Maame Obeng

UConn School of Nursing, Class of 2017

I was born in Ghana, West Africa and moved with my siblings to the United States my sophomore year of high school. I live in New Britain, CT.

Growing up in Ghana, I encountered many communities that lacked resources such as money, hospitals, clinics and healthcare professionals that could provide quality healthcare. Lack of education led these communities to unsanitary practices, making them vulnerable to preventable diseases. After I moved to the United States, I noticed similar underserved groups that prompted me to join the Hunger and Homelessness Project during my freshman year at UConn. I took part in UConn’s Homelessness Sleepout, where students showed support and raised money for the homeless by sleeping in cardboard boxes for a night. We also volunteered at the soup kitchen in Willimantic every Saturday to help feed the homeless, and organized food drives for them throughout the semester. I have also volunteered with the Emergency Department of the Hospital of Central Connecticut and with Apple Rehab, a nursing home where I met many people from underserved communities.

The opportunity to be an Urban Health Scholar will enable me to support similarly underserved groups throughout Connecticut, especially in the urban communities in need of health and safety education. I hope that my participation in UST will sharpen my professional and personable skills in the healthcare field which will eventually strengthen my desire and ability to pursue a career in community-based healthcare.