Higher Education
202
university scholarships
awarded to bright young women
97%
graduation rate
ZERO
brain drain!
(Scholars choose to
stay in their country of birth)
It’s an extraordinary achievement in a country of extreme poverty for any young woman to graduate from university. When it does happen, those new grads often leave their homeland for greener pastures elsewhere. “Brain drain” quite literally describes one reason why very poor countries stay poor: the talent emigrates.
MBB has a sterling record: 85 South Sudanese university graduates. ZERO brain drain.
MBB’s 85 university grads represent 13 different South Sudanese ethnic groups. They’ve earned degrees in nursing, civil engineering, midwifery, Info Tech, teaching, agronomy, business, logistics, and social welfare. They’ve cracked the cultural (and poverty-driven) glass ceiling that sidelines women and keeps them from higher education in their homelands.
122 other Scholars are currently studying at 11 universities in Haiti, South Sudan, Uganda, Kenya & Malawi. They’re pursuing majors in environmental management, civil engineering, medicine, pharmacy, nutrition science, journalism, IT, community development, and more.
A Nurse Saving Lives in South Sudan
Meet Vina Ileyo, one of Mercy Beyond Borders' incredible success stories. As one of our 85 female university graduates from South Sudan, Vina's journey embodies the transformative impact of education and empowerment. In this powerful video, Vina shares her inspiring story of returning to her home village in South Sudan as a nurse. Despite facing unimaginable challenges, including rebels attacking her high school and tragically killing two of her classmates, Vina's resilience and determination shine through. Working tirelessly in a rural clinic, she sees up to 100 patients a day, providing crucial medical care to her community. Vina's dedication and compassion are literally saving lives.
Asimenye’s Journey
Every night Lusayo takes his boat out to fish for chambo, the type of tilapia common in Lake Malawi. Some nights he catches enough fish to both eat and sell. Other days he does not. But even though his family is poor, Lusayo has always prioritized education for his children. He’s especially proud of his daughter, Asimenye.
The dirt path leading to Asimenye’s family home on the edge of Lake Malawi
When Lusayo sent Asimenye to primary school, the other men in the village jeered, “Why are you wasting your money on a girl?” Lusayo responded, “It’s not a waste; it’s an investment. If you wait, you will see the payoff.”
When Asimenye became one of only six students (mostly boys) from their village to enroll in high school, the villagers laughed at her father even more: ”What’s the point? She will just be getting married anyway.” In fact, most of her peers were already married with children. But Lusayo countered, “Asimenye may choose to get married someday, yes. But that would be her choice later as an educated woman.”
This year Asimenye is a proud freshman at Mzuzu University, studying biomedical engineering. She’s the first female from her village ever to reach such heights. The village men are no longer laughing. In fact, they are now considering sending their own daughters to school. Asimenye has shown that girls can succeed at the highest level. And she’s paving the way for others to avoid early marriage.
Asimenye volunteers at a local clinic’s intake desk in Malawi
How has Asimenya done it? Through her own hard work, surely -– but also through the generosity of donors which enabled Mercy Beyond Borders to grant her a university scholarship. It really does take a village (namely: donors, Scholars, and Mercy Beyond Borders) to convince a village that girls are definitely worth educating.