Learn Her Story.
Amara, 17 — dreaming of becoming a nurse
Amara's Journey Back to School
Amara
"I never stopped dreaming about the white uniform. Even when everything told me to stop."
Amara was 13 when her life changed in a way she never expected. Growing up in a small village in northern Ghana, she was her teacher's brightest student — quick to laugh, determined to learn, and full of plans for her future. She wanted to become a nurse. She talked about it every day.
When she became pregnant at 13, the world she had built began to collapse. Her family was ashamed. The village whispered. And when she returned to school after giving birth — her baby just weeks old — the headmaster turned her away. "Girls like you don't belong here anymore," he told her.
For three years, Amara's dream sat on a shelf gathering dust. She helped at home, cared for her child, and tried to forget the textbooks she had once loved. But forgetting is hard when you still know the answers. When a Girls Rise community worker visited her village in 2023, Amara listened quietly at first. Then she raised her hand.
"I thought my story was over. Girls Rise showed me it was just the beginning of a different chapter."
— Amara, 17Today, Amara is 17 years old and back in the classroom — studying biology, maths and health sciences. Girls Rise helped negotiate her re-enrolment, provided a safe space for her baby, covered her school fees, and connected her with a mentor who is herself a nurse. The white uniform doesn't feel so far away anymore.
Why This Happens
How Girls Rise Helps
Re-enrolment Support
We work directly with schools and governments to remove discriminatory re-enrolment barriers and get girls back into classrooms safely.
Safe Care for Their Children
Our community childcare programs ensure young mothers can attend school without leaving their babies in unsafe situations.
Mentorship & Career Pathways
Every girl in our program is matched with a professional mentor in her chosen field — from nursing to law to engineering — to make dreams real.
Help Write the Next Chapter
Behind every statistic is a girl like Amara — bright, determined, and waiting for someone to open a door. Your donation helps Girls Rise open more doors.
Donate to Girls Rise100% of donations go directly to girls' programs