Sixteen Female Students Sponsored by Windle Trust Graduated at St. Mary’s University College in Juba
Photo of Sixteen 16 Sponsored Young Female Students By Windle Trust International who graduated at St. Mary's University College in Juba
By John Garang Ayii, Juba, South Sudan
Friday, 05 December 2025 (PW) — In 2022, Windle Trust International Organization sponsored sixteen (16) young female students at the college of Education in St. Mary’s University College (SMUC); to pursue Diplomas in Primary Education and Bachelor’s Degree in General Education. That was the beginning of a new chapter for 16 young women in South Sudan – sixteen dreams waiting for a chance to rise.” On Saturday 29th November 2025, 16 young female students graduated. Thirteen (13) female students graduated with bachelors’degrees with General Education, while one (1) female student, named Esther Obongo graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Rehabilitation Science and two (2) female students graduated with Diplomas in Primary Education, totaling 16 female students who graduated from St. Mary’s University College.
The 16 female graduates thanked and appreciated Windle Trust International for giving them a 4 year scholarship to pursue their studies. One of the sixteen female students sponsored by WTI named Monica Yar Awai was selected to represent all the graduates during the graduation ceremony. Monica Yar gave a wonderful speech during the graduation ceremony. She started her speech by saying, “Guest of honor, special guests, lecturers, my fellow graduates, and all the invited guests, I greet you all in the name of our Lord Jesus Amen.”
She said, “Allow me to appreciate and thank the SMUC for their commitment to train us in a good way and this education we have received from this University is unique because we have acquired holistic education. We have been trained in all the four dimensions of human life, it has trained us mentally, physically, socially, and moreover spiritually. It is holistic to the extent that it has a value of spiritual aspect. This will make us to be successful in our life journey and be competitive in a labor market because SMUC studies are very important for developing ethical values, fostering a sense of purpose, and integrating personal beliefs with academic learning. It equips students with critical thinking skills, enhances their capacity for empathy, and provides a framework for personal and social responsibility.
In SMUC, the main goal for teaching here is to educate the “whole person” by linking spiritual and ethical development with intellectual and professional growth. Spirituality provides a sense of meaning and purpose in life, which can lead to greater happiness and life satisfaction. She further said that studies at SMUC helps students to understand their own values and beliefs and build skills for personal growth. Courses here help develop critical thinking, analytical reading, writing, and interpretation skills, which are transferable to all fields. Spiritual universities aim to educate the “whole person,” integrating spiritual and ethical development with intellectual and professional pursuits. To move on, SMUC fosters ethical values and a sense of social responsibility, preparing students to be caring and informed members of society in their future careers.
Secondly, Guest of Honor, allow me to give thanks and appreciation to Windle Trust International for giving us 4-year scholarship and this scholarship became a source of happiness, and it has relieved us from worry about tuition, books, and other educational expenses. This financial assistance minimizes the need for student’s worries or excessive part-time hustling, providing significant peace of mind. This Windle Trust scholarship also allows us to fully engage in teaching practice, networking, and research projects that enriched our overall education and career visions. This scholarship is a form of recognition that validates our hard work, potential, and capabilities, which significantly boosts our confidence and self-esteem. WTI’scholarships provide financial assistance, minimizing the need for borrowing money and making higher education more accessible for us, who may face specific financial challenges or gender wage gaps. It helps us increase female representation in male-dominated field of teaching career and this has removed financial barriers and validating women’s talent and potential.
The Scholarships WTI has built faith and self-worth by showing that our potential and goals are valued and supported. This scholarship enables us to pursue our dream careers and made us secure our careers. The young female graduate said that, supporting women in educational journey in our country is not common because young women are not allowed to go to school due to cultural practices, but this scholarship will help us to create a pipeline of successful women in many of fields, who can then inspire future generations of girls to follow in their footsteps. Finally, this scholarship has made us obtain a stable career through a scholarship. This has led to increased income, allowing women to support themselves, their families, and their communities. Over four (4) years, the sixteen (16) scholars poured their hearts into their studies showing commitment, resilience, and vision for a better tomorrow.
The sixteen graduate’s vision has empowered the other young female graduates—turning their dreams into reality. Yar Monica Awai said, “Without Windle Trust, I would not have achieved this academic milestone. This is more than a certificate. It’s my future reborn. This scholarship changed the direction of my life. Today, I stand here confident and ready to serve my community. We, the graduates are now stepping into the world as educators, mentors, and role models—ready to uplift the next generation of South Sudanese learners. Windle Trust’s investment in girls’ education continues to transform lives one scholarship at a time. Their support has opened doors that once seemed closed forever.”
Monica Yar concluded her speech by saying that investing in females’ education is not merely a moral imperious but a strategic investment that assurances a better health, wealth, and equitable future for all. Female education is a vital driver of sustainable development. She added that it empowers women to make an informed decision about themselves, and resource management, which contributes to environmental stewardship and population steadiness. To add on, educated women tend to contribute more vigorously in civic and advancing more stable, political animation, democratic societies, and inclusive.
“We, the graduates, are happy with what Windle Trust International did through this opportunity. We have special appreciation to our lecturers who have taught us in a unique way that made us confident to compete in a labor market,” she added. Lastly, I appeal to Windle Trust to provide more scholarship opportunities for postgraduate students like some of us who are eager to go for postgraduate studies and undergraduate students to help other female students in South Sudan. She concluded by saying that, may God bless St. Mary’s University and may God also bless WTI with more money to continue supporting others.
The author, John Garang Ayii, is the Regional Cluster Coordinator for Upper Nile Region, Windle Trust International, Juba South Sudan and can be reached via his email: John Garang Ayii <[email protected]>
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