Student Stories - Women's Education Partnership

THE STORY OF BAKHITA; A WEP SPONSORED STUDENT AT THE UNIVERSITY
OF JUBA- SOUTH SUDAN

My name is Bakhita Hamad Elisa. I am a third-year Business and Management student at the University of Juba, but my journey began at Ahfad University in Sudan. I am here today, continuing my education, because of the critical support from the Women’s Education Partnership (WEP). From the bottom of my heart, I thank WEP for standing with me and so many other women and girls uprooted by conflict; you are the reason we can still hold onto our dreams.

When the war forced us to flee, I arrived in Juba in September 2023 with little but my hopes. I am determined to build a new chapter. To support myself and my studies, I now work as a part-time cashier at JEDCO. My day starts with lectures, and from 2:00 PM until 9:00 PM, I am at my post. The daily stipend I earn is my lifeline—it covers my expenses and allows me to send support to my mother, who is caring for my siblings. In these difficult economic times, every pound is a step toward stability and dignity.

This role is more than a job; it is my first real step into the professional world I am studying. I am learning resilience, responsibility, and the practical application of my studies. I promise to honor this opportunity by excelling in both my academic and my professional duties.

To my fellow refugee girls, I encourage you to look for any opportunity, no matter how small it seems, to supplement your livelihood and education. It is in these spaces that we rebuild our strength and reclaim our futures. Take that step, use your voice, and let your resilience be your foundation. We are not defined by our displacement, but by our determination to rise from it.

My name is Adit Bol Aleu Atem from Bor – Jonglei State. I come from a humble background where my parents could not afford to pay my school fees. They tried hard however to push me through high school where I managed to obtain good grades in the senior four final exams.

Joining University became a challenge since they could no longer afford the high tuition. Since I was determined to further my studies, I decided to look for work and managed to get a teaching job at King’s Wisdom Primary School.

I applied to Starford University where I was accepted for a Bachelors in International Relations and Diplomacy with the hope that my salary would cater for the tuition however I could not even afford to clear the payment for one semester because the teaching salary is very low.

A friend who knew my struggles and determination to study informed me about the WEP Scholarship and I immediately followed it up at the office where I fulfilled all the information required for the scholarship which included narrating my personal story. I was very excited and thanked God when I received the news that I was among those who were successful. I was also surprised when I was handed a new computer at the office.

With this opportunity, I promise to successfully complete my studies and give back to my country and community by advising the young people not to give up on education and to look for such scholarship opportunities for those who are from poor backgrounds like me. I also plan to create initiatives that foster good relationships, teaching peace and unity in my community and South Sudan at large.

Finally, I am so thankful to God for answering my prayers and I promise WEP that I will make all of you proud in the next five years.

We are Sara Elshafie Abdelfadeel, Nassma Elshafie Abdelfadeel, Samar Adam Musa, students from Sudan South Darfur State. We were student at University of Nyala South Darfur State, Sudan.

Due to the crisis in Sudan, we lost our home, education, with no home no, education but hope.

But with the help of colleagues who had run to South Sudan before us we were admitted to University of Juba in 5/1/2024. Sara is in the School of Medicine, Nassma and Samar are in the School of Business and Management in the Department of Accounting.

Because of the war our families have nearly lost everything, and our university is completely destroyed, and equipment has been stolen. The war forced us to migrate to South Sudan without our relatives we left everything behind to fight for our hope.

It was a hard way, full of risks but lastly, we arrived as refugees in Juba. Since we arrived and we had a difficult time, having nothing. Life became difficult to us. The costs of accommodation, food, university fees, school materials, clothing and daily needs. We work a small business during weekends, but it does not need our needs. We heard about the Women’s Education Partnership through a colleague.

Now with the help of WEP we are feeling stronger and much better and think that achieving our goals are possible by now. After we received our sponsorships, we feel more optimistic than ever before.

We are stronger, happier, and confident to reach our targets.

Future plans
After finishing our studies, we hope to be the future builders our nation. They are in need of us, and they are waiting for our help and we thought the only way to help our nation is to complete our courses to have the ability to help. The Women’s Education Partnership is the best choice to us through. It is giving us our chance to achieve our hopes.

We promise we’ll do our best.