About Us
Lasting unity is created when people invest in one another
South Sudan is home to one of the youngest populations in the world. The Bridge South Sudan was created from the belief that lasting national unity begins with young people.
Executive summary
Young people represent South Sudan's greatest hope for the future, yet they have grown up during years of conflict, political instability, economic hardship, and limited educational opportunities. Many children are unable to complete school because their families cannot afford school fees, while others grow up with little opportunity to build friendships with people from different communities.
Peace is built when people know one another, work together, and share common goals. The organisation identifies talented Primary 8 candidates who demonstrate academic potential but are at risk of leaving school because of financial hardship. Each student is paired with a Bridge Partner from a different South Sudanese community who provides financial support, encouragement, mentorship, and guidance.
Unlike many scholarship programmes that focus only on paying school fees, The Bridge South Sudan is built around long-term relationships. A student who spends five years learning from and being encouraged by someone from another community gains a mentor, a role model, and often a lifelong friend.
The story behind The Bridge
Across South Sudan there are countless young people with the intelligence, determination, and ambition to succeed. Every year, many of them leave school because their families cannot afford tuition. At the same time, many successful South Sudanese at home and in the diaspora want to support education but do not know how to make a lasting impact. The Bridge South Sudan brings these two groups together.
A business owner in Wau can encourage a student in Bor. A teacher from Yambio can help a student in Malakal. A doctor from Juba can support a student in Bentiu. Over time, these connections change how people see one another.
Every scholarship should do two things: keep a young person in school, and create one more bridge between South Sudanese communities. Repeated hundreds and eventually thousands of times, these bridges become a foundation for national unity.
Vision
To build a peaceful, united, and prosperous South Sudan where every young person has the opportunity to learn, grow, and succeed alongside fellow South Sudanese from every community.
Mission
To strengthen national unity by connecting young people from different South Sudanese communities through education, mentorship, and long-term relationships that create opportunity, trust, and shared responsibility for the nation's future.
Why education builds unity
Education does more than prepare students for employment. It shapes how people think, solve problems, communicate, and work with others. When students build meaningful relationships with mentors from different communities over several years, they begin to see one another as individuals rather than through the lens of stereotypes. A student who has been encouraged by someone from another community is more likely to value cooperation than conflict. National unity is built one relationship at a time.
Our objectives
- Strengthen national unity by creating meaningful relationships between South Sudanese from different communities.
- Increase access to secondary education for talented Primary 8 candidates facing financial hardship.
- Reduce school dropout rates by providing flexible financial support.
- Connect students with mentors who encourage their academic, personal, and professional development.
- Build partnerships between schools, communities, businesses, and the South Sudanese diaspora.
- Develop future leaders who value service, integrity, and national unity.
- Create a sustainable network of Bridge Scholars who return to support future generations.
Guiding principles
Unity Before Division
Our programmes should always strengthen relationships across communities and promote a shared national identity.
Relationships Before Transactions
We do not simply connect sponsors with students to pay school fees. We create long-term relationships built on trust, encouragement, and mutual respect.
Opportunity Through Education
Education remains our primary tool for expanding opportunity and transforming lives.
Transparency Builds Trust
Every contribution must be managed openly, responsibly, and accountably.
Communities Build Nations
The future of South Sudan depends not only on governments but also on ordinary citizens choosing to invest in one another.
Every Student Matters
Behind every scholarship is a young person with dreams, talents, and the potential to contribute to the future of South Sudan.
The Bridge Pledge
“I was given an opportunity because someone believed in my future. Today, I pledge that when I am able, I will help other young South Sudanese pursue their education, regardless of their community or background. I will use my knowledge, my skills, and my character to serve my country, promote unity, and help build a peaceful and prosperous South Sudan.”