success stories
My name is Bintu Dumbuya, and I am a proud graduate of The Milton Margai Technical University, where I studied Early Childhood Care and Education. In November 2025, I emerged as the Overall Best Graduate, graduating with a GPA of 4.90. This achievement brought me national recognition, and in a moment I never imagined, I was honored by the First Lady, who recognized my journey and invited me to her office for a courtesy visit. For a girl who once felt invisible, that day felt like a dream I forgot to wake up from.
But my story did not begin with certificates or applause. It began in Waterloo village, as a quiet and lonely little girl growing up with neglect, abuse, and uncertainty. There were times when school almost became a closed chapter in my life. I nearly dropped out, not because I lacked ability or ambition, but because life tried very hard to redirect me too early. At one point, my future was almost decided in a way that would have ended my dreams before they even learned how to walk.
That was when Sweet Mother Foundation stepped into my life. You did not just help me stay in school, you protected my future. You gave me hope when hope felt unavailable and structure when life was falling apart. You believed in me even on days I doubted myself and sometimes even more than I believed in myself. Because of you, I returned to school determined to prove that your faith in me was not misplaced.
My passion for education, especially early childhood development, grew through your support. While still in Senior Secondary School, I volunteered at the YAS Learning Center as an Assistant Educator, where I learned that teaching young children requires patience, creativity, and the ability to repeat the same thing ten times with a smile. That experience confirmed that education was not just a career for me but a calling.
In 2025, I worked with UNICEF in partnership with the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education as a Preschool Master Trainer, participating in a nationwide training of preschool teachers on the new Early Childhood Education curriculum. I traveled across several districts in Sierra Leone, training educators and contributing to improvements in preschool education across the country. Sometimes I had to pause and remind myself that the little girl who almost lost her chance at school was now helping shape education nationwide.
I also worked at Olive B Academy as a Guidance Counselor, supporting students academically and emotionally, and during my time at university, I served as Minister of Education in the Students Union, advocating for quality learning environments and student development. Each role felt like another step in the second chance Sweet Mother Foundation gave me.
My long term goal is to pursue a Masters degree in Early Childhood Care and Special Needs Education or Gender Studies, preferably through an international scholarship, so I can expand my knowledge and return home to help strengthen Sierra Leone’s education system. Beyond that, I dream of establishing a foundation in my country similar to Sweet Mother Foundation, one that will support young girls, protect their rights, and help them achieve their dreams just as you helped me achieve mine.
May God continue to bless Sweet Mother Foundation and all those who contribute through donations, prayers, encouragement, and love. Your support may feel small at times, but to girls like me, it changes everything.
Thank you for believing in a neglected child and helping her become a nationally recognized graduate. Thank you for choosing hope over silence and opportunity over limitation. From Waterloo village to purpose, my life stands as proof that when one girl is supported, an entire future is transformed.
I am who I am today because you helped me become who I was always meant to be.
Thank you with gratitude,
Bintu