I was born on Friday the 4th of February 1994 in New York, white planes (USA). In our culture those born on a Friday are also called ‘Kofi’. Shortly after I was born I moved back to Ghana where I spent the early years of my childhood in my grandma’s house.
On the 22nd of April 1998 I lost my dear mother to a disease called lupus. Lupus is is a long-term autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system becomes hyperactive and attacks normal, healthy tissue. Losing my mother was a blow to me; at such a young age although I was not old enough to understand completely what was going on, I could feel the implications of losing someone so dear to me. Being my mums only child there was a connection that we had which is irreplaceable.
For so long I had gone through life with the question of ‘why me?’. The mental and emotional toll this unprecedented experience had on my life is something that you would not wish on anyone. However, little did I know that the question of ‘why me’ will soon become Gods way of saying ‘”I have chosen you”.
From the minute I lost my late mother Charlotte ‘Mame Gymafua’ sosi – God had ordained my steps. He blessed me with loving parents & 3 siblings; My mum(Matilda Dompreh; who is actually my late mothers’ younger sister), Dad (George Dompreh), Brother (Rhys), Sister(Romilda) & my little sister (Raveene). My parents took it upon themselves to raise me as one of their own, and create an environment of love in which I can thrive in and have the same opportunity that every kid deserves.
As I stand here today at the age of 26 and reflect whilst I write this letter, i am a 2017 alumni(graduate) with a BA hons in Economics & finance. I am currently working in the city of London as an underwriter, providing insurance cover for multinational companies listed on the FTSE 100 & 250. I also run my own business which helps individuals from Black & Asian minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds get into the financial services sector.
You may ask, why this story ? this letter is to act as a testimony to yourselves that it is not about your beginnings but how it ends. No matter your past, no matter our present, there is a plan for every single one of us & surely those plans will come to past. It’s the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting. It is the language of enthusiasm, of things accomplished with a good heart, love and purpose, and as part of a search for something believed in and desired. I believe that when you want something and seek the help of God, all the universe conspires to help you achieve it. As the virtuous would say, “it is written.”
Godwin ‘Teye’ Sosi (Kofi)
Founder of Lady’s Foundation