A Perfect Score Against All Odds

Isaac Khemis was the eighth child born into a family of eleven in South Sudan. When civil war tore through his homeland in 2016, his family had no choice but to flee. Isaac, still a child himself, became a refugee in Uganda—leaving behind everything he knew, searching for safety, educa

tion, and hope.

That same year, Isaac enrolled in a school at the refugee camp. Despite having almost nothing, he pushed forward. By 2017, he had completed primary school. He continued his education with help from Windle Trust International, which provided free schooling and supplies to refugee children.

Life in the camp was harsh. Isaac often walked to school barefoot, wearing clothes that had seen better days. He often sat in class with an empty stomach, trying to focus on lessons while hunger gnawed at him. “Yet, I held on,” Isaac remembers, “guided by hope and faith in God.”

When Dreams Seemed Impossible

In 2022, Isaac completed his O-levels with a Division 2—a solid achievement placing him in the top 15% of students. But the next step, A-levels, felt impossible. The costs of fees were too high for a refugee family already struggling to survive.

That’s when God stepped in through an unexpected source.

“One faithful day, God answered my prayers through a friend who told me about the Leadership Academy of South Sudan (LASS),” Isaac recalls. When he applied and was accepted, everything changed.

More Than Just Education

At LASS, Isaac found something he’d never experienced before—a community that brought together students from different tribes and backgrounds. For the first time, he learned to embrace diversity and unity instead of the tribal divisions that he witnessed tear his country apart.

The leadership and entrepreneurship training gave Isaac confidence he never knew he had. He learned to speak in public, developed skills to start his own business, and began dreaming of ways to help himself, support his family, and create opportunities for his community.

But what touched Isaac most deeply was discipleship—learning to lead with love, humility, and faith. These weren’t just lessons about business or academics. These were lessons about becoming the kind of person who could heal a broken nation.

A Perfect Score and a Perfect Plan

The day Isaac received his UACE exam results was one he’ll never forget. Much like the SAT in the United States, this multi-day exam determines a student’s chances for higher education in Uganda and beyond.

Isaac had scored 20 points—a perfect score.

While mentoring younger students at LASS, he celebrated this incredible achievement with friends and teachers. In that moment, he realized just how far he’d traveled from being a refugee boy with little hope to a young man with unlimited potential.

Today, Isaac is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in statistics at Makerere University, one of East Africa’s most respected institutions. He dreams of becoming a data analyst and entrepreneur—someone who will “bring hope, change, and light” to his community and country.

The Leader South Sudan Needs

Isaac’s story shows us what’s possible when you invest in people instead of quick fixes. He didn’t just overcome poverty and displacement—he transformed them into purpose. He’s becoming exactly the kind of leader South Sudan needs: someone who understands struggle, embraces unity, and leads with both excellence and humility.

From a barefoot boy studying on an empty stomach to a university student with perfect test scores, Isaac proves that with the right support and training, Africa’s young people can solve Africa’s challenges.

Your Investment Creates More Stories Like Isaac’s

Isaac’s journey from refugee camp to university wasn’t luck—it was the result of people like you who believe in long-term solutions that change lives forever.

When you become a monthly partner with 4africa, you’re not just supporting one student. You’re investing in future data analysts, entrepreneurs, teachers, and leaders who will transform entire communities. You’re helping us build the next generation of problem-solvers who will heal the divisions that have torn countries apart.

Ready to invest in more stories like Isaac’s? Become a monthly partner today and help us equip young refugees to become the leaders their nations desperately need.

Your partnership today creates the leaders who will rebuild tomorrow’s Africa—one perfect score, one transformed life, one healed community at a time.