Apayi's Dream Of Obtaining A Formal Education Was Revived

Joyce Apayi is a 23-year-old scholarship recipient at Aringa Secondary School in the Yumbe district of Uganda. In 2016, she fled South Sudan with her mother and sister due to the ongoing war. After settling in Yumbe, life was challenging, and conditions did not improve significantly; however, she remained optimistic.

Upon arriving in Uganda, Joyce enrolled in primary school and passed the national exams. She then advanced to lower secondary school (Ordinary Level), where she excelled. Unfortunately, she had to drop out after this level because her sponsors could no longer provide support.

In 2022, Joyce’s life took a downward turn when her mother decided to return to South Sudan due to increasingly difficult conditions in Uganda. This decision left Joyce in the care of her older sister, destabilizing her emotionally. Although her sister’s family provides significant support, they face financial challenges, as her sister earns only a meager income selling silverfish in the settlement. As a result, Joyce dropped out of school entirely that year.

However, Joyce actively sought ways to continue her education when she learned about a scholarship for higher secondary (Advanced Level) studies offered by the Bridge project, implemented by War Child Canada in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation. Excited by this opportunity, she quickly applied and was thrilled with the outcome: she is now one of 537 youths benefiting from this scholarship across various refugee-hosting communities.

Joyce talks about her disability with mixed emotions. While she understands that having a disability does not mean she is incapable, she still struggles to comprehend what the future holds for her. She often feels torn between bravery and fear. Because of her disability, she changed her career path from nursing to nutrition. Joyce no longer believes she can work as a nurse, so she is pursuing formal education to become a nutritionist. She views this new path as a fulfilling profession that supports her well-being and allows her to help others, particularly malnourished children.

Due to her physical impairment, Joyce struggles to move as quickly as she would like and sometimes faces unkind comments from others. However, she thrives in a supportive school environment, which she greatly values. Most of her classmates help her with various tasks, and her teachers are always willing to assist whenever possible.

War Child Canada deliberately includes individuals living with disabilities in its programs, recognizing that they are often marginalized and overlooked. Currently, 591 individuals with disabilities are being supported through the Bridge project out of a total number of participants.

War Child Canada and the Mastercard Foundation collaborate to implement the “Bridge: From Secondary Education and Skills Development to Job Opportunities for Refugee and Host Community Youth in Uganda” program. This initiative aims to advance the Young Africa Works Strategy and address the challenge of youth unemployment in Uganda's refugee-host districts.

Joyce believes that education is the only reliable pathway to success in life, and she is committed to pursuing it.