{"id":4468,"date":"2026-07-21T10:40:17","date_gmt":"2026-07-21T10:40:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lumeamara.online\/?p=4468"},"modified":"2026-07-21T10:40:18","modified_gmt":"2026-07-21T10:40:18","slug":"womans-life-as-a-refugee-inspired-her-public-health-degree","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lumeamara.online\/?p=4468","title":{"rendered":"Woman’s life as a refugee inspired her public health degree"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n\"\"
\n\"University
\nUniversity of Manchester
Makagbeh Princess Sesay said her studies had strengthened her “desire to support vulnerable communities”<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A woman who fled civil war as a child has said she wants to use her degree to help “other refugees and vulnerable communities”<\/p>\n

Makagbeh Princess Sesay left Liberia in 1990 and spent 10 years in refugee camps volunteering with humanitarian organisations before resettling in Europe in 2003<\/p>\n

The now 52-year-old said graduating with a BSc in public health<\/a> from the University of Manchester on Monday had been a “dream” come true<\/p>\n

She said growing up as a refugee showed her the importance of “healthcare, education, sanitation and nutrition” and her studies had strengthened her “desire to support vulnerable communities and work towards reducing health inequalities”<\/p>\n

Sesay crossed into neighbouring Guinea from Liberia in a truck with her family<\/a> as they fled the conflict in December 1990<\/p>\n

Her father died in Liberia shortly after the conflict began and her mother later died in the Guinean border town of Koyama<\/p>\n

Sesay grew up as an orphan alongside thousands of displaced Liberians in the towns of Macenta, Gu\u00e9ck\u00e9dou and Kissidougou<\/p>\n

\n\"Makagbeh
\nMakagbeh Princess Sesay
Sesay (left) said working in refugee camps inspired her to pursue her degree<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

She said her experiences had been “frightening” and “dangerous”<\/p>\n

“People were left with no good food, no security, and there was no infection control, no safety,” she said<\/p>\n

Sesay added that children “were abused when rebels entered”<\/p>\n

She spoke of the “positive” support provided by both the government in Guinea and by non-government organisations (NGOs)<\/p>\n

“The government, the community and the NGOs were able to come around and help those and give… food, protection and shelter,” she said<\/p>\n

Sesay said that because she was able to speak English – the official language of Liberia – she volunteered with the NGOs to help other refugees, working with Action Against Hunger on health education, hygiene campaigns and food distribution<\/p>\n

“At times, there was no power, and we had to use flashlights to continue serving the children safely,” she said<\/p>\n

“Despite these challenges, our priority was to make sure that every child received food and water without interruption.”<\/p>\n

She was also trained through the International Rescue Committee, which supported refugee education and health projects, and worked with CARE International<\/p>\n

\n\"Makagbeh
\nMakagbeh Princess Sesay
Sesay worked with CARE International and other NGOs<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

She said that following a “huge attack” she was moved by Catholic missionaries to the city of Guinea-Conakry<\/p>\n

“The Guineans, the refugees, everyone faced the brutalisation,” she said<\/p>\n

She was then reported to the United Nations and was eventually resettled in Norway in 2003<\/p>\n

She said it was good to “feel safe” and “have a roof over my head”, but she struggled to learn Norwegian and felt that while she did start a course in health and social care, she would be unable to pursue her dream of education in the country<\/p>\n

Twelve years later, she had the opportunity to move to the UK to study for a diploma at Manchester College<\/p>\n

\n\"Makagbeh
\nMakagbeh Princess Sesay
Sesay spent a few years as a carer before studying public health<\/a> at university<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After a few years working as a carer, she started a three-year course at the University of Manchester in 2023<\/p>\n

Her lecturer Sam Aston said her “remarkable journey” was a “testament to her resilience and determination to fulfil her dream at Manchester”<\/p>\n

“The passion and compassion that she has shown for public health have driven her to turn her experiences into a purposeful education,” she said<\/p>\n

“We are immensely proud of her achievement and excited to see the difference she will make in improving health for vulnerable communities.”<\/p>\n

Sesay said graduating was a dream come true and she was “very proud right now”<\/p>\n

“As a refugee, I didn’t know I could do this,” she said<\/p>\n

“It was a different situation in a different life, [a] different world<\/p>\n

“My journey has taken me from fleeing a civil war in Liberia to living in a refugee camp in Guinea and now graduating from The University of Manchester.”<\/p>\n

She said losing her parents at a young age had been “incredibly difficult, but the support I received from humanitarian organisations and the communities around me gave me hope and determination”<\/p>\n

She added that she wanted her story to inspire others<\/p>\n

“I would say always think that you can still make it in life, once you follow your dreams and be strong and work hard and find the right support,” she said<\/p>\n

“Always think you will make it.”<\/p>\n

Listen to the best ofand follow BBC Manchester on,X, and. You can also send story ideas<\/p>\n

Related internet links
\nMore like this
\nManchester
\nUniversity of Manchester
\nPublic health
\nLiberia
\nGuinea<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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