A Voice Rising from Gbenekoro: Adama Shares Her Story
Published Wed, Jun 25, 2025
Written by Dana Kaltenberger
My name is Adama S. Kamara. I am 19 years old and currently in SSS3 Arts at EduNations Senior Secondary School in Rokassa. I come from Gbenekoro Village in Sengbeh Chiefdom, Koinadugu District—a remote and challenging place to grow up. I am one of twelve children in a polygamous family; my mother is the first of three wives. Life was never easy. With my parents relying on subsistence farming, every day was a struggle to survive—let alone receive an education.
Growing up in a home shared by three wives and their children was emotionally and socially complex, especially for my mother. We faced hardship on many levels—financial, emotional, and spiritual. Traditional and religious expectations shaped my identity, often limiting how I saw myself and what I believed was possible.
I began school at the primary level in Gbenekoro, then moved on to EduNations Hope Academy Junior Secondary School in the same village. That’s when everything began to change. Becoming a student at EduNations marked a turning point in my life. I’ve grown not only academically but spiritually and personally as well. Before, I was shy and afraid to speak in public. But with encouragement from my teachers and peers, I now speak confidently, participate in discussions, and take pride in my education. My academic performance has improved greatly, and I now dream of a future I once thought impossible.
One of the most profound changes in my life came through faith. I was raised in a Muslim family and once believed it was wrong to even own a Bible. But through the daily devotions, Scripture-sharing, and family prayers at EduNations, I encountered the love of Jesus. Today, I boldly profess that I have accepted Christ as my personal Lord and Savior. Though my family is still Muslim, I am praying they, too, will come to know the joy and truth I have found in Christ.
There is one moment that changed my life forever. In SSS1, my father arranged a marriage for me—a common practice in our tradition, and something I was expected to accept without question. But I confided in one of our psychosocial workers, who took my situation to the president of EduNations. Soon, I learned that I had been sponsored by someone in the U.S., and when my father heard of this, the marriage was stopped. That decision didn’t just preserve my education—it gave me strength I never knew I had.
Now, I dream of becoming a lawyer. I have seen too many girls in my community silenced by early marriage and injustice. I want to be a voice for the voiceless and fight for the rights of girls like me.
To all the sponsors, staff, and supporters of EduNations—thank you. Your support has provided me with education, school supplies, daily meals, and most importantly, hope. You didn’t just help a student—you empowered a future lawyer, a follower of Christ, and a determined young woman ready to make a difference.
