Innocent: My dream of becoming a journalist and helping others feels within reach!
00:00
Innocent: So my big dream is that I want to be a journalist. I want to help people. With all the support, it made me know that people were rooting for me to succeed. I couldn’t afford to let them down, and more importantly, let myself down.
00:16
Innocent: I was always busy in the house doing house chores. I would go to school, immediately I drop my bag, I have to be doing something. So I found it difficult to learn. One of the biggest challenges I faced was access to learning materials due to financial constraints. I felt that I’m not able to express myself.
00:37
Innocent: I’m not able to do what I think I can do. I’m not learning as I wanted. So that was something that worried me a lot.
00:47
On screen text: CAMFED stepped in to provide Innocent with financial support and mentoring. She now has everything she needs to thrive in school and pursue her dreams.
00:57
Innocent: I was very happy when I found out that I would get support from CAMFED. I am now going to benefit from things that I am lacking. The support has made me confident. I’m okay. I feel secure. Yes.
01:14
On screen text: Innocent also benefits from CAMFED Learner Guides – young women who return to their former schools as ‘big sisters’and role models.
01:22
Innocent: If you have a role model, it will help you shape your life. My Learner Guide, especially Miss Tracy, her words were encouraging. We were in the same neighborhood as well, she was my sister’s friend, so I really liked to imitate[her] before I even realized she was a Learner Guide. She used to roast plantain along the road. But one day I saw her on TV3 and I was like, ‘Ei!’ When I see the confidence, I say then I can also be one of them.
01:52
Miss Tracy: Knowing Innocent through basic school and then coming through to senior high school and now she’s graduating [school], it gives me that fulfillment of guiding someone through school. In spite of the challenges, Innocent did not give up. That gives me so much joy. I am happy to see her grow.
02:16
Miss Tracy: Mentorship is a catalyst that drives people to their goals. Whatever path that you set out, someone has already gone ahead of you. And so, you need someone to hold you by the hand, to guide and to direct you. And that is why I mentor younger people.
02:35
Innocent: At first, I couldn’t have even been talking to you. I would feel shy. But now I read, I can preach in the church, I sing, I can stand in front of my class, do a presentation.
02:49
Innocent: It will showcase me to people and I will get opportunities in so doing that. I see myself as someone who is investigative, I like talking, I love to solve problems, I love to help people. So that’s why I want to be a journalist.
03:09
Innocent: After graduating, I am excited to be part of the CAMA [CAMFED Association] network and pursue journalism in the university. I would also want to connect with other young women who are giving back to their communities. So, I will be signing up for the Learner Guides role, so that I can go back to my basic school and mentor young ones.
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