“Everything I am today is because of my education.”
Aicha Macky

For the sociologist and documentary film maker Aicha Macky, education has played a key role in her life: "Everything I am today is because of my education."

Aicha explains that although her father was not educated, he recognized the value of getting an education and ensured that all his children went to school. She appreciates the cultural diversity and different ways of thinking to which she was exposed thanks to her education, stating that being educated "opened my eyes."

Aicha had some struggles in finding her career path. She initially wanted to study diplomacy, but had to study law instead. It took some time before she could find her true vocation, finally settling on sociology and cinematography. Today she considers herself a cultural ambassador for her country, saying how "Thanks to my education I am able to communicate with the world."

Aicha can't imagine her life without an education: "Not being educated is something that I can't even envision for myself." She believes that a woman who is educated is better equipped to run a household, to carry a healthy pregnancy to term, and is more capable of educating and raising a child.

This story is part of education shapes futures, a compilation of powerful stories of young people living in GPE partner developing countries on how education had a positive impact on their lives.