentor and empower young people with sexuality education and HIV preventive measures.

The Backpack Foundation is a beacon of opportunity for women like me. Your trust has restored my confidence, made me part of a family, and ignited in me a greater purpose to serve, lead, and inspire change in the health sector. Your support—carrying my backpack—and your commitment to empowering women like me is creating ripples of positive impact, and I am proud to be one of the many lives the foundation has touched.

I am committed to using this knowledge to strengthen health service delivery, advocate for equity for women, and improve the well-being of vulnerable populations. I am convinced that the knowledge acquired from Swiss TPH will have a great impact on my entire family, community, and workplace. As a proud scholar, I will live to emulate this kindness, empower other young women who are less privileged like me, and continue to thrive and inspire countless others.

As a young professional Ghanaian woman, I had a dream to be a change-maker in my career. I saw myself as a woman focused on gaining knowledge to help solve the problems in my community—using women as catalysts for change—with the hope of creating a global impact.

Throughout my life, I have always challenged myself to seek the necessary professional training to sustain my passion and achieve that goal. The Backpack Foundation has provided me with that opportunity, which I gratefully acknowledge.

In addition to working in nursing and midwifery for decades—providing maternal and child healthcare in my country—I have carried my own backpack and supported many women in carrying theirs.

I currently serve as a researcher at the University of Ghana Medical Centre, engaging in translational research to solve health problems. As a public health professional, I am committed to improving women's health, particularly through the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV/AIDS and the promotion of respectful maternity care. My goals include ensuring safe, supervised deliveries and improving access to reproductive health services—especially for special groups like adolescents—while also leading community engagement initiatives to build the capacity of young health professionals.

Backpack’s holistic support has had a tremendous impact on my ability to help others. The Swiss TPH experience has given me essential knowledge and skills in global health—from research to the implementation of health projects. I am committed to using this experience to give back to my community and mentor other young professionals, enabling them to contribute meaningfully to the health of citizens in Ghana and beyond.