2021 is the year that we will celebrate the college graduation of some of the first Touch A Life children who entered our program between 2006 and 2010. Rescued from forced labor on the fishing boats of Lake Volta, these children have grown to become hard working young adults full of hope and dreams for the future.
Israel is one such student. In a recent interview Israel shared about his life in college, his hopes for the future, and how Touch A Life has made an impact on him.
When will you graduate and what is your area of study?
I completed my undergraduate degree in Business Administration with International Business major from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in September 2021. My graduation ceremony will be in November.
What do you hope to do after graduation?
After graduation, I will do my National Service, a requirement for all undergraduates in Ghana, for one year. (where I will work in my local community- I feel like we need to explain what this is).
When I am done with National Service, I hope to get a scholarship to obtain my Master’s degree at an international university. I would like to apply for my Master’s in International Business and Entrepreneurship or Master of Science in Entrepreneurship.
What do you enjoy doing in your free time when you’re not studying for school?
I love writing poems, watching various TV programs, and taking photos during my free time. I also like to read motivational books and I love swimming, too.
How has Touch A Life made a difference in your life?
When you ask me about how Touch A Life has made a difference in my life, I could write a whole book about it. 14 years ago, the word “hope” didn’t exist in my world. I was in a situation that was the worst a person of my age could be in.
Touch A Life took me from nowhere and gave me hope. Touch A Life gave me a purpose and made me realize there’s more to life than fishing on the Volta Lake. Touch A Life is the reason I can write words down, the reason I can read and even make meaning out of them. Touch A Life is the reason I can say that I graduated from college. Touch A Life is the reason I wear smiles on my face every day. Touch A Life is the reason for everything in my life. Touch A Life is the difference in my life.
Thank you so much for sharing, Israel! Israel is currently working on the Touch A Life staff as a photographer supporting our social media platforms. We are so proud of him and all of our young adults as they complete their undergraduate degrees and continue to follow their dreams!