In your own words who is Patrice Juah? What do you do?
Patrice Juah is a child of God. She is an International Affairs and Communications Professional, awarding-winning poet, and author, working globally to advance Girls’ Education, Social-Emotional Learning, Women’s Leadership, and Youth Development. She is a perpetual knowledge seeker, adventure lover, and multifaceted woman, with a fascination for languages, and a passion for service and fostering global collaborations. She’s the founder of the Martha Juah Educational Foundation, and its Sexy Like A Book academic and leadership initiative, which takes a social and academic approach to address some of the barriers to girls’ education in Liberia. She’s an Executive of Karanga: The Global Alliance for Social-Emotional Lear ning and Life Skills, and a Board Member of the Liberia Literary Society.
What was your childhood like?
My childhood started beautifully but soon turned chaotic. I grew up during the most tumultuous years of my country’s history – a civil war that lasted for 14 years. To escape the chaos, I took solace in reading and was always surrounded by books. I began writing poems and short stories – the pathway to my journey as a writer today. My family moved to Cote D’Ivoire due to the war in Liberia and I spent a part of my childhood there. Cote D’Ivoire had a profound impact on me and ignited my love for travel, cultures, and languages. Overall, I’d say that my childhood was filled with learning, adventures, and experiences that have shaped me into who I am today.
Have you always been confident and outspoken?
Yes, I have always been confident and outspoken. However, it wasn’t a smooth journey. I experienced bullying as a child; a ploy to silence me. Bullies are sneaky. What they admire most about you, is typically what they try to silence you for. That is why it is critical for children, particularly girls, to have family members, teachers, and mentors, who affirm them. Having a mother and big sister who inculcated in me confidence in my talents and abilities, discipline, and an appreciation for education, reminded me to always use my voice and stand boldly in my uniqueness. Girls need to have strong female role models. That left an indelible mark on my life.a
What was your childhood dream career?
My dream was to become a Broadcast Journalist and a Writer. I was a member of my school’s press and writers’ clubs. I made my radio debut during the UNICEF-sponsored International Children’s Day of Broadcasting as a teenager. That experience and the feedback I received made it clear that my voice was an instrument destined for so much more. My writing gift was also cemented when I won a national high school poetry competition the following year and became the youngest member of the Liberia Association of Writers at the time. This reaffirmed that my pen was onto something greater. Throughout my years in high school, I always participated in activities that required my gifts of writing and public speaking. Although there were times when I drifted from both gifts, I’ve always found my way back to them. These gifts would propel me to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Mass Communications and a master’s degree in International Relations. They continue to show forth God’s glory through my work and career. My mother is a teacher, and my late sister was also an educator. Both women surrounded me with books and made sure my head was always buried in them. During a time when books were scarce, I’d go looking for books sold on the streets and would buy them with pocket money I had. Books and knowledge are a big part of my life and I enjoy exploring bookstores in new cities I visit.
Participating in and winning the Miss Liberia must have been a springboard to a lot of the great things that have happened in your life, what was your initial goal for participating? And what was your experience at the pageant?
My initial goal for participating in the pageant was to use it as a platform to champion girls’ education and youth development, causes I care about. It was a wonderful experience, which exposed me to the world and many incredible people and opportunities. I was honored to have represented my country globally, particularly at the 56th Miss World beauty pageant in Warsaw Poland, where I ranked amongst the Top 10 Talent in the Miss World Talent competition. I think beauty queens are ambassadors for their countries and are placed in a unique position to serve, influence, and make an impact. It was an interesting period in my country’s history, and I used my title to contribute to its development. I’ve always believed that I have a calling to public service, and winning Miss Liberia reaffirmed that for me. My experience at the pageant was phenomenal. I was eager to learn and confident that I’d win. There were doubters, but more believers, and I used both as fuel to propel myself forward.
Were there any challenges you faced along the way? How did you overcome them?
Certainly! My faith in God, a supportive family, and a strong support system, kept me going. Also, the fact that I’m still here despite life’s hurdles, is a testament that there’s a greater purpose for my life. When I became Miss Liberia, there were many negative perceptions around the title, something all too familiar with beauty queens the world over. I had to work to change that and shift the narrative around what it truly means to be a beauty queen. That she isn’t just a pretty face, but an ambassador for her country. The recent passing of my big sister, Oretha, in 2020, was sudden and unexpected, and left me completely crushed and devastated, as she was everything to me. It is the biggest challenge I’ve faced to date, but I’m gradually healing and moving from grief to celebration of her beautiful life and legacy.
You’re an advocate for the girl child staying in school. How important is education in shaping the future of young African women?
Education is fundamental for girls the world over, yet many barriers continue to hinder and prevent girls from accessing and completing secondary school. In Africa, some of such barriers are the high cost of school, child marriage, gender-based violence, female genital mutilation, teenage pregnancy, limited educational resources, menstrual hygiene and health challenges, etc. Education is important in shaping the future of young African women because it equips them with the knowledge, confidence, and skills, required to navigate complex 21st-century challenges and make informed decisions. An educational system that engages girls beyond the classroom, equipping them with both academic and social-emotional skills, and the ability to think critically and cultivate empathy, while contributing to their communities as socially conscious young leaders, is what we should all promote, particularly now, as we grapple with the challenges brought on by the pandemic. That is the work we’re doing at Karanga: The Global Alliance for Social-Emotional Learning and Life Skills, and through our Sexy Like A Book initiative. Education is the surest investment in a girl’s future. When girls are educated, it transcends themselves and benefits their families, communities, and societies. With education, a tool is placed in the hands of young African women to address patriarchal and limiting structures, while creating a pathway to opportunity. Education is a gift that was given to me by my mother, a retired primary school teacher of 50 plus years, and it is a gift I intend to keep passing on to girls and young people. Along with the other goals, we must all work to elevate Goal 4 of the Sustainable Development Goals.
What inspired you to launch the Miss Education awareness pageant? What is the impact of this initiative so far?
I launched the Miss Education Awareness Pageant in 2007, through the Martha Juah Educational Foundation. The goal was to promote and create awareness on the importance of girls’ education while providing educational opportunities and resources for brilliant girls to serve as education ambassadors in their communities. It aimed to also show that pageants can be used as a catalyst for good. The pageant was the very first public speaking platform for many of the participants. It enhanced their confidence and provided the opportunity to use their voice to champion causes they cared about. The contestants received scholarships and educational resources, mentorship, and have gone on to achieve higher education, and launch their initiatives while mentoring other girls. Miss Education Awareness Pageant was acknowledged by former U.S First Lady, Michelle Obama, during the Mandela Washington Fellowship Presidential Summit in Washington D.C in 2014, as an innovative approach towards keeping girls in school. I was also invited to serve as a speaker for her Girls’ Education in Africa Conversation, where I made recommendations on how we can advance Girls’ Education on the continent.
How did you get into poetry? What does it mean to you?
Poetry got into me, I’d say. 🙂 I started writing from a very young age during the civil war in my country. As I mentioned before, books and writing were an outlet for me as a child in conflict, and I used them to escape the chaos that surrounded me. They broadened my imagination and helped me dream beyond my tiny shores. Books were my very first best friends before I began making human friends. Poetry has always been a sacred space for me, and it has journeyed with me through many seasons of my life. I wrote and performed a poem for my talent during the Miss Liberia pageant and won. I also wrote and performed a poem at the Miss World 2006 Talent Competition, emerging amongst the Top 10 Talent. I wrote a poem in honor of former U.S President Obama in 2014, acknowledging the impact he had on me upon meeting him for the first time, and received a heartfelt letter from him. So, you see, poetry has always been at the heart of some of my most treasured moments and it continues to save the day.
Congratulations on winning the First Prize for the Poetry in English category for the IE Foundation Prizes in the Humanities. Tell us about this experience and what ‘An Afro-Madrileña Love Note is about?
Thank you so much. It was an honor to have emerged as the 1st Prize winner of 2020 IE Foundation Prizes in the Humanities. I lived and went to school in Madrid, and the poem, ‘An Afro-Madrileña Love Note” is a love letter to a city dear to my heart; a city that embraced and blessed me in so many ways. I wrote it during one of its darkest days. As you’re probably aware, Madrid was one of the hardest-hit cities during the earlier days of the pandemic. I saw how the once bustling and vibrant city turned into a ghost town and wanted to empathize with it through my poem. A Madrileña is a female resident of Madrid, while a Madrileño is a male resident of Madrid. So, as an African woman living there, I coined the term “Afro-Madrileña, to reflect my connection to the city and the impact it had on me. It is a prestigious award, and the process was highly competitive. There were over 700 works across the five categories. Winning the prize cemented and re-affirmed yet again, that I’m on a mission with my pen and voice to transform lives and shift narratives in this world
The Ebola epidemic in Liberia led to the closure of your business. How was that experience for you and how does it differ from the current impact of the COVID -19 pandemic?
The Ebola outbreak was a difficult period for Liberia, and countries impacted by the outbreak. At the time, I ran a fashion social enterprise and had just returned from the Mandela Washington Fellowship in the United States, the flagship program of President Obama’s Young African Leaders Initiative. I was fired up and poised to push the business forward. I soon realized that clothing and artisanal items weren’t a top priority like healthcare services were, so I had to pivot. As we navigate these complicated times of COVID, the lessons I learned from Ebola have been very helpful. My poem, “The Ebola Ride”, recounts the experience. I always say that Ebola was a dress rehearsal for COVID; had the world paid attention, we would have been better prepared to tackle it. However, during the earlier days of the pandemic, Liberia, and countries with prior Ebola experience, had a more timely and robust response, gleaning from lessons learned.
How did you become Liberia’s voice of reason during the Ebola challenge?
We all have a voice and can use it for good. During The 2014 Ebola outbreak, stigmatization was at an all-time high. As a result, myself, and several artists, came together to launch the “Ebola Is Not My Identity” campaign, to combat stigmatization by showcasing creative works of art. The goal was to highlight the human side of the situation, instead of the images of despair shown on the news at the time. This advocacy took me to Morocco, where I spoke at the African Creative Economy Conference, and Dartmouth College, where I addressed the Dartmouth Coalition of Global Health and members of the faculty, and to Hanover High School, in New Hampshire, enlightening students on the negative impact of stigmatization, and how to join forces to combat it.
What has been your experience being an entrepreneur and running successful businesses in Africa? Any key lessons that you’re willing to share?
My experience as an entrepreneur has been one of learning, unlearning, relearning, and evolving. It has provided me with an opportunity to make a difference and contribute fresh insights and shift the spaces I’ve operated in. The challenges have also served as an opportunity to keep growing. Persistence, insatiable hunger for knowledge, and knowing when to pivot, have also proven worthwhile in my entrepreneurial journey. Entrepreneurship isn’t one size fits all, and passion alone cannot do it. One must have a marathon mindset and be prepared to acquire the knowledge and skills needed to thrive.
You have appeared on several big platforms advocating for women in Africa. What does the power of voice mean to you? How can women develop it?
As a writer and communicator, the power of voice is something I don’t take lightly. Voice is a significant instrument each of us is blessed with. Beyond being a tool for communication, our voice is our power. With it, we can share our perspectives, stories, pain, triumphs, and bring about healing and transformation. With our voice, we can contribute to shifting narratives around critical issues in our communities. Our voice can cultivate empathy, bringing to the fore those common threads that bind us. Our voice is our strength, and it can never be silenced or snatched away from us. Women already have a voice; they only need to be awakened to its power and stop waiting for permission to use it.
What in your opinion are the most pertinent issues facing women in Africa right now? What is the one thing that can bring about a paradigm shift for women in Africa?
Patriarchal structures, damaging cultural practices, gender-based violence,
limited educational and economic opportunities, biases towards women’s professional advancement, unequal political participation and representation, and exclusion of women from tables of decision-making, are just a few of the challenges that continue to hinder women’s leadership and contributions in Africa. To bring about a paradigm shift, countries must push for legislation and policy change to elevate gender equality, increase women’s access to economic opportunities, accelerate the implementation of policies, improve reproductive health services, address longstanding structural issues, and increase access to quality education for women and girls.
Women have contributed significantly to Africa’s development, particularly with regards to leadership and peacebuilding. For example, in Liberia, we elected Africa’s 1st female president, while Rwanda currently has the highest women’s representation in parliament in the world. The work is far from done, however, African women are awakening to their power and will keep pushing for the Africa they envisage.
“How we can make entrepreneurship more sustainable for the long term, particularly for businesses that employ or engage diaspora communities.” Such a key question that you raised as a keynote speaker at the Global Entrepreneurship week held at the UN headquarters in Geneva. Could you elaborate on this aspect?
That was the theme of my panel at the 2016 Global Entrepreneurship Week, held at the U.N Headquarters in Geneva Switzerland, where I was the keynote speaker. The goal of the discussion was to address challenges around migration and highlight ways in which migrants can create viable entrepreneurial ventures for themselves as they integrate into new societies.
As an author of ‘Under Ducor Skies’ and ‘Why I smile.’ What does it mean to bring your knowledge to the world?
Bringing my knowledge to the world is a fulfillment of God’s mandate for my life; to use my gifts of writing and voice to enlighten, educate, disrupt, and inspire. I also use my pen to document and shift narratives on Africa. My book, Under Ducor Skies, mirrors reflections on my childhood during the war, coming into my own, love, and themes of loss, hope, women’s empowerment, and making something out of nothing. My first children’s book, “Why I Smile”, released earlier this year, is a pandemic-inspired book, co-written with my 6-year-old nephew, to encourage and uplift children living through difficult situations. As editor and educator, I’ve edited several culturally relevant books for children in support of the Liberia Literary Society, whose board I sit on. The organization works to preserve Liberian literacy works and provide educational resources for programs geared towards educating children and youth.
You’ve had many achievements. Which of these stands out for you?
Amongst my numerous achievements, my work with the girls I mentor is the most profound. Throughout my years of working with girls, I’ve set out to impact them, and have ended up learning more from them than I’d imagined. Legacy and leading with empathy should be at the heart of our efforts. As we rise, we must bring those who look up to us along.
You’re a high achiever. How do you keep going when the going gets tough?
Prayer, rest, writing, a strong support system, reading, the quest for continuous learning and growth, are some of the things that keep me going when the journey gets tough. Also, knowing that I’ve been through some difficult times and I’m still here – anchored and kept, is a salient reminder that I can overcome whatever life throws my way.
Do, you have a life mantra? Could you share it with the Stellar Woman readers?
My life mantra is Let God Lead.
Based on your experience, what are the key life lessons that you are willing to share for the Stellar Woman readers to learn from?
Some key life lessons I’d like to share with the Stellar Woman readers:
Never get too attached to past accomplishments that you forget to evolve; always dare to be more. Walk your path and claim your own space. Use every opportunity you get to be of service. Always radiate kindness and empathy. Learn to cultivate moments of rest, introspection, and replenishing.
What future do you envision for women globally?
I envision a world where all barriers hindering women’s leadership, advancement and contributions are nonexistent; a world where women are free to lead and are valued at all levels of society. A world where women come to the full realization of the power they possess and begin to step into it without waiting for permission. A world with equal opportunities for all and more women at tables of decision-making. A world where gender is no longer a marker of women’s achievements and how far they can go.
Do you have a morning routine? Could you please share it with the Stellar Woman readers?
My morning routine is prayer, stillness, and writing.
What are your ideal stellar woman attributes?
My ideal Stellar woman is confident and grounded in who and whose she is. She uses her voice to shift and change narratives. She stands firm in faith and purpose and is constantly learning and evolving; she owns and walks boldly in her power and never dims her light or dilutes who she is. She seeks to enlighten, not appease.
What do you have to add to your life to make you feel more stellar?
To feel more stellar, one must add the word of God and stand firm in one’s identity as a child of God. When you’re rooted in faith, many things will shake you, but they will never succeed at breaking you. Remember to take excellent care of yourself – mind, body, and soul. Have a positive network and own your definition of what you want your life to be.
Could you please leave one challenge for the Stellar Woman readers to help them live a stellar life?
Commit to becoming a lifelong learner and stop downplaying yourself and your gifts. When a new challenge emerges, face it head-on, instead of cowering away. Say YES to things you’d normally say no to. Surround yourself with those who genuinely love and respect you and want the very best for you. Work with what you have now as you take steps to where you want to go. In an era where self-proclaimed professionals abound, constantly challenge yourself, elevate your mindset, and master your craft. Seize every opportunity you get to acquire new skills and expand your world, that way, you’ll stand out and become stellar in all that you do.