Sasakawa International Scholarship

My name is Mary Dakim. I am a second-year graduate student in International Development program. I was born and raised in Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria. In 2007, I completed my undergraduate studies, earning a B.S. and B.A degrees respectively in Economics and Finance and Elementary Education.

Most recently, I did my practicum at the United States International Council on Disabilities (USICD). During my practicum at the USICD, I worked with a team of librarians and disability experts to gather useful and quality resources for the Global Disability Rights Library (GDRL). I also have had several internship experiences including a stint as an accountant with Communication Services for the Deaf (CSD) in Sioux Falls, South Dakota and in Nigeria with the Plateau State Ministries of Education and Finance. I did a teaching practicum at the Sidwell Friends School in Bethesda Maryland as well as a teaching internship at the Sandy Spring Friends School in Montgomery County where I taught 4th graders Language Arts, Social Studies and other subjects.

I view education as a key to escaping poverty. Therefore, I want to be a resource for girls and women with disabilities affected by war, inequality, and social stigma. The United Nations has acknowledged girls and women with disabilities as some of the most marginalized members of the society. This has inspired me to pursue avenues for becoming a catalyst in advocating and facilitating the empowerment of women with disabilities in developing countries.