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NEXT DOOR SCHOLARS
Opening the next door to higher education

Our Team

Behind Next Door Scholars is a team of passionate educators, mentors, and youth leaders who believe every young person deserves a fair chance at higher education.

Together, we blend lived experience with professional expertise to open doors for refugee and host-community youth across South Sudan.

🧑‍💼 Founding & Leadership Team

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Richard Okello

Founder & Program Director

Born and raised in South Sudan, Richard experienced firsthand the barriers to education created by conflict and displacement. With a background in youth leadership and entrepreneurship, He launched Next Door Scholars in 2023 to bridge the gap between aspiration and achievement for South Sudanese youth.

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Mary Wairimu

Chief Media & Marketing Officer

Responsible for communications, branding, and outreach. Wairimu crafts compelling stories about our scholars and builds relationships with media, partners, and donors.

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Innocent George

Academic Advisor

A former teacher with experience in curriculum development for refugee learners, Innocent George designs and oversees our college readiness and soft skills training programs.

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Sheila Gladis

Mentorship Coordinator

Connects scholars to mentors around the world and ensures long-term, consistent support. Sheila has a background in youth counseling and program management.

👥 Volunteer Mentors & Advisors

Our growing network of 15+ volunteer mentors includes university students, academics, and professionals from South Sudan and abroad. They provide one-on-one guidance, review essays, offer career advice, and help scholars prepare for the transition to higher education.

🌍 Our Board of Advisors

Angelo Riek, CEO, Youth Call For Action.

Awar Deng, Dean, John Garang University

✨ Why Our Team Is Different

Lived Experience

Many of our leaders are themselves former refugees or first-generation college graduates.

Professional Expertise

Combined backgrounds in education, youth development, marketing, and entrepreneurship.

Deep Community Roots

Based in Juba and working directly with displaced youth, our team understands the local context and builds programs that truly fit their needs.