I was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo. When my father tragically died when I was only 5 years old, my mother sent me to live with relatives in Europe, as she did not have the means to take care of me. It was a very hard time for me, but I turned to education and poured myself into learning and growing, and preparing myself to be able to give back one day. 

These were hugely impactful life circumstances. They lit a fire within me to devote my life to fighting for education for all girls everywhere. When I returned to Congo at the age of 18, I saw so many girls who could have been me, hungry to go to school to learn and better their world, but they simply did not have the opportunity. This was when the dream for Malaika was planted in my heart, and I have not stopped working toward providing self-empowerment opportunities for the community of Kalebuka and girls everywhere.

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