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Announcements

In September, Banaa welcomed our second scholar, Mo Hassan! Mo is studying on a full Banaa scholarship at the
University of Rochester.
Click here to learn more about Mo!

In April, the Clinton Global Initiative honored Banaa and Makwei at their annual CGI-U conference. Click here for the story!

Banaa has received over 170 applications since our first call for applications in 2008! Dozens of qualified peace-builders are awaiting scholarship opportunities. Bring a scholar to your campus!

Helida Alex Voya

Helida

Born: Juba, South Sudan

Desired Major: Education, Political Science or International Relations

Helida Alex Voya has worked for a number of humanitarian, educational and community development organizations in South Sudan, where she was born. She aspires to help rebuild Sudan’s educational infrastructure to promote peace.

"South Sudan has endured civil war for more than three quarters of its existence. For the last twenty years, the region has suffered one of the most violent civil wars of modern history. Terror-filled nights where, South Sudanese peep out from doorways of their huts, they ask each other, will the sun stay? Will there be morning tomorrow or the next day? Finally, there is dawn in South Sudan, the long war is over and South Sudan eventually will become a nation. However the war of awakening hope against the habit of despair, the war of new alliances against decades of mistrust, the war of joyful homecoming against the lack of homeless still remains. Above all, it is a war for the human heart against the heart of darkness."

-Excerpt from Helida's Banaa Application Essay