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A Journey of Hope: How Scholarship Support Transforms Lives

Landis Wyatt


Bendu wakes to the familiar rhythm of her mother’s sweeping, the sound of the soft, steady motion fills their small home. The scent of cassava leaf stew drifts from the cooking pot, wrapping her in the warmth of morning. She pulls on her neatly pressed school uniform—one of her most cherished possessions. Today, like every day, she will walk the three kilometers to school, her head held high. But what she carries is more than just books; she carries the hopes of her family and the dreams she dares to believe in.

 

For Bendu’s family, like many in Liberia, survival is a daily challenge. Her mother sells roasted plantains at the market, her father takes on construction work when jobs are available, and with four younger siblings at home, every cent goes toward food and rent. Education, though invaluable, is often a luxury they cannot afford. But Bendu is one of the fortunate ones. Thanks to Universal Outreach Foundation’s Bright Stars Scholarship Program, she can attend school without adding to her parents’ financial burden.

 

“Please tell my sponsor I say thank you,” Bendu says with a bright smile. “They live very far away from here, but I think of them plenty.”

 

Her teachers describe her as determined, hardworking, and full of promise. Every morning as she walks to school, she feels a deep sense of purpose. In a country where many girls are forced to drop out due to financial hardships or early marriage, she knows that each step she takes is a triumph.

 

Education is more than just learning—it is the key to breaking the cycle of poverty. Over the past 15 years, the number of girls attending school in Africa has risen significantly. UNESCO reports the female completion rate for primary school in sub-Saharan Africa is 68.5%, up from 48.5 percent in 2000 and nearing the completion rate of 71.3% for boys.

 

Yet, millions of girls are still out of school, held back by poverty, conflict, and societal expectations. Studies show that investing in girls’ education leads to lower child mortality rates, stronger economies, and greater gender equality worldwide.

 

Bendu dreams of becoming a doctor. She envisions a future where she can help others, where her education becomes a bridge to opportunities that once seemed out of reach. But for now, she clutches her books tightly and quickens her pace—the school bell will ring soon, and she doesn’t want to be late. She has dreams to chase, and thanks to Universal Outreach’s support, she is well on her way.








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