Thank you for taking the time to be here with me. My name is Yamah Saley Massaley.

A few days ago, my daughter, Suma Garmai Massaley, gained admission into three (3) of the world's top universities/ master’s programs - University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, and London School of Economics and Political Science - to study Public Policy.

Suma's admission into these extremely prestigious universities is not a surprise to us, her family. As her mother, I have watched Suma transcend health and socio-economic barriers to education. As a child living with Sickle Cell Disease , Suma struggled to finish high school. Whenever the rainy season came, she would miss out on a whole school semester because she was always hospitalized. However, Suma did not allow her health conditions to stop her. She became the first female president of her middle school at age 10. That was when I realized Suma was not just an ordinary child.

At San Diego City College , Suma won so many scholarships and awards which helped me secure funding for her Bachelor's degree at San Diego State University. Today, Suma has a BA in International Security and Conflict Resolution . After graduation, she returned to Liberia to work for her idol, Madam Leymah R. Gbowee, 2011 Nobel Peace Prize Winner and Founder/ President of the Gbowee Peace Foundation Africa (GPFA). Suma has worked as the Communications & Development Officer at the Gbowee Peace Foundation Africa (GPFA) since 2019. This job emboldens her to assist in providing opportunities for underprivileged Liberian women and girls.

In 2018, Suma co-founded Liberia's first social justice platform, Sleepless in Monrovia . SiM is more than an online platform; it is a space for organizing social change in Liberia and beyond. SiM has more than 100 Liberian writers; most of SiM’s stories amplify issues that plague women and girls, primarily Sexual & Gender-Based Violence (SGBV). Suma brings to a larger audience the stories of survivors of Sexual & Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) through her platform. 

Suma's leadership inspires us all to lead with faith and passion. In the early days of Liberia's COVID-19 pandemic, Suma led one of the most impactful campaigns that provided assorted food items  and sanitary materials to hundreds of Liberia's aging and vulnerable populations.

Her campaign raised US$ 12,000.00 and earned her first recognition in Forbes Africa 2020 September Issue . 

Suma has had a keen awareness of gender inequality since an early age. At Oxford University, she will strive to understand the complexities of policymaking. With this degree, she will cultivate an understanding of deep analysis and gain tools to tackle Liberia's pressing policy challenge: weak policy implementation. Suma firmly believes public policy plays an integral role in positively shaping governments' responses to social and economic issues that contribute to the people's well-being. 

These are just snippets of the phenomenal person my child is. I am confident that a Master’s in Public Policy from the University of Oxford will set her on the path to do even greater things. 

We have organized this fundraiser to ensure Suma gets the funds she needs to realize her dream. Kindly donate and help Suma get to OXFORD!.

Thanks for your support!!!.