Ruthgarda, Malawi, enrolled in 2021

Ruthanga, now 22, was born in Tanzania, where growing up in poverty and watching her parents struggle to make ends meet shaped her outlook on life. She realized early on that if she wanted more than the circumstances she was born into, she had to make it happen herself. That determination gave her the grit to push beyond what anyone in her family had done before. She had no roadmap—so she became her own guide.

Her top marks in primary school opened an incredible door: the opportunity to travel to Malawi for secondary school. It meant leaving everything and everyone she knew behind, but Ruthanga embraced the challenge. She built a new community, made life-changing connections, and found inspiration in her mentor, Sister Beatrice, who worked at a local orphanage. Though Sister Beatrice has since passed, her impact lives on in Rutharda’s dream of one day supporting orphans and students in need.

That same grit and determination carried Ruthanga forward again in 2021 when she earned a university scholarship from Mercy Beyond Borders. With it, she became the first in her family to pursue higher education. Now on track to graduate in 2026, she’s studying to become a nurse and midwife. "The scholarship has been a huge help, not just for me, but for my whole family," she shares. "My parents don’t have to worry as much about my school costs, which means they can focus on supporting my siblings. I’ve also learned how to budget and manage money better because of this opportunity."

There’s an African proverb that says, "If you educate a woman, you educate a nation." Ruthanga is proof of that truth in action.

Without donors like you, Mercy Beyond Borders wouldn’t be able to support journeys like hers. Thank you for making her path possible.

Your gift supports other young women like Ruthgarda.