Sarah Ongom Apio,26, a postgraduate diploma student specializing in monitoring and evaluation at the Uganda Management Institute in Kampala is among the top 50 finalists for the prestigious Chegg.org Global Student Prize 2023. This esteemed annual award, amounting to US$100,000, is bestowed upon an exceptional student who has demonstrated a significant impact on learning, the lives of their peers, and society at large.
Selected from a competitive pool of 3,851 applications hailing from 122 countries, Ongom’s inclusion in the shortlist is a testament to her remarkable contributions. Her journey is marked by a deep commitment to positive change and empowerment. Ongom’s foray into advocacy and leadership began in response to the challenges she observed growing up in a developing country. Witnessing the firsthand effects of poverty, inequality, and underdevelopment on her family and community, she felt a personal responsibility to make a difference. Despite the challenges she faced, including the impact on her own mental health and academic performance, she took the initiative to uplift others.
One of her notable accomplishments is the establishment of “Youth Leading Our World” (YLOW), a community-based organization aimed at creating safe spaces for adolescent girls and teenage mothers in rural areas of Lira district, northern Uganda. Ongom’s dedication to education accessibility is evident through her efforts to provide scholastic materials, uniforms, shoes, and sanitary pads to underprivileged students. By partnering with local businesses, she ensures that children have the necessary resources to excel in their education.
Beyond tangible support, Ongom is a catalyst for change. She raises awareness and addresses systemic issues through various platforms. Her initiatives include social media campaigns, community dialogues, and radio chat shows that engage community leaders. Through these avenues, she tackles deeply rooted challenges, such as child marriage and teen pregnancy, by advocating for equal rights and opportunities, combating discrimination, and advocating for policy changes.
Ongom’s journey also highlights her leadership roles in organizations like Junior Achievement Worldwide, The Lions Club International, and LEOs of Makerere University Business School. Her involvement demonstrates her commitment to collaborative efforts and her willingness to drive change on multiple fronts. Uganda has a history of producing remarkable students who excel in the Chegg.org Global Student Prize. Sarah’s achievement follows in the footsteps of previous Ugandan finalists, underscoring the country’s dedication to education, empowerment, and making a positive impact on a global scale.
Sunny Varkey, founder of the Varkey Foundation, said: “Sarah Ongom Apio’s story is a testament to the crucial role that education plays in building a better world for us all. It is the key to solving humanity’s greatest challenges, from war and conflict to climate change to growing inequality. As time runs out to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, it is more important than ever to prioritize education so we can face the future with confidence.” Applications and nominations for this year’s Global Student Prize opened on 19 January and closed on 14 May.
Last year’s winner was Ukrainian 17-year-old Klymenko, a student from Kyiv, who moved to the countryside at the start of the Russian invasion to finish his final year of high school. Sheltered in the basement of his new home, Igor successfully completed his studies while refining the mine-detecting drone he had been working on for eight years. He was selected as the winner of the 2022 Chegg.org Global Student Prize from over 7,000 applications from more than 150 countries.
The first winner in 2021 was Jeremiah Thoronka, a 21-year-old student from Sierra Leone, who launched a start-up called Optim Energy that transforms vibrations from vehicles and pedestrian footfall on roads into an electric current. With just two devices, the start-up provided free electricity to 150 households comprising around 1,500 citizens, as well as 15 schools where more than 9,000 students attend.