Tell us a bit about what you’re doing now.

“I’m working as a Programme Adviser, focusing on education, on the Girls’ Education South Sudan (GESS) Programme.

GESS is a programme that aims transform the lives of a generation of children in South Sudan – especially girls – through education. It’s an initiative of the Ministry of General Education and Instruction of South Sudan and funded by the UK Government. I’m based in Juba and frequently travel throughout South Sudan, and work mostly in the Quality Education team.

How did BGS prepare you for this career?

“As a pupil at BGS, I was inspired by my teachers and other pupils to realise how important education is.

Both as a teacher and as an Education Adviser, I often look back on my time at BGS for examples of good teaching practice and a model of how to create an effective learning environment. My teachers at BGS also encouraged me to follow my interests and gave me a lot of responsibility. I learned good time management from an early age, through participating in multiple extra-curricular activities and keeping up with studies. This helped me a lot at university, when I had to balance my degree with multiple part time jobs, and has helped me in my career.

How did you get to where you are today?

“I believed in the importance of education from very early on, and when I was in school, my ambition was to become an English teacher.

As soon as I finished school, I did the Trinity Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CertTESOL) Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) qualification. Before going to the University of St Andrews to study English Language and Literature, I spent a year working as a Kindergarten Teacher at Dulwich College Beijing, in China. In my university holidays, I taught in Cambodia, and took a leave of absence in between my second and third year to teach in Colombia for a year.

As I gained more teaching experience in different countries, I felt I could increase the impact I was having by working higher up in the education system. I also decided that I wanted to work in low-income countries where improved education systems would improve the lives of the most marginalised children. I went on to do a Masters in Education, Gender and International Development to build on my practical experience and improve my understanding of the education and international development sector.

What is your biggest achievement to date?

“Conducting research with children with disabilities in very remote locations in Sierra Leone.

I investigated how their experiences of gender and disabilities affected their experiences of formal education. There is still very little research on children with disabilities in Sierra Leone. My research enabled a Disabled Person’s Organisation to create interventions that enabled children with disabilities to access quality education, and reduce social stigma.

Another big achievement has been working alongside the GESS programme that has enabled me to contribute to the fantastic achievement of reaching 1.6 million enrolment of learners in South Sudan in May 2018. This is a record for South Sudan, and has been achieved despite the consequences of conflict that have left 4 million displaced, and more than half the population food insecure. There has also been a positive trend in female student enrolment; as of July 2018, girls made up a record proportion of total enrolment, currently at 46.06%, compared to 39.96% in 2014.

What are your fondest memories of BGS?

“It’s hard to choose one memory in particular as I really enjoyed my years at BGS.

I had many different extra-curricular interests, and was encouraged by teachers to take part in as many activities as I wanted.

I really enjoyed being part of different music groups: the orchestra, big band, string quartet and a baroque ensemble. I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to perform in the string quartet at the 2006 ‘Delius Inspired’ Festival, where I met Tasmin Little and Julian Lloyd Webber.

What advice would you give to current pupils at BGS?

“Dream big and take advantage of everything BGS has to offer!

You don’t already have to decide what career you want to follow after school. Get as much experience as you can in different areas; it will all be good learning and helpful for your future.