For now, our work is focused in Guinea, West Africa. We began in Dossari, a rural community outside Kankan, and our long-term vision is to partner with additional schools and communities, and eventually reach other countries as our capacities grow.

Our Adopt-a-School model allows us to build a deeper relationship with a school rather than applying the same solution everywhere. We work with school leaders, teachers, families, and community members to understand their priorities, identify barriers to education, and develop support based on the needs of that particular school.

We listen first. Before developing programs, we use our Educational Access & Equity Needs Assessment to understand the school's strengths, challenges, and priorities. We consider factors such as how many students are affected, which barriers create the greatest inequities, what resources already exist in the community, and where our support can make a meaningful and feasible difference.

Our work generally centers on educational access, learning, and equity. Depending on the needs identified by a school, this could include school supplies and uniforms, books and learning resources, improvements to learning environments, menstrual health support, support for students with disabilities, or other locally identified priorities. Our programs are shaped by the needs of each school rather than a predetermined package of services.

Community participation is central to our approach. We believe the people closest to a school understand its strengths and challenges best. School leaders, teachers, families, students, and community stakeholders help us understand needs, identify priorities, and shape appropriate responses. Our goal is to work with communities, not simply for them.

The organization is named in honor of Mas Houdou Barry, who was born in colonial Guinea in 1945 and pursued an education at a time when many girls did not have the same opportunity. She passed her belief in education to her daughter and the generations that followed. Our name keeps that legacy alive while honoring the women who created the paths we now walk. I am because she was.

There are several ways to support our work. You can donate, partner with us, share our mission, contribute professional expertise, or help connect us with organizations and individuals who believe in expanding educational opportunity. Visit our Get Involved page to learn more.