Bridge2Rwanda
Sponsoring bright students to attend top universities
education
Overview
“Education is the most powerful weapon which can be used to change the world.”
Nelson Mandela
Knowledge will be the basic building block that enables all that the South Sudanese strive to achieve. With no advanced educational institutions in South Sudan, we continue to sponsor a growing number of bright young students to attend Bridge2Rwanda where they study English, mathematics, and science for 10 months in preparation for success with college entry examinations at the top colleges and universities in the world.
Recent Progress
How It Works
At Empower Kids, every initiative meets an important need for those living in South Sudan.
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What is it
Bridge2Rwanda educates 40 students for 10 months, focusing solely on English, mathematics, and science. We fund 4-5 students from South Sudan each year, in an effort to begin building "bench strength" for the future of South Sudan.
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Why it's important
In order for South Sudan to "catch-up" in a world that is not standing still, it will be necessary to have well-educated men and women in leadership positions who are capable of navigating through the myriad of challenges facing their country as they build a brighter, better, and stronger future for all citizens in South Sudan. Bridge2Rwanda continues to be an important step in this direction.
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What's next
With our commitment to fund 4-5 bright young men and women into Bridge2Rwanda each year, we envision a "stream" of college graduates returning to their country to assume leadership roles which will benefit the many millions of South Sudan who are seeking a brighter future.
B2R Scholars - South Sudan
Aluel Malaak Deng
Agnes Scott College
My name is Aluel Malaak Deng and I am the second last-born in a family of four Boys and two girls. I could have not achieved my life goals without role models and people who inspire me within my family. This is not the only privilege I had since I am also blessed with half siblings; four boys and one girl. My mother is the first wife of the two. I studied my nursery and half of my primary in Nimule. However, I did not continue with all my studies in Nimule because my family had to relocate to their original Birth place (hometown), Bor in 2007. I was forced to leave my family in 2012 for Juba in search for better education. In Juba, I stayed with my uncle under the guidance and support of my elder brother. My stay in Juba taught me self-care and responsibilities. I’m advantaged to have received scholarship to study at Agnes Scott College through MasterCard-ALA with the help of Bridge2Rwanda. I intend to major in Public Health and minor in Psychology. My hobbies surrounds: playing with children, reading stories, cooking, and watching movies.
Adhel Geng
Wellesley College
My mother likes to say that I was born a very active, curious, and communicative girl. I like to think of myself as the chief troublemaker of the family. My sisters on the other hand, loathe my insatiable hunger knowledge because sometimes that makes me very stubborn. Growing up under the watchful eyes of an uncle was an added challenge each day. I knew from an early age that my three sisters and I had to work extra hard to erase the pity that society has on my father for not bearing sons. Thus, I have lived most of my life proving to my family that I am as capable as a boy would have been had he been born instead of me. Last year was a blessed year for me: I got admitted to Bridge2Rwanda, and was awarded a scholarship to Wellesley College. I plan to pursue public health in college with the hope that this degree will arm me with the necessary tools for alleviating poor quality healthcare provisions in South Sudan. Aside from an interest in public health, I enjoy reading and contemplative writing. I also hope that by going to college, many girls in South Sudan shall aspire to do the same.
Elizabeth Diing Lual Manyang
George Washington University
My name is Elizabeth Diing Lual and I was born in Chukudum, South Sudan. I got separated from my parents when I was only three years old due to insecurity in the country. I am the firstborn in a family of eleven children. My father has two wives with my biological mother being the first wife. I started my primary school in Jebel Mara, Kakuma Refugee Camp, and then moved to Chrisco Academy in Nakuru where I completed my primary school studies. I was fortunate to attend a girls’ public school in Kenya, Njoro Girls’ High School, where I finally finished my national examinations. Afterwards, I returned to Kakuma Refugee Camp and volunteered as a Mathematic and Chemistry teacher in Kakuma Refugee Secondary School. While in the Camp, I was lucky to apply to Bridge2Rwanda and I was selected as one of the first student from Kakuma to join Bridge2Rwanda program. With the help of B2R, I got a scholarship to study in George Washington University, Washington, DC. I am currently undecided but I intend to major in engineering or computer science and minor in development studies. My hobbies are taking photographs, enjoying nature, and reading fictional books.
Thomas Mark Joseph Lako
St. Olaf College
My name is Thomas Mark Joseph, and I was born on March 19th, 1997 in Juba, the capital city of South Sudan. I am the fourth born in a family of six children. In 2004, I started my primary education in St. Joseph, a Catholic school located in Juba. After attaining a primary education certificate, I completed my certificate of secondary education in Juba Diocesan Model Secondary School in 2016, in Juba, and I was second best student in the entire country in the national exams. After graduating from secondary school, I worked as a school receptionist, restaurant manager, and served as a vice president in an association called JDMSS-Former Student Association. I am tentatively planning to major in political sciences, with specific emphasis on international relations. As a person from South Sudan, a country devastated by many years of civil war, I am very interested in any activity/initiative involving peace, because my dream is to see a peaceful South Sudan where citizens enjoy their rights, participate in nation building and incubate future leaders. I don’t have a specific hobby, but I like playing soccer and basketball, reading fiction books, going for evening walks, and making many friends.
Joseph Dudi Miabok
My name is Joseph Dudi Miabok from Ruweng State, South Sudan. I was separated with my parents at an early age during the second Sudanese civil war and was raised in Kakuma Refugee Camp, Kenya. My education began in the camp at Palotaka Primary School in 2002 and I completed my high school course in the Secondary School in 2014. From that time, I haven’t had the opportunity to attend college until 2017 when I joined Bridge2Rwanda. After the college application process in Bridge2Rwanda, I was accepted into Harvard University’s Class of 2022, and I intend to major in computer science. I recently traveled back to South Sudan to see my father, mother and grandmother for the first time in 16 years. I enjoy reading, playing or watching soccer, and my favorite team is Manchester United.
Mary Nyariak Maker
Mary Nyiriak Maker is the first born in a family of 11 children. She was born in South Sudan but immediately fled when the country was rifled with conflict. Her family moved to Kakuma Refugee camp where they started a new life. Her father having been a soldier organized for her to move to a better region of Kenya that had good schools. Her childhood life was hard while living with her stepmother. Unfortunately, her family was caught up by catastrophe when her mother, stepmother, and father were swept away by disease. She had to struggle to finish high school and was able to make it through. Well wishers-most often family members- would constantly save to help her with school fees and she was more than devoted to make it through. She volunteered as a teacher at Kakuma Refugee Secondary school before she was enrolled to Bridge2Rwanda. Mary’s hobbies are: singing, dancing, and drama.
Tongu Geofrey Abdalla
Tongu Geofrey Abdalla is the third born of seven children (two boys and five girls). His father is an accountant at the ministry of Health South Sudan and the mother is a cleaner at Al Cardinal hospital. Geofrey studied part of his primary school in Juba, South Sudan, and in Uganda where he sat for his primary national examinations. Afterwards, he joined Namugongo Secondary and Vocational School for one year and then transferred to Juba Diocesan Model Secondary due to financial challenges. He did his final high school examinations in juba Diocesan. Geofrey’s interests and hobbies are: taking evening nature walks, reading novels, listening to mind relaxing music and playing basketball. Before joining Bridge2Rwanda, he worked with an event organizing company in Juba where he had his firsthand experience about commercial world.
George Abot
George Abot was born in a family of six children in a small town in South Sudan. Four of them are in primary school and one in high school- all study in the camp. His father is a pastor and his mother is a local brewer. They moved to Kakuma Refugee Camp in 2007 due to civil war outbreak South Sudan where he enrolled in primary school. However, due to poor quality of education, his mother returned to South Sudan and started an illegal local brewing business so that she could earn some money for sending them to better primary schools in Kenya. After finishing his primary education, he was fortunately sponsored by his cousin in Lodwar Boy’s National School where he finally completed his form four national examinations. Before coming to Bridge2rwanda, he volunteered as a teacher and lab technician for two months in Morneau Shepell Girls in Kakuma. George loves playing soccer, basketball, and reading.
Winny Gire Scopas Nkutu
Winny Gire Scopas is the fifth born child in a family of six children: five girls and one boy. She lives with her widowed mother and her cousin brother. Her three elder sisters are married. Winny started school at Kimu Charitable Nursery school, Khartoum and later joined St. Joseph primary school. After completing her primary studies, she was fortunate to proceed with her secondary school studies in Juba Diocesan Model. She is currently in Rwanda taking a gap year program, Bridge2Rwanda scholars program. Her hobbies are: reading, watching movies, singing, and teaching Sunday school at her local church.
Your Support Matters
With your financial support, we can work together to empower a new generation of South Sudanese people — in an effort to establish a much higher level of knowledge as they rebuild their country. 100 cents of every dollar you provide goes directly to our initiatives.