Healed Legs and a Healed Heart

Hello, my name is Beatrice N. Wisseh, and I was born on January 22, 2003, to a single mother. I am the eldest of three siblings, one of whom is autistic, and from a very young age, I learned what it meant to love, protect, and sacrifice. But life changed tragically on August 28, 2014, when my beloved mother passed away. I was only 11 years old, and in that single moment, everything I knew and loved was taken from me. My grandmother had take on the responsibility of caring for us. Her love became the light that carried us through the darkness.

After I completed junior high, my grandmother’s retirement left us struggling to survive. Still, I held on to hope and continued my high school education and I graduated with honors. But before I could celebrate, life dealt me another painful blow: a failed surgery left me in a wheelchair. The pain was unbearable, and so was the bullying and isolation that followed. I felt my world collapsing once again.

One day, my story was shared online. A stranger suggested I reach out to the Gbowee Peace Foundation Africa. At the time, I knew nothing about the organization or its location, but I typed “Leymah Gbowee” on Facebook and sent messages to every account that bore her name, hoping one might reach her. By the grace of God, it did. Madam Gbowee herself responded, congratulated me on my graduation, and told me to contact her office. Months later, I received a call from Mr. David S. Konneh (Program Manager), the Foundation had awarded me a scholarship to study at any school of my choice. That phone call changed my life forever.

Through their support, I underwent another surgery, this time a successful one, and I can now walk freely again, without crutches or a wheelchair. Today, I am a proud student at the Mother Patern College of Health Sciences, studying Social Work, a dream I once thought impossible. When I had nowhere to live, the Foundation paid my rent. When my medical bills piled up, they were there. When my hope faded, they restored it. The Gbowee Foundation has become more than just an organization to me, they are my second family. Last summer, through their support, I was given an all-expense-paid trip to India, where I attended the Satyarthi Summer School for Global Compassion. I earned a certificate and was later appointed Co-Coordinator for the Youth Network in Africa.

Today, I walk not just with healed legs but with a healed heart, filled with gratitude, purpose, and determination. The friendships I’ve built through the foundation, the knowledge I’ve gained, and the stipend that helps me care for my siblings and myself all reminds me that miracles still happen. The Gbowee Peace Foundation Africa gave me more than an education; they gave me back my life. For that, I will forever be grateful, not just for myself, but for my family and for the future I now believe is possible.