My Journey

I am Keturah Shammah, a Nigerian girls' advocate. Born of September 25th in a humbled family where love, care and sharing were the norms, I grew up and experienced a healthy family relationship. Even thou I was raised by my parents along side my siblings (two boys and four girls) equitably with absolutely no sense of privilege based on gender,I became aware of gender discrimination in the society and in marital relationship particularly in the African context. I was raised in the community where girls are not provided with strong motivation to pursue education and reach full potentials. The widespread poverty makes it additionally difficult for parents in my community to prioritize the education and training of girls. I anchored into extreme financial barriers and societal factors of all sorts. However, my parents' orientation and commitments to my education gave me a strong motivation towards determination, self-advocacy and hard work that enabled me to graduate with a bachelor degree against all the overwhelming odds. I stayed committed to my education and continue to do same for girls in similar circumstances.Drawn from this principle, I brought on board a prerogative called 'Girls Education Mission International' to inspire and empower girls through sheer hard work, innovation and commitment to education. My inner guidance is influenced by my first hand experience and background as an African woman.

Through advocacy campaigns, media projects, and works with households, schools and communities to raise awareness and change attitudes at local, national and international levels and starting with 15 Girls in superb density of Luwuna in Kaduna State, today, through Girls Education Mission International, vulnerable girls and women around Nigeria and beyond are provided with quality integrated package of; livelihood to 60 households; Scholarship to 110 girls; Sanitary pads distributed to 150 girls; Literacy and Vocational training to 820 women/girls; Entrepreneurship and mentoring to 530 individuals. And through the mobilization of national and international volunteers/partners, the global campaign #GirlsEducationNowOrNever I launched in 2014 has since been adopted and spreading like wild fire within and outside Nigeria.For almost a decade now, I have been committed to defending, protecting and promoting the rights to education of girls and leading empowerment advocacy efforts around the Millennium Development Goals. I currently involve in shaping local, national and global policies to benefit girls and young women and also leveraging opportunities for youth.

Recognizing the struggles I endured especially by my “silent” hard work thatreflects perseverance, tremendous accomplishment and continued future success incontributing to life and service to humanity,my work has been recognized both on the local and international level.

One of my greatest challenge is the need for concerned individuals or groups who are willing to commit their time, energy, skills and resources for more greater impact.Interested persons can join hands with me by clicking this link https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/help-keep-a-girl-in-school-in-nige...

Keturah Shammah

Founder/ Executive Director

Girls Education Mission International

https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/help-keep-a-girl-in-school-in-nigeria-for-one-year/