“Before Next Door Scholars, I thought university was out of reach. Now I’m a first-year student at University of Cape Town and I am mentoring two new scholars myself.”
Our Impact
Next Door Scholars was founded in Juba in 2023 with a simple idea: if young people from refugee and host communities receive consistent support, they can overcome the barriers created by war and poverty to access higher education. In less than two years, we are already seeing the difference.
By the Numbers
150+ young people reached through our college-readiness sessions in Juba and surrounding areas.
90% of our scholars have successfully submitted at least one tertiary application with our support.
80% scholarship success rate among eligible students.
65% female participation—well above the national average for girls’ secondary completion.
15+ mentors engaged from universities and professional fields.
Why Our Work Matters
South Sudan still has one of the world’s highest out-of-school rates. Over 2.2 million children are out of school, and only about 0.75% of young people are enrolled in tertiary education. Years of conflict have destroyed classrooms, displaced families, and cut off pathways to learning. Refugee and host-community youth in their late teens and twenties are particularly left behind.
Next Door Scholars is closing this gap by combining academic support, mentorship, and financial-aid guidance into a single, sustained program. Our scholars are not only accessing higher education; they are persisting and giving back to their communities.
Looking Ahead
- Triple the number of scholars we serve.
- Build a digital platform to connect South Sudanese youth to mentors globally.
- Expand our alumni network so every new scholar is supported by someone who’s walked the path before.