Today we’d like to introduce you to Debora Kobe.
Hi Debora, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My story begins in 2010 in Ivory Coast, West Africa. I was 17 years old, in my final year of high school, when a post-election crisis turned into a brutal war that lasted for six months. Overnight, life became unrecognizable; violence, loss, fear, and instability surrounded us. I still remember lying on the floor of our living room with my parents, bullets shattering through our windows. Even inside our home, we were not safe. At that moment, I made a promise to God: if my family survived, I would dedicate my life to children who had no one, those without parents, shelter, or hope.
Four years later, that promise began to take shape. I was selected for a fully funded U.S. Department of Education exchange program, where I focused my project on empowering street children through education and vocational training. That experience transformed me. I learned not only compassion, but structure in how to turn purpose into impact. Since then, we have helped sponsor the education of over 1,000 children, girls and boys who once believed a classroom was out of reach.
But over time, I realized something deeper: education alone was not enough. After experiencing domestic abuse firsthand, I came to understand that many of these children are already broken long before they reach the classroom. The pain begins at home. Hunger and lack of education are visible struggles, but trauma, violence, and fear are the invisible wounds that shape their lives.
So we expanded our mission. Today, we not only provide education, but also domestic violence support and mental health care, because healing the whole child is the only way they can truly thrive. More recently, here with the ICE surge in Minnesota, we’ve seen how abuse can take new forms. Some immigrant survivors face threats tied to their legal status, partners using fear, manipulation, and legal systems against them to maintain control. These are the families we stand beside today.In Ivory Coast, the needs are even greater: shelter, healthcare, education, and economic support are all critical. While we have made meaningful progress, there is still so much more to be done.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
This journey has not been easy, and truthfully, it may never be. The people we serve often cannot fully express their pain. Fear, shame, and hopelessness silence them. In some communities, families initially resisted our efforts, unsure or afraid of what education might mean for their children. It took time, trust, and presence to help them see that education is not a threat, but a path forward.
Funding has also been a constant challenge. This work began with my own limited resources, then supported by friends and family. But the need far exceeds what we can currently provide. There are still so many children waiting, so many survivors needing support.
On a personal level, I’ve faced financial hardship while pursuing my education, and endured domestic abuse. These experiences were painful but they gave me clarity. They showed me exactly why our work matters. Because no child, no woman, no human being should have to endure suffering alone.
As you know, we’re big fans of My Education My Future . For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
My Education My Future is a 501(c)3 empowering vulnerable children and families through education, health, and holistic support. We believe that education opens doors, but true change happens when children are safe, nourished, and supported emotionally.
Our work spans Ivory Coast and Minnesota. In Ivory Coast, we help children access school through tuition, supplies, and uniforms, while also providing food, healthcare, and outreach for those living in challenging conditions. In Minnesota, we support domestic violence survivors and at-risk-youth through mentorship, youth programs, and resources that promote safety and stability.
We are proud of a mission rooted in lived experience and community trust. Every child we help, every family we support, represents lasting impact.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
Resilience. This is not work you can walk away from at the end of the day. Abuse happens in silence, every single day. Children are suffering quietly. Survivors are fighting battles no one sees. Resilience is what keeps us showing up. What started as a passion has become a calling; one that is strengthened by every child we help, every life we touch. Their potential fuels our determination.
But resilience alone is not enough. Leadership matters. Vision matters. Without structure, even the strongest passion can fade. That’s why we are building not just a mission, but a sustainable movement of change.
Pricing:
- $20 a month sponsors a child’s education for a year
- $25 a month sustains an entire family of 3
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.memfu.org
