From Disability to Ambassadorship Soumaya Mohamed Yeslemis, MauritaniaSoumaya Mohamed Yeslemis is a young woman from Mauritania whose education was interrupted by a walking disability. She was supported by the SAFIA Centre in Dar Naim, Nouakchott, through its UNICEF-funded programme for out-of-school young women aged 15 to 24. A self-taught English speaker with a sharp mind, she also has a creative flair for drawing and painting unique images. In 2023, she was passed over for the opportunity to represent SAFIA Centre at an international conference, a setback tied to how she presented herself in that moment."She has made me see clearly the implications of my decisions... she guided me to the right decision I should make." Soumaya Mohamed YeslemisAfter a coaching session with Dr. Glory Ukwenga, Soumaya made the adjustments that opened the door to the global civic space. By October 2024, she had been selected as one of the Sahel youth representatives at the Hamburg Sustainability Conference, representing the youth of Mauritania. There, she met German Development Minister Svenja Schulze and advocated for girls' education and empowerment across the Sahel. Today, she is recognised as an Ambassador of the SAFIA Centre and trains its newest intake of beneficiaries.