Ghana’s 2015 Vlisco Ambassador is Elizabeth Patterson. She is the founder and executive director of ‘The Girl’s Education Initiative of Ghana’ (GEIG). GEIG’s mission is to provide academic and financial support for girls – including applicants with special needs, so they can access higher education and professional opportunities.

Her dedication to special needs children stems from being one herself. A fatal car accident in 2003 changed the course of her life and left her handicapped. But Elizabeth found the ability within her disability and earned her high school diploma from her hospital bed, after which she continued to study and eventually graduated with a master’s degree from New York University.
Needless to say, Elizabeth sets an example for girls and women with all sorts of abilities and disabilities and reminds us that anything is possible.

“Women should never give up. Especially the ones that have been through the same as me. I’ve been brought back up, out of the hospital bed. I don’t see why you should give up.”