Jaha Dukureh
FEATURE story |
2018 Nobel Peace Prize nominee and GSW alumna, speaks at annual lecture series on GSW’s campus
J
Photo credit: David Parks Photography
aha Dukureh, 2018 Nobel Peace Prize nominee and GSW alumna, delivered the annual Griffin Bell Convocation and Distinguished Lecture at GSW on Wednesday, October 3, 2018 during Presidential Investiture Week. Earlier this year, Dukureh was nominated for the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize for her work towards ending female genital mutilation (FGM) and child marriage in her home country of The Gambia in West Africa and across the world. Dukureh was herself a victim of FGM at just one week old. Her arranged marriage to an unknown older man at age 15 brought her to New York City. After two months, Dukureh was able to leave her husband and continue her education in the U.S., where she became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2015. Dukureh earned her bachelor’s degree in business administration and management online at GSW in 2013. That same year, she founded the non-profit organization Safe Hands for Girls, which provides support for survivors of FGM and
2 0 | G SW. E D U
