AYV News, June 5, 2025
Eunice Naffie Mustapha, a distinguished Legal Policy Expert and Storyteller from Sierra Leone, has redirected $1,555 raised through a GoFundMe campaign—initially intended to support her partial scholarship at New York University (NYU)—towards empowering 24 female Sierra Leoneans with skills training.
In 2024, Mustapha was awarded a partial scholarship to pursue a Master of Laws (LL.M.) degree at NYU. Despite securing $30,000 through personal efforts, she faced a funding gap to meet the total projected cost of $113,804. To bridge this gap, she launched a GoFundMe campaign. However, when the campaign did not raise the necessary funds, Mustapha made the heartfelt decision to channel the $1,555 collected into supporting female capacity-building in Sierra Leone.
Prior to reallocating the funds, Mustapha reached out to the donors via email and other means, informing them of the situation. Some donors encouraged her to retain the funds for personal pursuits, others did not provide feedback, while one donor suggested using her donation to support individuals affected by substance abuse (Kush) in Sierra Leone. Mustapha invested the funds in providing 24 young Sierra Leoneans with access to skills training programs. She strongly encouraged most beneficiaries to use their support to pay for a one-month Coursera Plus subscription. Coursera provides access to high-quality courses from leading universities and institutions, offering valuable opportunities for personal and professional development.
Additionally, one beneficiary was enrolled in the Tadris Empowerment Initiative, further expanding opportunities for skill acquisition. Mustapha said this about the selection process “In selecting beneficiaries, I used the same approach as my donors: most were personally known to me, and the Tadris Foundation beneficiary won their slot through an online giveaway. I chose female beneficiaries interested in capacity building, including young female leaders who had volunteered with Strong Girls Evolution.”
Mustapha’s dedication to female and youth empowerment is consistent with her longstanding commitment to social development. She has previously served as the Executive Director of Strong Girls Evolution, an organization focused on the personal development of young female Sierra Leoneans, and has been recognized multiple times among the 50 Most Influential Sierra Leonean Women. Her academic accolades include an LL.B with First Class Honors from Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone, a Degree of Utter Barrister from the Sierra Leone Law School, a Certificate in International Human Rights Law and an LL.M. in National and Global Health Law from Georgetown University Law Center.
Funds collected and disbursed were recorded and data securely stored for recordkeeping purposes. “This information is available to people upon request, provided they can show proof of their donation. Donors who wish to learn more about how their contributions were used to support beneficiaries may contact me via enm50820@gmail.com,” She added.
Eunice Naffie Mustapha, LL.M. is a Legal Policy Expert and Storyteller with experience in policy analysis, program management, research, leadership, and strategic communications. She has a proven track record of designing and implementing initiatives that drive social impact. Her cross-sector expertise spans government, nonprofit, academic, and private institutions, with a focus on international human rights, gender equity and equality, women’s leadership, public health law, and cross-functional collaboration. Having worked in both developing and developed contexts, Eunice brings a global perspective to leading teams, engaging diverse stakeholders, and advocating for systemic change.
