Matilda Issata Sawie

Matilda Issata Sawie
Delegate for Pennsylvania
Former Refugee from Liberia

Matilda Issata Sawie is the Refugee Congress Delegate for Pennsylvania. She is a former refugee originally from Liberia.

Matilda has had a lifelong commitment to public health and outreach. While in the refugee camp, she volunteered as a peer educator, teaching her peers how to prevent sexually transmitted infections and unplanned pregnancy.

When she came to the U.S., Matilda earned an associate degree in applied sciences and a bachelor of science in public health from Temple University, all while maintaining two jobs, caring for her family in her country of origin, and dedicating her time to volunteer. She is passionate about her work as a storyteller, raising awareness about domestic violence against women, rape, climate change, and refugee, asylum-seeker, and immigrant rights, including access to healthcare and other social services.

Matilda has worked as an HIV/AIDS Medical Case Manager. Today, she works as a TB Screening Coordinator in the Department of Public Health. She coordinates TB screening and treatments as per the CDC’s classification for refugees and immigrants. Additionally, she is completing a Master’s in Public Health at West Chester University, and she worked in her community as a Census taker for Census 2020.

“My experiences throughout childhood and adolescence helped shape my dedication to my community and ignited my passion for using my struggles and telling my story to help other people to find their way and heal through life.”

In the News:

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