Aid Edwige in Overcoming Financial Barriers to Graduate

Since arriving in the United States at the age of six, Edwige Dossou-Kitti, a first-generation immigrant from Togo, has dreamed of becoming a physician. Her inspiration stems from the countless strokes her mother has endured—nine in total—and from being her mother’s sole caregiver. This role has defined Edwige's life, shaping her strength, compassion, and dedication to helping others. She became the first member of her family to complete high school and pursue a college degree. She then obtained a master's in public health before finally matriculating into the Medical Doctorate program at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School in Fall 2019. Edwige is currently a fourth-year medical student at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School in Newark, NJ. Now, Edwige finds herself in a dire situation, living in her car and struggling to finish her medical school journey after years of hard work. She needs your help to see her dream through.

The reason for this GoFundMe is that Edwige was told in June 2024 by her school that she owes tuition due to an unfixable technical error made in November 2023 to the account of an academic year that had already concluded. To Edwige's knowledge, she had already satisfied any balance for the 2022-2023 academic school year in question. It came as a surprise and shock to Edwige that, due to an error by the financial aid office, she now has a $30,000 balance. The school informed her, unfortunately, that they cannot help her and that she needs to find external sources to satisfy this balance despite being qualified for the Graduate Plus loan that would cover this amount, as the error pertains to a school year that has already concluded.

Edwige was not made aware of the error until months into the 2024-2025 academic school year, which is two academic calendars later. Edwige has reached out to multiple departments in her school and higher-ups, but no one has been able to rectify the situation. Rather, Edwige has been told that, to graduate, she needs to pay this balance out of pocket. The school plans on denying Edwige her medical degree until this balance is paid. She cannot start residency without her degree.

Why should you support Edwige?

Edwige is known in her community and throughout Rutgers as an advocate, a mentor to many, and an individual who embodies the principles of humanism. She is empathetic and compassionate to all. She is always ready to donate her time to help others. She has been involved in many volunteer services at school and in her local community. Edwige needs your help because she has been fighting to complete her medical education for the past six years. Throughout the years, Edwige has gone through a lot personally and financially, and overcome so many obstacles, including the following:

Edwige is a survivor of long-standing domestic abuse.

Edwige has also faced retribution from certain family members for advocating for her mother, who is a victim of domestic abuse (psychological, emotional, financial), and this resulted in her being estranged.

All the stress associated with the acts of retribution from her family for speaking up caused many setbacks in her education.

She faces retaliation because, culturally, it is taboo within the family to report abuse.

Despite all this, Edwige has not given up on her dream and continues to pour her heart and soul into becoming a doctor. This GoFundMe is Edwige's final attempt to fulfill her dream. She has exhausted every avenue, including taking on odd jobs, remote work, and anything to substantiate her income.

To rectify this balance, Edwige already tried applying for private loans but did not qualify. She tried supplementing her income by working, which further delayed her in taking her board exam and meeting other rotation requirements. She now has to extend graduation by a month. All of these barriers are causing Edwige to run out of time. If she does not get her degree this year, all her hard work would have been for nothing. Edwige desperately needs your help because she has until May 2025 to obtain her degree.

Any donation would help and would mean a lot to Edwige because Edwige has always had to fend for herself since the age of seventeen. This is the first time in her life that she is in a position where she cannot provide for herself and is turning to the public for help. Any additional funds collected will help her cover her cost of living as she completes the few rotations she has left to graduate.

See the link below to learn more about Edwige. News Coverage of Edwige's White Coat Ceremony NJ