Help Haja Isatu Bah get a Masters Degree

I am thrilled to share that I have been accepted into the prestigious London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) to pursue a Masters in Environment and Development for the 2022/2023 academic year. I am overwhelmed with joy and, frankly, enormous pride – to be on the cusp of an opportunity that I know will further open my world, and equip me with the skills and knowledge necessary to pursue my passion - to help lead Sierra Leone into an environmentally sustainable feminist society! Sadly, LSE has not offered me financial aid. Therefore, I need your help raising 49,000 USD to cover all the education-related costs.

From very humble beginnings and limited family resources, I have worked hard to pursue my career aspirations and dreams. I was one of five students from my country awarded a full scholarship to complete a 2-year-Baccalaureate program at the United World College in Norway. At Skidmore College in New York, United States, I was both a Shelby Davis scholar and part of the Opportunity Program. This program helped students whose financial circumstances would otherwise prevent them from attending Skidmore College. I graduated with a BA in Environmental Studies and several academic honors. Along the way, I mentored students like me of African Heritage first generation.

In addition to academic excellence, I strive to demonstrate leadership qualities in post-grad life. During my time at Skidmore, I won the social entrepreneurship award and second place at the Freirich Business Plan competition in 2020 and 2021 to launch and establish my social enterprise, Uman4Uman. As founder of Uman4Uman, I work with girls and women to develop reusable menstrual products to assure the dignity and safety of girls in our country and worldwide. As a Princeton in Africa Fellow, I contributed to the El Koony Center’s Climate Resilience Agriculture Project, which provided women in the Mount Elgon region with sustainable sources of farming and livelihood. I am a two times TEDx speaker, a passionate feminist activist, an aspiring policy analyst and a leader in grassroots development.

With your support, I wish to continue this trajectory – go to London and excel at LSE, gain new skills and new networks, and return to Sierra Leone and the continent to work for a greener feminist society. Thank you all for your support.