Born and raised in Guinea-Bissau, West Africa, 21-year-old Mama Samba Djalo is studying medicine in Türkiye with the aim of bringing healing to her country with limited resources.
Djalo, whose family’s financial means were insufficient, but who had dreamed of studying abroad since childhood, was entitled to receive his high school education in Türkiye thanks to the Türkiye Diyanet Foundation, which he applied to when he was in secondary school.
Separated from his family and 20 siblings at the age of 15, Djalo completed his education at Sivas International Anatolian Imam Hatip High School and succeeded in a full scholarship to the Konya Chamber of Commerce (KTO) Karatay University Faculty of Medicine.
Djalo, a 2nd-year student at the faculty, said his father wanted Türkiye, rather than Europe, to be a Muslim country because of the advanced possibilities of the country.
Djalo said he and his family are both happy about the Turkish education, adding that the educational opportunities here are much better compared to his country, After becoming a doctor, he says, he wants to aid the needy in his country., and said:
“I will return to my country with the education I received here. There are a lot of people out there who need it. People are dying because there is not much treatment in my country for those who have cancer. The people there absolutely need well-trained doctors. And knowing that, I’m doing my best.”
“I don’t feel like a foreigner here”
Emphasizing that he aims to contribute to the development of the health sector in his country, Djalo said, “My objective is to become a general surgeon. Because the number of doctors to operate on cancer patients in my country is insufficient. I think so for now, but I don’t know what will happen next. What I will be, where I will be more successful, will be clear after I move to the clinic.” He said.
Djalo, stating that he is happy in Türkiye, stated, “It is a very beautiful country, an enlightened country, and its nation is conscious. Its people are helpful. I don’t feel like an outsider here. My friends, my environment, and my teachers are very supportive when I have difficulty. They support me so much that they don’t feel the difference of not being in my country,” he said.
