Turning Hardship into Hope
Turning Hardship into Hope: The Mary Ama Kattah Story
A Journey of Unyielding Determination
Life often tests our resolve in ways we never expect. For Mary Ama Kattah, the path to higher education was paved with years of patient endurance, sacrifice, and an unshakable dream.
After completing her Senior High School education, Mary faced profound financial hardship that brought her academic journey to a sudden halt. Refusing to let her circumstances define her future, she made a courageous choice. In 2014, Mary began working as a domestic helper, quietly saving every coin she could spare with one singular goal in mind: to return to school one day.
That day came through sheer persistence. In 2023, after nearly a decade of hard work, Mary sat for and successfully passed the adult entrance examinations. Her triumph opened the door to Accra Technical University in 2024, where she began pursuing a Higher National Diploma (H.N.D.) in Hospitality, Catering, and Institutional Management.
Standing in the Gap When Resources Ran Out
As Mary entered her final academic year (2026–2027), the financial burdens grew heavier, and her hard-earned resources completely ran out.
For many young women in similar positions, the pressure of mounting tuition fees creates a dangerous vulnerability—where genuine determination to succeed can leave them exposed to exploitation just to finish what they started. Understanding the immense stakes, the RALSES Foundation stepped forward to ensure Mary’s story took a brighter turn.
To lift the heavy weight of uncertainty from her shoulders, the RALSES Foundation has fully covered Mary’s tuition fees for her final academic year. We stepped in to protect her future, ensuring her hard work culminates in the success she so richly deserves, rather than compromise.
Be a Part of the Next Success Story
Mary’s journey from a house help to a final-year tertiary student is a testament to the power of resilience—and the life-changing impact of timely support.
At the RALSES Foundation, we believe that poverty should never be a barrier to a brilliant future, and that no young person should ever feel vulnerable while striving for a better life. But we cannot do this alone.
Your donations and support empower us to find more inspiring individuals like Mary, protect their dreams, and give them the stepping stones they need to transform their lives and communities.
Partner with us today to keep hope alive and help us write more stories of triumph.
