Interviews

Healed In Victory (Interview with KoHsin Illingworth)

1 Comment / Inspiration, Interviews, Personal /

For many, the acronym HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) may be a death sentence, and rightly so. But for KoHsin Illingworth, it has taken a new meaning, which will unfold as you continue to walk with us in this story. Kohsin tell us about your childhood. How was it like growing up? I grew up in a financially stable home, alongside my brother. As kids we were competitive.  As every young girl, I had my ambitions, plans and dreams for her future.  My parents were bankers who paid keen attention to the physical, academic, and financial pieces of my life. However as with most parents, that was at the cost of being emotionally available for their daughter. Interesting, I found Jesus on my own even though I was born into a Buddhist home.  I got baptized, which was a public confession of my faith. I had my insecurities growing up. These insecurities and the vacuum left by the emotional and mental neglect of my parents fueled her insecurities and motivated me to seek solace elsewhere. When did you relocate to the UK and for what? After my undergraduate degree in Taiwan, I eventually relocated from the Uk to pursue a Master’s in commerce at the How was life in the UK for you as a newcomer? I thought I had found this new level of freedom. I would be hopping from party to party, engaging in one-night stands etc. I was at a party one night where I was raped. I was drunk but I still remember that experience and how my body was violated that night. A few years later, I met and married my lovely husband. Everything was going on well, for a young couple. Until I started falling ill and the doctors couldn’t diagnose what was wrong with my body.  I was committed even to the mental institutions because she was diagnosed with clinical depression and maniac episodes. One fateful night, I lost consciousness, collapsed, and had to be transported to the hospital in an ambulance. The doctors at the point, at their wits end decided to test for HIV/AIDS. The tests came out positive. The Doctors mentioned this was contracted about 6 or 7 years ago, and had develop into a full-blown AIDS, which was gradually killing me. At this point Kohsin, finding out that you have been diagnosed with HIV/AIDS, from rape, if you could go back in time to speak to your younger self then, what would you tell her? I would say to her be careful about your association. If you find yourself in the wrong crowd, it is easier to land in darkness. Be wise, especially as a woman. Having one-night stands wasn’t wise of me. Don’t be careless and take care of yourself. What was your initial reaction after being diagnosed with HIV/AIDS? Prior to the diagnosis, I did not have any HIV/AIDS awareness but only knew the diagnosis was fatal. Especially when the nurses would constantly remind me “Mrs. Illingworth, we are doing our possible best to save your life.” I also observed my husband howling and crying, and that was also an indication of how bad it was. I would eventually contemplate suicide by overdosing on her medication. How did this impact your marriage and family? It impacted my husband a lot. He had a front row seat to my illness. He was also eventually diagnosed with HIV. Imagine a young couple who married in their early 30’s and a year later, I am dying with Aids and my husband is diagnosed with HIV. He may have been in a better situation than me, but it was still bad. My husband would still visit me in the hospital daily even though he was going through his own trials at the time. Let\’s talk about the healing process. We have talked so much about the painful past and how you came to realize your diagnosis let\’s get into the good stuff. When I was in the hospital even though I was physically weak I found some inner strength and I believe it was the power of God that came over me. I started praying just in the little way that I could. Prior to being diagnosed or even prior to marrying my husband I had completely left the place of fellowship with God. It wasn\’t until one day when I had left the hospital, I heard God’s voice clearly speak to me saying that KoHsin am waiting for you to come home. I looked around trying to see if there was anyone next to me who had spoken those words to me but there was no one around me. I was alone and I heard the voice clearly speak to me that I\’m waiting for you to come home. After I heard that that voice I jumped into a taxi, and I went straight to a Baptist Church. Once I got into the church, I narrated my whole experience to the people, and they were kind and loving enough to welcome me into fellowship into their community and just show me the love of God. And this is how my healing process began because I went back to my father\’s house and the warmth, the love, the embrace, that I experienced from the people but most importantly from God was word started my healing journey. I also had to learn to forgive myself for the mistakes of my past. I had to forgive myself because I had constantly blamed myself thinking that if I hadn\’t attended that party that evening I would not have been raped and I would not have contracted the HIV/AIDS.  But I came to the place where I knew that to accept God\’s forgiveness for me, I had to forgive the man that raped me, I had to forgive myself and I had to accept the forgiveness that I know was in God. Additionally, I also sought counselling with the Christian Counsellors and that really helped

Healed In Victory (Interview with KoHsin Illingworth) Read More »

SHELMAY!

Leave a Comment / Interviews /

This has been my most interesting interview ever. Here’s why; this conversation cum interview you’re about to read was originally a mere informal conversation between myself and Sherrlie. I realised this is all I needed for an interview. So I told her, Sherrlie you know what, this conversation just became an interview session. She then said “Nelia you’ve breached our contract???????”. I said “I am sorry but thank you for taking the headache off me!” So I asked some follow up questions after well, a very, very, very, very, lengthy, detailed, and incredible self pitch I have ever come across. So what it means is that today, Sherrlie does majority of the talking! My dear Phenomenal Women, SHERRLIE MAISON! Shirley: My name is Shirley Esther Maison. But I love to be called SHELMAY?. I am the second to the first and the last of the two ??. I had my crèche at Jack and Jill and then went to Seven Great Princess Academy from nursery to JHS 1 second term where I had to painfully change schools because we(my family) were relocating to our permanent house at Kasoa. I continued my JHS education at West End International School where I completed and wrote my BECE. Now let me chip in to say that during this stage of my life it was a battle because that was my first major change and it disoriented my thinking and greatly affected my social skills. I had to learn how to make new friends and associates. I was greatly familiar with my former church, school and community. This was a tough one but I braced it. I gained admission to Wesley Girls high school where I read Home Economics. Truth is I loved “geyhey” before I got there because my big sister was there as well as my aunties and literally every other woman around me was a geyhey noisemaker ???? so I pretty much had no option because as they say “if u can’t beat them join them” . During my stay there I was member of the red cross society and it was during my red cross days that I learnt how to go out to help the kakumdo community to dress their sores and other basic first aid knowledge was acquired as well. If there is any other lesson I learnt from this experience, it was how I could get out of my comfort zone and help others. In addition to my contributions to the Red Cross Society, I was part of a club called FORUM FOR AFRICAN WOMEN EDUCATIONIST. It was a forum where issues about women and empowerment were discussed as well as the development of skills. We included basic etiquette such as eating, walking and essentially anything about being a lady. In the course of it, I became the vice president and then later we merged with another ladies group and became one club called GENDA AGENDER still clinging on to the position of a VICE PRESIDENT. Along the line I became a member of the chapel committee and also a bible study leader where we prepared for service and led bible studies. I completed my senior high school education not with just an academic accomplishment, but with some knowledge about the world, the Word and also about volunteerism. I proceeded to the University of Ghana where I read Linguistics, French and Spanish. During my second semester in first year I joined a ministry on campus called MASS THEATRE; a Christian theatre ministry that taught the biblical and spiritual reasoning for all the acts and dance and recitals we take on stage. What the world calls performance , we call a ministration. ?? . I Was in this ministry my whole four years in the university. It was a great privilege because I grew spiritually and also to understand some basic principles we overlook. I cannot use this platform to throw more light but just to say the least, I will always go back to mass theatre if I were a fresher in university again. Aside my ministry I was introduced to an NGO by a friend. At that time the ngo was called INSPYA GHANA. We visited far and near communities to spend a couple of days with them and mentored the kids, donated materials and also had some other ngos on board to help with health screenings and discussions. We had time for the parents and teachers as well. Infact we blended so well with the communities we visited such that leaving them was always heartbreaking.  During my last year in the university, I was made the PROJECT DIRECTOR of the NGO and I am still in the position. My responsibilities cut across working hand in hand with my assistant and together with the organizing director and also with the marketing director at times in terms of working on projects and evaluating communities that may need our help. I am also incharge of assigning roles and involving volunteers, members and our partners in all our projects and events. I must say this exposure has been one of a kind. One thing I have learnt and still learning is that you do not need to get to where you want to be before you pull others along. Pull them along as you move. The world will be a far more better place if we could see through the struggles of others and help them. Nelia:Whewww! That was some introduction right there! Moving on, if you were a book what would be your title and why. Shirley: Hahaha a book????. Umm hmm. The Secret UNKNOWN. why? Because I believe there’s still more to know than you know now????. Well but essentially there’s more to unravel and there’s more to explore about myself. Nelia:  How about if you were a colour, what would you be and why? Shirley: Colour? .BLUE??? . Blue because it is the color of the sky and sea. It is often associated with depth

SHELMAY! Read More »

Interview-Excellencial.

6 Comments / Interviews, Uncategorised /

Miss Excellencial Betty Boatemaa With the spate of unemployment, especially for young university graduates in our country, it takes bravery, innovation and positivity to decide to be an entrepreneur. Finding an opportunity in what seems to be a competitive world is worth celebrating. Today, our guest,  a twenty-four-year-old graduate of KNUST decision against all odds to stand a business; a unique and pretty interesting one at that. Ladies and Gentlemen, meet Excellencial Betty Boatemaa Nelia: Hi Betty, kindly  tell us about yourself and your business most especially. Betty: Having started Excel Sobolo while at the University, I gained experience in marketing as the General Manager. I had the opportunity to improve my communication skills, interpersonal skills and decision making skills. Juggling academic work and business at school produced effective time management skills in me. The joy of starting an initiative and working towards its success continued after University. Currently I am the Founder of Kubenut. Kubenut is a partnership type of business which is responsible for production of packaged tender coconut water and the coconut pulp. Kubenut aims to deliver nutritious, thirst quenching, refreshing, energizing and high quality tender coconut water and its pulp to its customers. Kubenut places a great deal is on safety, hygienic, healthy and attractive packaging. Customer satisfaction is our hallmark. It is a part time work at the moment and wish to expand it in future. I have a goal of reading International Business Management as my second degree programme to boost my business development and management skills. In future, I want to be Business Developer and Marketing Manager for a global brand company in the industry of food and beverages. Nelia: Goals! You will surely achieve what you\’ve set out to achieve. How growing up like for you? Betty:  Growing up having a teacher as a mother, you got to learn hard and excel. My childhood was more about books. So I guess my childhood was pretty normal then. Nelia: What motivates you in life. Betty: Successful stories of people who have made it in life. People who have made in against all of life’s circumstances. I feel like I have no excuse to fail at all. Nelia: Any particular unfortunate experiences that you’ve encountered in life? (Any story you can share that will inspire and encourage someone reading it.) Betty: I didn’t grow up to see a male figure in my house, my mother has played both roles and she is a fighter. She is now on pension but was a Diploma Teacher. By grace, she has seen all of us through the university. I am the last born. It hasn’t been easy financially, but God has been good. She is my number one role model. Nelia:I\’m sorry about not having a male figure in your life. But all things work together for our good. How did you rise above it? Betty: The excellence mindset. Nelia: The excellence spirit indeed. I\’m pretty convinced this is what incited you to start your own business right after leaving school. As a startup entrepreneur, what influenced your decision to start KUBENUT? Betty: The fact that any fruit can be taken in the office except coconut because of the nature of the fruit. So then I figured if it cold be packaged neatly and made convenient, people, especially  those in the corporate sector will patronise it. Nelia: Exactly. Find a problem in society, find a way to fix it. People will pay for it.  Howbeit I suppose it hasn\’t been a smooth ride. What are some of the risks you had to take as a startup? What has kept you going? Betty: Financial risks and what keeps me going is knowing that a customer is satisfied with your product and services. It gives you some unexplainable joy. Nelia: Where do you envision KUBENUT to be in the next 5 years? Betty: In 5 years’ time, I see Kubenut obtain Food and Drugs Authorization number, have had more hands on board and have captured the whole of Greater Accra and another region. Nelia: How would you define success? Betty: Having positive influence and impact on your society. Nelia: Growing up, who’s been your mentor and why? Betty: Joyce Meyer. She had fought the good fight of faith and she is where she is now. Nelia: If you were a book, what would be your title and why? Betty: How Grace Works. Because my life is grace influenced. Nelia:  We all are indeed grace bound! If you were a colour, which one would you be and why? Betty: Red, signifying the blood of Jesus, so precious to me. Nelia: THE BLOOD! What does it mean to be a Phenomenal Woman for you? Betty: A Phenomenal Woman is a woman who is influencing her society positive and having impact on them. Nelia: Finally, an advice to your fellow sisters out there. Betty: Seeth thou a man diligent in his ways, he shall stand before kings. Be diligent in what you do, you will be at the top. Nelia: See you at the top darling. Thank you! This interview was made possible by Arbie Marfoa Marfo, Team Member of the Phenomenal Woman Blog and a great friend of Miss Betty. Don\’t forget to let me know you passed by! Love, Nelia

Interview-Excellencial. Read More »

Sena Wogormebu

Leave a Comment / Interviews /

Sena Wogormebu Ladies and well gentlemen today\’s interview features a lovely young woman with the things of God at heart, a talented and skilled footballer or soccer player amongst many others. She\’s a person with a set focus in life and goals to achieve. Sit back, pick notes, enjoy! Nelia: Hi Sena, kindly tell us about yourself. Sena: I am a young person, 20 years of age. At this point in life I am working on two things: the inside of my heart and the inside of my pockets. I like the idea of grinding in your 20s, building in your 30s and chilling in your 40s. If I should describe myself using one word, the word is vivacious (full of life and good spirits… happy and lively in a way that is attractive). I like fashion, football and photography. I’m a big fan of goals, I love black excellence, and most importantly I love God. I’m currently in my second year at university studying Marketing with Digital Communications. Nelia: How was growing up like for you? Sena: Growing up for me has been great. I’m from a family of six: three sisters, myself, my mum and dad. My sisters and I are close in age and we share a very strong bond. For this reason, I am big on family and girl power! Nelia: Girl Power she says. On that note what motivates you in life? Sena:What motivates me in life is my vision of the future. I have put plans together which makes me look forward to what is to come and knowing that God has even bigger plans for me makes it ten times more exciting. Nelia: Why soccer? Which position do you play? Sena: Growing up, I was a bit of a tomboy. All my friends were boys and hanging out with them included getting involved in most of the things they were into, which included soccer. After a while I got really deep into it, even when my friends stopped pursuing it, I continued. I play as a striker. [/av_textblock] [av_video src=\’http://vimeo.com/120007335\’ format=\’16-9\’ width=\’16\’ height=\’9\’] [av_textblock size=\’\’ font_color=\’\’ color=\’\’ admin_preview_bg=\’\’] Nelia: What are some lessons or experiences that you’ve had with playing soccer, especially as a young woman. Any stereotypes or the sort? Sena: Growing up, soccer wasn’t popular amongst girls so I always found myself playing soccer with boys. I was always the only girl amongst a group of about 20+ boys. A lot of the time boys used to look at me thinking ‘she’s just a girl, she doesn’t know how to play football’ until I touched the ball and shocked them. I gained a lot of respect through this and so many times I have been told by boys ‘I’ve never known a girl that is able to play soccer the way that you do’ or ‘I didn’t know that girls could play soccer’. Nelia: Hahaha they didn\’t know girls could play soccer huh? This journey wouldn\’t have been easy. What sacrifices have you had to make to be at the point you are right now in soccer? Sena: A big sacrifice I made for soccer was leaving my family behind in the U.K. as I went to play ball in the States. I sacrificed a comfortable life in pursuit of my dreams. It was at this stage of my life where I discovered that outside of your comfort zone is where you grow and really experience life for what it is. I explored so many new things and went through so many challenges. Through this I learned so much. I definitely feel that the sacrifice was worth it.  Nelia: \”Outside of your comfort zone is where you grow and really experience life for what it is\”.  What are your short term and long term goals with regards to career, sports, and life in general. Sena:My career goals are as follows: – Graduate – Work in digital marketing – Work in the film industry – Start my own businesses – Charity work, missionary work, ministry  As far as life goals I want to travel, have a husband and kids, be financially stable, be genuinely happy and fulfil destiny. Nelia: How would you define success? Sena: Success for me means accomplishing a plan, goal, dream or even an idea that you bring to fruition. It can be as simple learning how to tie your own shoelace or as big as becoming a billionaire. Nelia: As simple as tieing your shoelace or as big as becoming a billionaire. In other words, success is defined by yourself. Moving forward, do you think young Christian women are finding it difficult to identify and align themselves with the purpose of God for us? Sena: If there is any difficulty in young Christian women being able to align themselves with God’s purpose for their lives, I believe it is due to distraction from either the opposite sex or society or fear or lack of understanding. Distraction from the opposite sex by maybe getting into relationships, being head over heels for their partner or focusing so much on their appearance in order to draw that kind of attention. Girls can get wild when it comes to boys and love. I say distraction from society in the sense that society makes you focus on things of the world such as beauty and money, whereas Christianity is more concerned with the things above – hence the scripture seek FIRST the kingdom of God and His righteous. I mentioned fear because when it comes to God, often times you can be left not knowing how and when things will happen, which is why faith is a key ingredient. And finally lack of understanding. The bible says ‘my people perish due to lack of understanding’ – understanding scripture, understanding the plan of God for your life and understanding that heaven and hell is real.  Nelia: Preach on sister! Indeed for lack of knowledge of who we are we perish in this world

Sena Wogormebu Read More »

DR ADAMS.

Leave a Comment / Interviews /

  When I was in primary school I asked my mum which profession was \”higher\” : a nurse or a doctor . She answered : a doctor. Pleaseoooooooo my mum is a nurse wai, dont start argueing. So I told her that, then I\’ll be a doctor. I got a lady-bird dictonary gift from a family friend when I was in sunday school after 1 of my numerous little sermons. Whiles flipping through, I found the word \”pediatrician\”. Ooooooo so my big head on a small body decided to be a pediatrician and I was still in primary school. 1 of my primary school teachers started calling me \”mpanie\” (hehhe..forgive my twi). In JSS, I started writing on alllllllllll of my books \”DR.ADAMS\”(Abigail Doduwah Abena Maame Sackey)and some teachers started calling me that and most importantly my mum and the rest of my family members joined in. Parents , speak \”life\” into the lives of your children. My name is DR.ADAMS. ..if you want to honor my family aaa then call me Dr.Sackey(and no, I\’m not a ga. I\’m from Enyan denkyira….and no my fante sucks). …if u ask me aaa then me dier please just call me A MIRACLE And that is how we begin today\’s interview with Dr. Ewurabena Adams( well we\’ll find out pretty shortly whether the ADAMS is an acronym or not) So this was the first post of her I read. Immediately after reading it, I inboxed her. I honestly didn\’t think she was going to reply, well for obvious reasons( lol) but she did, and pretty quickly too. Oh wait, I sent her a friend request first. Yes, then she accepted almost immediately,  then I inboxed her. Anyway, so I had this admiration for her right from when I read her post. The PHENOMENAL WOMAN BLOG hadn\’t even commenced yet. In fact,  during that period, I was busily wasting my energy on a campaign when God had it all figured out just like that. He watched me do it all to the end. Then He said, abi you\’re done chasing what wasn\’t the real deal. Well now that I have your attention, let\’s work! Wheeww I feel like I\’m taking the attention of today\’s interview  (well, you can\’t blame me, I have looked forward to this interview even before Phenomenal Woman was born so allow). My dear Phenomenal Woman, I present to you the exclusive interview with DR EWURABENA ADAMS! Nelia: Who’s Dr Ewurabena Adams? Dr. Adams: My name is Abigail Doduwah Abena Maame Sackey (A.D.A.M.S).  I\’m the 3rd and last born of my parents. I\’m a practicing medical doctor. Nelia: oh so the Adams is indeed an acronym as I suspected. How was growing up like for you? Dr. Adams: I grew up in a middle class family in a couple of compound houses in Accra.  I enjoyed my childhood as a tomboy,  I followed my brothers everywhere and I have scars to prove them.. Hehe Nelia: What were some of the life’s lessons you’ve grown up to understand and appreciate more. Dr. Adams: Life lessons : give and give and give….. Smile a lot… Be determined and follow your dreams wisely….love others and be at peace with everyone, or at least try. Most importantly love God (if you love Him,  you\’ll obey his commandments)  Nelia: Give, give and give! Why did you choose to be a doctor?( I mean I get that question a lot so why not throw the bomb at some one if it\’s in my possession now) Dr. Adams: well, its all in the except of the post I wrote last year. But to summarise matters, lets say i saw mum loving what she did as a nurse and she was good at it.  I decided to follow her footsteps but a little \”higher\”. I wanted to continue where my mum had stopped and by God\’s grace, this is where we are now.  Nelia: I read your testimony about how you got into med school and all in order to accomplish your dreams. (Which by the way, is this very post up here. I really entreat everyone to go on to her fb wall and read the whole story) but in the meantime, be generous by giving us a gist of it. Dr. Adams: Hmmm,  this is a whole book.  But in summary God made a way for me to study medicine in Russia through a scholarship when I was rejected by the universities in Ghana.  And by His grace I came out with flying colors.  Hallelujah! Nelia: Amen. I always say, that a disappointment is really an appointment in disguise! Now lets talk about being a woman shall we? Do you think young Christian woman are finding it difficult to identify and align themselves with the purpose of God for us? Dr Adams: Sadly and rightly so my dear. Most christian young women are trying to be \”accepted \” in this world and the means doesn\’t matter to them which is sad.  Nelia: Who’s your mentor? Dr. Adams: I have a couple of  mentors depending on which aspect of life I want to polish.  I\’ll name just one here,  my mother – Mrs Lucy Sackey. She is the strongest woman I know,  her generosity always baffles me even when she doesn\’t have.  Her prayer life is something I want for myself and her dedication and love for God is enviable. She is the best gift in person God has given me ever!  Nelia: Life can indeed be bleak at times… what keeps you going during such difficult periods? Dr. Adams: I think of three things. Past – where God brought me from. Present – what God is doing in my life Future – what God will do in my life I look to Him,  the author and finisher of my faith and that He is really the I AM THAT I AM. Hallelujah!  Nelia: Apart being a Dr, what do you enjoy doing? Something fun and exciting. Dr. Adams:

DR ADAMS. Read More »