One week after moving from Burkina Faso, Djemi started attending school in Manhattan. She had not yet made friends, her English was limited, and she was placed in the ninth grade, several years behind where she was back home. Not understanding much and feeling demoralized, anyone could have understandably given up. But not Djemi! She fought her way back and, in two years, completed 9th, 10th and 11th grades with a 92 average.

In an immigration reform project, she led the class in independent research, finding gaps in existing studies, and bringing in other resources. She helped her classmates who were unaccompanied minors from Haiti seeking refuge to develop their personal stories as pathways to immigration.

I was surprised to learn that women in my country have the legal right to denounce domestic abuse, make decisions about their lives, and speak up for themselves.

However, these rights are never upheld. I found out about Bibata Ouedraogo, a Burkina woman who established an organization to educate women about their rights. I talked about her for weeks to anyone who would listen.”