Dear reader,

Have you already ever heard the word: "GAGAMOUH"? Most likely, you have not. This expression, which doesn't exist in French, is another familiar word to describe a ghost and is often used to scare children in my country, Ivory Coast. However, this derogatory term has been part of my childhood, and even today, I continue to hear it when some children or their parents see me on the street and call me "GAGAMOUH".

I am affected by albinism, a genetic and hereditary condition characterized by a lack of melanin production. Melanin is the pigment that gives colour to our skin, eyes, hair and more. This condition makes us particularly sensitive to light and ultraviolet rays, putting us at higher risk of burns and skin cancer when exposed to the sun. We also face daily challenges related to visual impairments, significantly reducing our vision. These impairments manifest as involuntary and jerky oscillations of the eyeballs, muscular imbalances of the eyes, or heightened sensitivity to bright lights and glare.

But in reality, who am I?

What do I do?

And where am I going?

You will undoubtedly find the answers to these questions at the end of the story I have decided to share with you today.

Everything started on August 22, 1993, when I was born in a maternity clinic in Yopougon, Abidjan. I am the youngest of a family of three children - two girls and a boy. My father, Mamadou BAKAYOKO, used to be a sailor but retired in 1983 following a fatal traffic accident that left him unable to use his legs. My mother, Alimata BAKAYOKO, was an Administrative Assistant, but she had to leave her job after my father's accident.

My primary school experience wasn't accessible since, with my limited vision, I had to make endless trips between the blackboard and my desk to copy my lessons. I would memorize what I read on the board and then copy it into my notebook. Sometimes, I stayed after school to calmly copy the homework. Some pupils used to allow me to copy their notes, and I remember once having to reproduce their mistakes.

Fortunately, with the support of my family and the techniques I developed earlier, I managed to cope with the teasing from my friends and society's prejudices. While some people spat when they saw me avoid having an albino child like me, others called me a genius or, worse, a witch with supernatural and evil powers.

To be accepted in society and among my friends, I always had to surpass myself, push my limits, and achieve the impossible; I had to be the good one, the best example, and always at the forefront of every action... I needed to have a positive impact.

As a result, from entering the 6th grade in 2004 to graduating high school diploma in the C series (Maths) in 2011, I became a class representative or deputy representative in almost every class. Determined to go further, I obtained a Higher Technician's Certificate in Finance, Accounting, and Business Management from PIGIER CI in 2013, a Bachelor's in 2014, and finally, my Master's II in Accounting and Finance in 2017. An encouraging academic achievement, without a doubt.

This same determination significantly influenced my current activities. Having experienced a challenging childhood, my wish has always been to fight for the rights of people with disabilities, specifically for the rights of people with albinism.

To achieve this, in 2012, I joined the NGO "Bien-être des Albinos de Côte d'Ivoire" (Wellbeing of Albinos in Ivory Coast) and later the "Association Ivoirienne pour la Promotion des femmes Albinos" (Ivorian Association For The Promotion of Albinos Women). Always intending to prove to others that we are all equal on this earth of humans, I successfully participated in the YALI program at the Regional Leadership Center in Dakar, Senegal, in July 2018, where I was chosen to represent my class.

These experiences have positively impacted my life and led to my election as the Executive President for the 2018-2019 term of the Junior Chamber International University Abidjan. The term was marked by the motto "Motivate-Act-Impact" and the vision: "Innovate for Sustainable Change."

To give you a bit of background, I was not destined to be the President of this organization for that term. However, due to hesitation from the candidate President, I was inevitably chosen due to my commitment and love for the services entrusted to me. During this term, I developed a concept: "Albinos, j' assume..." (Albinos, So What?), aiming to promote and valorise people with albinism in Côte d'Ivoire. It was a way for me to assert myself and gain self-confidence.

With this NGO, we provide school kits to children with disabilities at the start of each academic year. We promote albino women by having them serve as hostesses at ceremonies and events. We also offer opportunities for albino individuals interested in the field of communication to become masters of ceremonies. Additionally, we help parents living in precarious conditions whose children have disabilities to become financially independent and support their families. We aim to show everyone that being born a person with albinism is a chance, as our differences make us beautiful.

Today, I combine these associative commitments with my position as a Credit Management Assistant at the Ministry of Youth Promotion, Vocational Training, and Civic Service's Financial Affairs Department.

I aspire to become a complete leader who can motivate and engage others. This is why I dedicate myself day after day to the NGO "Albinos, So What?"

I want the rights of albino people to be respected.

I want albino individuals to participate in their country's political, public, cultural, and recreational life.

I want albino people to be included in society.

I want so much for my fellow albinos, and with the help of our Creator and each one of you, who now knows a part of my story, I can achieve it.

In conclusion, I am a tenacious young woman who would like to live her life by being a role model for others. My motto is:

Motivate my generation;

Give back to the community;

And create lasting and positive impacts.

Let's keep in mind that in life, nothing is easy, but everything is possible.