All Nervousness Was Gone: Jennifer Adu-missah on Finding Her Mentor in WASH

Jennifer Adu-missah is from Ghana, where she studies geography and regional planning at the University of Cape Coast. She joined the Women in WASH & RWSN mentorship programme as a mentee.

Wanting to Connect With Women Already in the Field

Jennifer’s motivation for joining centred on the chance to learn directly from women established in the sector. “I joined the mentorship program because I wanted to know more about WASH and to be able to connect and learn from great and exceptional women who are already in WASH.”

From Nervous to at Ease

Jennifer describes the uncertainty that came before meeting her mentor, Dr. Beata Awinpoka Akanyani, for the first time. “Sometimes the fact of meeting someone you don’t know comes with some nervousness because you don’t know the persona of the person but after meeting Dr. Beata Awinpoka Akanyani all nervousness was gone.” She points to what put her at ease. “She has a great personality. She is loving and easy to talk to but also assertive.”

Making Time Despite a Busy Schedule

What stood out to Jennifer was how her mentor made space for her even under time pressure. “She is a busy person but she makes time to reach out when she is free. If we could not meet she makes sure to mentor on topics we could not finish.” She also points to a deeper level of openness in the relationship. “She shared some of her personal experiences which moved me because not every mentor will tell you about his/her personal experiences.”

The Qualities That Made the Biggest Impact

When asked what qualities had the biggest impact on her, Jennifer highlights her mentor’s knowledge and consistency. “She is very knowledgeable about everything and she is assertive. Even in a busy schedule she makes time for me.”

A Different Kind of Mentorship Than She Expected

The relationship shifted Jennifer’s expectations of what mentorship would look like. “I thought mentorship would be like lectures but Dr. Beata changed that narrative. She always wants to hear my opinions.”

Her Message to Anyone Considering the Programme

Jennifer frames the programme as a chance to meet women whose work often goes unrecognized. “It is a nice journey where you are able to meet great women you might not heard their names on the news but are excelling well and having great impact on people. You are able to know how they were able to thrive in the field, the challenges they faced and how they were able to overcome those challenges.”