Angèle Beigoll is an A2Empowerment Alumni who was mentored by PCV Leah about 10 years ago. She recently reconnected with us via social media and agreed to be interviewed for our blog! Please read her inspiring interview below.
Hello hello to you! You are doing well, I hope … I am also well by the grace of God.
Here are some answers to the questions you asked me last time:
When did you receive the scholarship and were you mentors for the program?
- I received the scholarship for the first time during the 2009-2010 school year in 4th grade and Miss Leah my mentor for this program.
What are your fondest memories from that time?
- I have a lot of memories of this time. For example, the learning sessions in drawing that my mentor offered us, moments of exchange of ideas on our cultures and yours. She even taught us English in outside school hours. There were also these pretty stickers that she liked to stick on our papers according to the grade we obtained. It was really very fun and informative.
What did you receive from the A2Empowerment scholarship program?
- The A2Empowerment scholarship funded my studies from the 4th to the 12th grade by giving me an annual sum of 30,000 FCFA which allowed me to pay my school fees and buy some supplies, too.
How did it affect your life at the time?
- This scholarship was really a gift from heaven. I am from a family of 14 children, of which I am the seventh. This scholarship helped my parents a lot and it motivated me enormously to continue studying.
How do you think it affected your life goals?
- This scholarship allowed me to keep hope, to believe that it was still possible for my family and me to realize my dream. Thanks to you, today I hold a license in Biology of Animal Organisms, obtained in one of the best-known universities here in Cameroon. After the license, there were no longer enough means to continue since I am in a large family and my younger brothers and sisters also had to learn like me.
What are you doing now and where do you want to go in the future?
- Currently, given the difficulties of life and the fact that I became fatherless in May 2019, I have taken a temporary job as a trainee cashier in a micro-finance establishment called the Regional Savings and Loans HER. In the future, I would very much like to be able to realize my dream to become a doctor in order to help others in my turn.
What would you like to tell us about the A2Empowerment program?
- What I have to say about this program is that God bless you abundantly for what you do for these thousands of young girls in the world. It is very encouraging and motivating for the families as well as for us the beneficiaries.
Would you like to say something to the A2Empowerment donors?
- To A2Empowerment donors, continue in this way because, thanks to you, many families in the world today see their children succeed and become capable people in society, thus enabling families to send their children to school. Much courage to you and may the Almighty God bless you in all your businesses and in your families … because it is thanks to God for making you a real instrument of blessing for Africa, in particular, and the world in general.
Do you want to say something to current students?
- To current students, I will tell them to take full advantage of this opportunity offered to them because many people would like to have this kind of opportunity, but they do not experience it. I would also tell them to work well in school to encourage our donors to continue their support. This is very important.
Do you want to say something to the Peace Corps volunteers who are currently working with us?
- Peace Corps volunteers do very good volunteer work. It takes a lot of courage. Your perseverance and your love of helping others is very instructive for us beneficiaries, and it reinforces our feelings of altruism.
Is there anything else you would like to mention?
- Just to add, thanks to you, I got my BEPC [a certificate received after passing a standardized exam] and passed the Probationary Exam a year earlier than expected. Also, at university I was leading in my promotion to license II …. it’s not to brag, but I figured you might want to know. God gave me this ability, and I am grateful to Him every day for putting you in my path.
God bless you abundantly ….
I love you!!
*translated via Google Translate and edited for clarity by Anne Cheung