What if Your Househelp Today is a Nurse-in-Waiting?
What began as a temporary domestic job during a Canadian family’s visit to Ghana has led to a powerful transformation for a young woman named Benedicta, who has now graduated as a professional nurse from the Nurses & Midwives Training College in Teshie, Accra.
Approximately six years prior, Dr. Yaw Perbi, a Ghanaian physician and leadership expert based in Canada, relocated temporarily to Ghana with his wife and children for a furlough. During their stay, the family—then with young children—sought domestic assistance and eventually welcomed Benedicta after a series of unsuccessful placements.
According to Dr. Perbi, it quickly became evident that Benedicta possessed remarkable qualities including intelligence, humility, diligence, and kindness. Rather than seeing her as simply household help, the family took a deeper interest in her aspirations and long-term potential.
“Benedicta had what it takes to become a high-impact professional like anyone else,” Dr. Perbi noted. “We saw beyond her current role and looked into how we could help improve her educational foundation.”
The family discovered that while Benedicta had completed high school, her final grades limited her opportunities. Together with his wife, parents-in-law, and other relatives, they helped funded extra classes and supported her in re-sitting examinations. When the opportunity arose for her to attend nursing college, the support extended to include entrance exam coaching and mock interviews led by Mrs. Norah Sowa, Dr. Perbi’s mother-in-law.
Those efforts paid off. Benedicta secured admission into nursing college, and years later, the family proudly attended her graduation—a full-circle moment marking her journey from house help to healthcare professional.
Dr. Perbi reflected on the experience during one Easter season, drawing a parallel between leadership and sacrificial service. “At Easter, we see the ultimate leader—Jesus—laying down His life for those He saw value in. True leadership means laying ourselves down so that others can rise.”
He also revealed that the family Benedicta had worked for prior to joining theirs had intended to support her in selling fried pork by the roadside. “Not that it’s dishonourable,” he said, “but she had potential for so much more.”
Referencing leadership mentor Cecelia Chan, Dr. Perbi concludes with a challenge: “Instead of laying a red carpet for yourself to walk on, lay a bridge and let the young people walk over to you.”
Benedicta’s story has since inspired many, serving as a real-life example of transformational leadership, sacrificial investment, and the power of seeing value in others.