Published March 11, 2025
By : Staff Writer
In 2025, we celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, highlighting the incredible impact of women’s leadership through the years. It's inspiring to see voices like Inyillah Borteh Conteh emerging from the generation following this pivotal historical moment.
In 2021, Inyillah married her soulmate. After the wedding, the young, upwardly mobile couple began a new adventure in Madison, Wisconsin.
Inyillah holds a degree in journalism from Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone, and initially made her mark as a print journalist. Driven to uplift others, she transitioned to the nonprofit sector, passionately advocating for women's and girls' empowerment in her community.
Recently, Inyillah achieved a significant milestone: she earned her Master of Science in Human Ecology, focusing on Community Engagement and Nonprofit Leadership from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
In this letter to WOC Online, she invites us to join her in exploring the exciting and transformative experience of her move to America, which was filled with hope and new possibilities.
Life in the U.S. is different from what I knew in Sierra Leone, but time has its way, and as every day goes by, I continue to adjust and feel at home.
Coming to the U.S. felt great because I was starting a new life as a married partner and advancing my career journey.
I have always been intentional about my career choices: serve others. But transitioning into a new life can be hard. For me, it was Herculean.
The social dynamics in the U.S. and those in Sierra Leone have wide variations, and most times, I would find myself caught up in situations I was resistant to, whether experiencing intersectionality for the first time or dealing with xenophobia; I always felt disoriented. I was homesick.
My husband, the amazing man he is, was my escape. Our long and hearty conversations and romantic adventures did the magic, which made me wonder sometimes what life could have been like living alone in such a multicultural environment.
Months later, I told myself it was time to accept and adjust to my new life.
I started connecting with people as I took more interest in learning about their cultures and career interests, and before I knew it, I had built a fantastic community of friends. I also started taking leadership roles in my school as I continued to spread my wings and take up spaces.
I had my son a few months before I graduated. Family life felt fulfilled; everything worked out as planned. After graduation, I nursed my son for three months before I started looking for a job.
The job search was hectic, but I had support navigating the process. Some of my friends, mentors, and professional contacts sent a lot of resources my way, and then I finally landed a job.
I work at the African Center for Community Development in Madison. I serve as the Community and Volunteer Engagement Officer.
I foresee a future for myself and my family, and I plan to give back through community service as I continue to spread my wings and take up spaces.
