This month, we had the wonderful opportunity of interviewing Elizabeth Akua Nyarko Patterson. She is an advocate for education access for all people, especially young women, and people with special needs or disabilities. She is also the founder of Girls Education Initiative of Ghana, here's what she has to say about herself and her journey as a black woman with a mission to help others.
Please tell us a bit about yourself?
I am Elizabeth Akua Nyarko Patterson, I am an advocate for education access for all people especially girls, young women, and people with disabilities or special needs. I am the founder of the Girls Education Initiative of Ghana. GEIG was founded because of my personal journey in education. In 2003 as a high school junior, I was in a car accident that left me with a traumatic brain injury and a stroke to the left side of my body. The accident left me partially paralyzed and as a resulted more determined to succeed in education and life. I didn't want a young girl and person like me to feel their goals and dreams were out of reach because of gender or disability. I also founded a consultancy, EANP Consults to support individuals and early-stage ventures with management support- strategic planning, project/program management, and communications strategy.
Tell us a bit more about your work
The Girls Education Initiative of Ghana, GEIG has a mission to provide access to quality and inclusive education for girls and people with special needs so they can access higher education and professional opportunities.
EANP Consults is a consulting business to support individuals and early-stage ventures with management support- strategic planning, project/program management, and communications strategy.
What are you passionate about?
Access to education for all, disability Inclusion, travel and culture, and parenting.
Please explain how you got started in your work?
My life’s journey has been fueled by the passion to support others through education. My educational background in public policy and management led me to found the consulting business. I hope to support others and organizations by tapping into my personal and professional journeys.
Why and when did you decide that you had to share this information/passion with the world? I am confident that sharing my personal and professional experiences with others will support personal and professional growth.
Could you share with us 3 things that you live by now that you wish you knew growing up?
It's OK to make mistakes
It's OK to share your life with others
It's OK to not fit into a mold/people’s expectations
Can you name one woman/or women that you admire and why?
Justine Stamen is my professional mentor. She is passionate and selfless and another woman that I admire is my mother Mary Appiah Kubi because she strives for the best of herself and others around her.
Why is sisterhood important according to you and what does it mean to be part of a women’s community?
I believe that it is important for women to see themselves as capable and learn from others.
How can we find out more about your work or you in general?
You can find out more about me and my work via my organization; Girls Education Initiative of Ghana and my consultancy, EANP Consults.
We hope that you enjoyed getting to know Elizabeth and her story as much as we did. We would like to encourage you to check out her website and see ways that you can support the amazing work that she does to support her girls at GEIG.
To see more from Elizabeth, check out her Instagram.
Would you also like to share your story and journey with us? Feel free to connect with us via email at info@shetribeconnect.com