Rooted in Hope, Rising to Lead

lice Abaya Ruth is finishing her final year at the Leadership Academy of South Sudan (LASS). For her, education has become far more than just textbooks and tests. It’s been a lifeline, a place of hope, and a path toward a future she once couldn’t imagine.

Alice grew up in a family of five, raised by a single mother who worked tirelessly to keep food on the table. Money was always tight. There were times when Alice wasn’t sure she’d be able to finish school, let alone dream of becoming a leader.

When the opportunity to join LASS came along, everything changed. At our Leadership Academy, Alice found something she’d never experienced before: a supportive community, mentors who believed in her, and a renewed sense of what was possible.

Soon after arriving, Alice was elected “Grand Mama” of her class. This student leadership role stretched her in ways she hadn’t expected. As the eldest child in her family, she was used to responsibility. But leading her peers? That was different. Through LASS’s discipleship classes, she began to understand that real leadership isn’t about being in charge. It’s about lifting others up.

Her time at LASS has equipped her with skills that will serve her for life: time management, teamwork, emotional intelligence, and public speaking. Through fellowships, leadership circles, and school projects, she’s learned the power of working together toward a common goal.

Now Alice feels a deep responsibility to give back. She dreams of mentoring young girls from backgrounds like hers. These are girls who need someone to show them their potential. She wants to launch literacy programs and community initiatives focused on education and empowerment.

For Alice, LASS has provided more than an education. It’s given her direction, purpose, and the confidence to lead. She now knows that where you come from doesn’t have to define where you’re going.

Alice’s story is just beginning. And she’s determined to make it count, not just for herself, but for the next generation of young women who will follow in her footsteps.

This is what happens when you invest in a leader. Alice isn’t just changing her own future. She’s getting ready to change her country.