Sarah Akwei-Marfo, Ghana

Being part of the MEG programme under the DAAD scholarship was a life changing experience for me. Before MEG I worked in with an Oil Marketing Company, station in a rural area in Ghana. My life there brought me to the harsh reality of youth unemployment, particularly in rural areas and its effects on the quality of life of young men and women. I could only dream of getting the opportunity to make impact in the lives of unemployed young people particularly in Ghana, but studying MEG and being part of the DAAD family made my dream come true. I did not only gain knowledge and academic excellence but also networking, and opportunities for my voice and work to actually make impact. MEG sharpened my teamwork skills. Talk about building confidence for public speaking, innovation and creativity and MEG is number 1. These are but a few of the things I loved about the programme.

Sarah Akwei-Marfo in Ghana

Through the DAAD Carlo Schmid programme, I had the opportunity to support the work of the Global Initiative on Decent Jobs for Youth at the International Labour Organisation after my MEG degree. This offered me platforms to participate in events, conferences and workshops geared towards promoting dialogue among different stakeholders on how best to boost decent work for youth in Africa. All made possible by being a MEG student.

I am back to my home country, Ghana, to share knowledge and expertise gained through MEG. I currently work with a cocoa sourcing company in Ghana doing what I love best, creating job opportunities for young people. My work focuses on creating alternative business opportunities and strengthening access to finance for cocoa farmer cooperatives which directly and indirectly benefits young people in numerous ways, particularly in the rural areas. Thus, improving the working conditions of young people in Ghana.

Thank you DAAD and thank you MEG for welcoming me into your family.