|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
At the bustling Tudu Station in Accra, where kayayei carry heavy loads to survive each day, few would expect to encounter a young woman whose confidence and command of English would immediately challenge prevailing stereotypes. Yet that moment would later introduce the world to Rukaya Saaka Rafia.
After a routine shopping trip at Kantamanto Market, Nana Tea hired the services of a kayayo, Rukaya Saaka Rafia, to carry his items to Tema Station, where he intended to board a trotro. During their conversation, Nana Tea realised that Rukaya was fluent in English and appeared well educated. This sparked his curiosity and led him to ask her more about her background.
Rukaya revealed that she had completed Senior High School in 2021. However, due to financial hardship, she was compelled to travel from the north to Accra to work as a kayayo in order to support herself and pursue her dream of furthering her education. Her ambition was clear and unwavering. She aspired to become a nurse.
Despite her difficult circumstances, Rukaya had already taken a bold step forward. She had purchased a form for Damongo Nursing Training College and was awaiting admission. Her academic results confirmed her eligibility, recording a final grade of C6, with the exception of Government, where she obtained D7. What stood between her and her dream was not determination or qualification, but support.
Nana Tea shared her story on social media, where it resonated deeply with many Ghanaians. The response served as a powerful reminder of the untapped potential often hidden behind hardship and the impact that collective goodwill can have when people choose to act.
That support soon bore fruit.
During a subsequent journey to the Upper West Region, Nana Tea visited Damongo Nursing Training College, where Rukaya is now enrolled. Through the platform that amplified her story and the generosity of well-meaning individuals, her dream had become a reality. The former kayayo was now a nursing student.
Rukaya is expected to complete her nursing training next year. Nana Tea’s visit marked the second time they had met since their first encounter three years earlier. The contrast was striking. Then, she was surviving. Now, she is becoming.
Her journey stands as a testament to perseverance, faith, and the undeniable power of social media to change lives. More importantly, it proves that with the right support, determination can overcome even the harshest circumstances.
See photos below;
