Education for Rose from South Sudan

I had the pleasure of meeting Rose at the 59th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) in New York where we shared a room as delegates of the World YWCA for a week. Ever since hearing about Rose’s story of hardship and her ambition to study to spite her difficult circumstances, I have been raising funds on her behalf to ensure that her dream of receiving an education becomes her reality.

Rose, 23, was born into the Sudan civil war and her family, consisting of her mother and six siblings, have fought hard to stay alive. Rose has long wanted to attend university in order to educate herself and become a leader in her community, to influence change for the advancement of her younger sisters. The only thing that has stood in the way of Rose getting the education she so desires is $$$. Education in South Sudan is far from accessible. It requires money, many of which the displaced communities have none of.

When I meet Rose at CSW she had already been accepted into a local South Sudan University to study a Bachelor of Social Work and was due to start class the week she returned home. The only problem was that she had no way to pay for her tuition fees.

Many young women and girls in South Sudan have little choice but to enter into arrangements with men whereby they provide them sex and children in exchange for tuition money. Rose, determined to find another way, knew that accepting such an offer would cause her to remain trapped in the cycle of poverty and abuse, a cycle she is determined to break out of.

And with thanks to some incredibly generous people, that is not a reality Rose has to face!

We have now raised enough money to cover 2.5 semesters of Rose's study!!!! (see previous funding page: https://life.indiegogo.com/fundraisers/education-for-rose/x/10240533 and direct donations).

Rose has successfully completed her first semester of study and has started her second semester. The cost of Rose’s study per semester is approximately $530 USD per semester plus $100USD for her student expenses.

If you haven't already done so, please join me and invest into Rose's future, a future with choice and freedom.

Our deepest expressions of gratitude,

Kimberley & Rose