Prize for Women's Creativity in Rural Life
Her project supports the following SDGs:
What are the SDGs?
The Sustainable Development Goals are a call for action by all countries – poor, rich and middle-income – to promote prosperity while protecting the planet. They recognize that ending poverty must go hand-in-hand with strategies that build economic growth and address a range of social needs including education, health, social protection, and job opportunities, while tackling climate change and environmental protection.
Changing the Narrative
for Rural and Refugee Girls
Since 2023, the “Learn Lead Thrive” project has directly supported over 100 rural girls and reached 265 more in Kampala and the Kiryandongo refugee settlement in Uganda.
The initiative provides hygiene kits, connects girls to vocational training centers, and teaches practical skills like carpentry, welding, computer literacy, cooking, soap making, and weaving. It also offers mentorship and mental health support, helping girls stay in school and build confidence.
So far, it has led to the creation of seven small businesses and encouraged ten girls to take on leadership roles in their communities.
As a South Sudanese refugee and student at Makerere University, Nqueny brings lived experience to her advocacy for girls’ education and inclusion. Her project, part of the Young Alumni Engagement, Umurage Growth initiative, focuses on accessible, practical solutions for underserved youth.
She received a DAFI scholarship (Albert Einstein German Academic Refugee Initiative) and has since supported 15 fellow students in securing similar scholarships.