Bintou is from a small town in Africa’s Ivory Coast. For girls in her family going to school was unheard of. Her father believed school was designed for boys and girls were meant to stay at home, learning to cook, clean, and eventually take care of a husband, a home, and children.
Despite facing cultural barriers and opposition from her father, Bintou persisted in her pursuit of education. Her mother’s courage and her own determination led her to start attending school at the age of 9 years old. She was the oldest student in the first grade, but this did not deter her.
With a passion for learning and a dream of becoming a nurse, Bintou excelled throughout her education. She received a scholarship for college in her home country and worked hard to obtain her associate’s degree, making her mother proud. Coming to the United States opened up new possibilities, and the First Literacy scholarship will allow her the opportunity to get one step closer to her goal of becoming a nurse.